-As far back as I can remember, I've never seen anything like this.

Rating: 9/10 (24 June 2015)

Martin Scorcese's "Goodfellas" is the true story about Henry Hill, and his 30 years in the mafia. Lets be straight. I have seen a lot of different movies through my time, good and bad, touching or disgusting, but this one takes the price. It's safe to say that this incredibly well directed and well played movie is my personal favourite.
Starting from the beginning, we se three guys, that is Henry and his two friends, driving a car on the highway in the middle of the night. Seems first like any other trip, but suddenly there is a strange noise coming from the car, and Henry turns to his friends. At first they all seem uncertain, but when they pull over, they all know where the sound is coming from, the trunk. We now witness the first of many coming violent scenes, as this is when they finish the job of getting rid of a mob-boss that they got in an argument with.
After the brutal killing act, we get thrown into the magical but yet horrifying world of the mafia, and Henry Hill, played by the actor Ray Liotta, starts to tell his story. We start in the 50's, how Henry first got connected, and then the whole movie follows his career through out the years. We witness the ups and downs of being a wiseguy, someone in the mafia.
I think what I most like about "Goodfellas" is that Henry is narrating throughout the movie. That is a concept I am very weak for when they use in movies, because it feels like you are in the movie with the main character, and that he in some way is communicating to you, It increases your connection and helps you to bond and feel sympathy for the character, no matter what kind of person he is.
Throughout the whole movie, no matter what he does, Henry has my sympathy and I route for him. I want him to succeed and don't care about the others. Because he briefly manages to convince you that life in the mafia is something glorious, that you have power, money, and respect, and you almost fall for it, The first half of the movie Scorcese puts in flashy 50's and 60's music, and creates a world of luxury built up by corruption and violence, but everything has its price.
Goodfellas is actually based on a true story. Almost everything in the movie has happened, and it is shocking to se how all the characters are willing to cross all lines in order to establish the kind of world and lifestyle that they want. Henry and his friends are willing to stop at nothing to get what they want, and that is also a point that Henry makes us very clear with in the beginning, that you take what you want in the mafia. It is a very tempting idea at first, but when you ask yourself truly what that really means, its like you wake up from a dream and realise what in gods name you are thinking.
Every scene is well made, and Scorcese uses his well developed directing skills as he captures the perfect moments. A lot of scenes illustrates a flashy and fun part of being in the mafia, while other scenes later in the movie breaks the good image and gives you the chills. Often when someone later on becomes hurt, but the best part is when you anticipate something, and it turns out totally different.
Every character has a different fate in this movie.
Its also safe to say that Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci manages to capture their roles outstandingly good, along with Ray Liotta. There are a lot of powerful scenes and great acting and integrating between the characters. They are so well played that you would not be surprised if any of them had a mysterious and haunted background. I have to mention the scene where Liotta and Pesci integrate, at a restaurant, and Pesci manages to fool not only the audience, but also Liotta himself and the people around them. Everyone thinks for a moment that Liotta is dead meat and and that he has isolated the short tempered Pesci. Outstanding. The scene was also improvised.
Until the very end, Goodfellas stays at the same level of perfection. I can only hope that that this will always remain among the most watched movies, and that everyone sees this at least once. Because it is vital to ask yourself, what am I willing to do for money and power, and what price would I be willing to pay?