The Best film of the 1990's

Rating: 10/10 (11 March 2004)

I hate it when people ask me what my favorite movie of all time is. That is like asking an art lover what their favorite painting is. Break it down to favorite abstract painter, favorite contemporary artist, and you might get a more definitive answer. So asking a movie buff what their favorite film is not entirely fair. I have a favorite comedy, a favorite drama, horror, foreign film etc., but to pick one from the bunch is more question than I can handle.
Given my above conundrum, if I was ever to amass a list of best-evers, 1990's Goodfellas would surely be near the top of the list. Directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring an all-star cast including Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci and Ray Liotta, Goodfellas was nominated for six Academy Awards including Best Picture. Although at the end of the March ceremony, only one award was engraved with a participant's name - Pesci for Supporting Actor - Goodfellas remains as maybe the best film of the 1990's.

Based on the novel 'Wiseguy', by Nicholas Pileggi, the movie follows the true story of Henry Hill (Liotta), as he rises through the ranks of the mob. From child to young adult, we watch Henry as he gains acceptance, gets married, and goes to jail, starts dealing drugs, all leading to his capture by authorities.
Along for the wild ride of mob hits, heists and murders are Jimmy and Tommy (DeNiro and Pesci, respectively), two lifetime mobsters that take Henry under their wings and teach him the ropes. Jimmy is the elder statesman who handles things professionally and is respected for his calm demeanor. Tommy is the hot-head stereotype who resorts to violence whenever threatened. Together, they provide the perfect balance for Henry as he tries to cope with life in the underworld while maintaining a normal life presence.
Goodfellas is a near perfect film. Scorsese has cast each part with actors born to play their role. From Paul Sorvino as the mob figurehead to Lorraine Bracco in a breakthrough performance as Henry's love interest, the cast fits together like a leather glove. And they each have cool names to boot. There is Spider, Fat Andy, Pete the Killer and Jimmy Two Times just to ramble off a few. Whether you were a bit player or someone with a bigger trailer, Scorsese handles everyone with crafted dialogue and incredible attention to authenticity.
What also makes Goodfellas so good, are the costumes and set design that bring us right back to the 70's and 80's tacky kitchens and pastel living room furniture. Scorsese does well in bringing us through multiple decades and showing the natural progression of the actors and their belongings as time marches forward.
Even the voice over works. Not a fan of this cheap tactic to move a story forward, Henry Hill bursts narration throughout the film with quotes like, `Jimmy was the kinda guy that rooted for bad guys in the movies' and `Whenever we needed money, we'd rob the airport. To us, it was better than Citibank.' Each narration brings either humor or does well in helping us grow with the characters and eventually cheering for violence bearing mafia.
But if I could pick one thing to give the director his chops, it would have to be in his depiction of Henry Hill. By taking his time with the story (the movie does run 145 minutes), we can follow Henry through the many stages of his involvement. When Henry is involved with his first encounter with violence, it is a believable occurrence based on the progression. And when Henry begins selling drugs, we may not agree, but we can definitely understand what brought him and his family to that stage of their lives.
The DVD comes without many special features, and that is too bad. It would be interesting to hear Scorsese talk about how some cast members (Michael Imperioli and Tony Sirico) went on to become famous with the Soprano's, or how he was able to nab Samuel L. Jackson and Vincent Gallo for parts all but forgotten by the audience before the end credits.
Five stars are not to be taken or given lightly. Goodfellas deserves every one of them.