Excellent or disgusting? Cruel!

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2018)

Often considered as the best Martin Scorcese Movie, even out trumping Taxi Driver (1976), Raging Bull (1980) and The Departed (2005), "Goodfellas" is a highly acclaimed film and regarded as one of the best Mafia/Crime/Mob/Gangster films of all time.
Basically, the story is about Henry Hill, telling his life story. Growing up in a tough neighborhood, being addicted to the compelling life of the American Mafia, Slowly but surely integrating into this Gangster World and covering his relationship with his wife Karen Hill and his two best friends and mob partners Jimmy and Tommy.
It's no tale about honor or morality. It's a story so cruel, grim and tough that some scenes are hard to watch. But that's just how it is in the Mafia World.
Especially Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) is a complete maniac, a psychopath in his own right and his screen time always delivers in evil fashion.
As the storyline continues we find out more about how deep related the Mafia World truly is and in some way, how a kid like Henry (unfortunately) can get addicted and fascinated by the way of living. In fact, nearly the complete first hour just shows the 'advantages' of being in the mafia. The murder scenes are disturbing, even frightening and the high use of profanity assists this.
Always brutal, Sometimes even ugly, it is directed excellently by Martin Scorsese.
What makes Goodfellas so great are definitely the standout performances. The acting is superb and the embodiment of each character fits perfectly.
Joe Pesci, Robert De Niro and Lorraine Bracco; But who truly stands out is Ray Liotta. The voice over and the scenery comes together exactly in the right moment, and the delivery of each actor is brilliant.
Because of the great acting there are so many hilariously funny and memorable scenes. The "I amuse you?" scene in the casino or when Tommy, Henry & Jimmy want to explain why Tommy's shirt is full of blood to Tommy's mother are outrageously funny. The high use of violence, brutality and black humor isn't always easy to watch (when Tommy starts shooting at the waiter) but the standout performances make the story just so gripping and compelling.
So, Is "Goodfellas" flawless?
Actually, No.
The difference between "Goodfellas" and (considered the best movie of the genre) "The Godfather" is, that 1972's crime drama will take a straight up evil and bad man, and make him look human. That's just missing here. There are some tiny approaches of making Henry look human, but they just aren't as well executed as they should have been. In some way, unstable people may be disturbed by the glorification of the Mafia because in fact, there is no-one really to cheer for in "Goodfellas".
Except for this remark, I think "Goodfellas" is a brilliant movie, that perfectly captures the cruelty of the Mafia with standout performances by Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci, beautiful directing and a compelling storyline. 9/10