Goodfellas might just be Martin Scorsese’s very best movie. Based on the novel Wiseguy, Goodfellas follows the life of real-life mobster Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) as he gradually goes from petty crime to violent murders alongside associates James Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci). Like the rest of his mob movies, Scorsese incisively explores the violent, sociopathic tendencies at the heart of mobsters, juxtaposing their actions with stellar camerawork and a catchy classic rock soundtrack. The characters come to impressive life thanks to iconic performances by Liotta, De Niro, and Pesci, all equally full of charm and malice. Lorraine Bracco’s performance is also underrated, as the long-suffering Mrs. Karen Hill, a mob wife as full of life as the mobsters themselves. Like the rest of Scorsese’s filmography, Goodfellas is a masterpiece that’s compulsively watchable thanks to his world-class direction.
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Genre: Drama
Rating: R
Runtime: 2h 26m
Rotten Tomatoes: 96% (Critics) 97% (Audience)
