As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster...

Rating: 10/10 (30 June 2009)

To be frank, "Goodfellas" is probably the best crime movie ever made. It is more than just a movie; it tells a captivating tale; it is perfectly cast; Scorsese's direction is at its utmost brilliance. In fact, I'd venture to say that "Goodfellas" far surpasses what Francis Ford Coppola's much-loved "The Godfather" has to offer.
In the first place, the entire sympathy for the characters of "The Godfather" depended on portraying them more as a dysfunctional family. This is not what a crime film should be. A crime film should be about *crime*, not men in tight suits pledging loyalty to each other. The characters of "Goodfellas" are, above all, gangsters. As a matter of fact, one of the very first lines is "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster". At the same time, however, Martin Scorsese does not glorify violence. He does not overemphasize blood spattering or disturbing death sequences. The violence here is realistic, precisely because it's cold, cruel, and emotionless. As a result, this film is one of the more realistic, plausible, and believable crime films out there.
Another thing that is better about "Goodfellas" is its length, 146 minutes compared to "The Godfather"'s 175. That might not seem like much at first, but think about it. That's just short of a half-hour. "The Godfather", as is, could've easily been trimmed down by an hour. That can't be said about "Goodfellas". Things just happen in the film; it's interesting all the way, even during its more contemplative parts. Additionally, the characters of "Goodfellas" are really compelling, but I will avoid going in-depth here.
Martin Scorsese is, as I've mentioned, at the top of his game when directing "Goodfellas". One particular shot near the end stands out. Scorsese makes use of the (as I like to call it) "Vertigo effect" (ie zooming in while tracking backwards; the characters in the foreground remain approx. the same size while there is a significant shift in the background). This shot has been overused to the point of becoming clichÃ©, yet it works effectively here. This is just one instance of Scorsese's fantastic work on this film. He constantly keeps the audience engaged in the film and the characters. In the blink of an eye, a scene can shift from comedic to horrific. Yet such transitions never seem jarring or awkwardly paced.
One more thought about the film: the upbeat soundtrack that accompanies "Goodfellas" is actually really well pulled off. Whenever a song plays, it fits in perfectly with the action, both in melody and lyrics.
The Verdict: This is what a crime film should be all about: realistic, entertaining, gripping. "Goodfellas" is just about flawless.
Overall Rating: 10/10