A true testament to mob films' as well as a true account of the mob life.

Rating: 10/10 (9 April 2007)

Goodfellas to me is not only the best film of 1990 and a milestone of 90s' cinema, but also a fine learning experience of the ins-and-outs of mob life from it's own words: Henry Hills personification of real life former gangster Henry Hill is every bit as down to the book as Robert Deniros' relentless portrayal of boxer Jake Lamotta in the preceding(by 10 years!)classic Raging Bull. But Hill is not alone on this one along with the returning Scorsese vets Deniro as mobster anarchist Jimmy Conway and Joe Pesci as Jimmy's colorful, psychotic left hand man Tommy Devito-whom of which Pesci deservedly won an Oscar for best supporting actor. Add to that stunning performances by Paul Sorvino and Laurine Bracko(plus a surprising small appearance of Pulp Fiction-star-but-then-new-guy Samual L Jackson)and you have a cast for the ages.
Performances aside, this film probably gets closer to the mob world then long winded epics like the Godfather or any other on screen depiction of the sort. It's more like a documentary then an actual movie. And I urge fans and first-time viewers to pick up the special edition DVD which features audio commentary from the real Henry Hill and one of the witness protection officers(whom also makes a cameo in the film), among a hole lot of other extras.
What Scorsese has created here is simply put: visual mob literature. A true masterpiece among the Scorsese catalog.