Cinematic nirvana!

Rating: 10/10 (4 December 2006)

This is an incredible film. It's my favorite film (other than the original Star Wars trilogy), and it's one of the best-made films I've ever seen. That's two separate lists, mind you.
Ray Liotta's performance is mesmerizing from beginning to end. I was compelled to watch the show "Smith" this fall because of the idea that Ray would be playing a crook again, and how great would that be? He is great both as a gangster on the top, and a mobster who's taken a fall. And his smile--you don't know whether he's gonna kiss you or kill you. Joe Pesci was perfect as the cowboy who's maverick attitude is his undoing. He's also the focal point of the greatest scene in the movie. He can look on his mantle, knowing that he truly deserved his Oscar. Not every actor can say that (Tom Hanks for Forrest Gump, anyone?). Robert DeNiro does the same job he always does. I swear, he's so great that his performances come to be expected. I think he would have 6 or 7 more Oscars if he wasn't so good in whatever roll he plays. If he'd just "tank it" for a movie or two, maybe the Oscar voters would take more notice of the high-caliber roles he consistently puts out there. Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino complete the inner circle in satisfying fashion. It's so sad, the look in Paulie's eyes when he gives Henry the money he has in his pocket, then disowns him forever.
The script is full of repeatable lines, the best known of which have entered the cultural lexicon ("I'm funny how, like a clown, I amuse you?"). Me and my mom still say "I'm gonna go get the papers get the papers" all the time. I'm not a film techie, up on all the ways that the crew does their jobs to bring a movie together. I just know that everything in GoodFellas comes together to make a perfect crime drama. I really can't see why Scorsese is Oscar-less when he's making movies like this one. Everyone remotely interested in drama, or crime, or good films needs to see this movie.