Crime doesn't pay, but this film is beautiful

Rating: 10/10 (19 March 2005)

A story told about a man who "always wanted to be a gangster".
The direction, the acting and the storytelling of this man, Henry Hill's Life was done beautifully. He was a violent gangster who you see wasn't born that way, but hung around the right folks and became a product of the environment.
Watching the relationships between Henry Hill (played wonderfully by Ray Liotta), Jimmy (played by the great Robert DeNiro) and Tommy (played brilliantly by Joe Pesci)were amazing to watch. Here you see friendships develop and over time, deteriorate. This is not a film that glorifies crime, it tells a story of how crimes were committed and what happened to many of those involved. You know much of what the main characters do are wrong, but you feel for a few of them - and that what makes this film beautiful.
A fine piece of work, wonderful acting, a kick butt storyline augmented by the best music score put together in the the movies today. Yes, I am a fan of the music that was chosen to augment this film from start to finish. It is RARE to take music and have it interwoven through a major motion picture to help drive the story. I never listened to the piano exit of "Layla" the same ... ever again.
Excellent. Bravo Marty. I appreciate your work. :)