the finest film ever made

Rating: 10/10 (4 August 2000)

where do i start, scorsese was in a bit of a dark period at the time after the undeserved failures of raging bull, king of comedy, after hours and the last temptation of christ, adapting from the true story of henry hill with the co writer of the book, nicholas phleggi. scorsese fashioned something incredibly brilliant out of it, with stunning, almost claustrophobic photography by michael ballhus, perfect paced editing from michael powell's widow ( he died the same year the film came out) thelma schoonmaker and an truly exhilarating mix of pithy, sharp, realistic dialogue, careful, amazingly spot on pacing and of course perhaps the finest example of direction ever to appear on screen all combine with jaw dropping peformances (especially from pesci who's " you think i'm funny speech " has to the most menacing speech of all time )to be the finest film ever made.