Goodfellas

“celebrating wise guys”

From the emblematic narration weaving in and out of our ears to the freeze frames jolting us into a sudden pause and, not to mention, the amount of stylish suave that serves as a feast for our eyes, Martin Scorsese has essentially woven his own fashion of storytelling that effortlessly feels watchable, hard-hitting and, simply put, spectacular.

Goodfellas tells the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a mob in the Italian crime syndicate, with his associates Jimmy Conway, Tommy DeVito, and wife Karen Hill. Arguably Martin’s most indelible picture and the one that sets him as a pivotal force in American cinema, Goodfellas doesn’t miss a beat. This three-hour epic gangster biopic flows seamlessly from scene to scene, keeping you enthralled throughout with the use of the director’s now-familiar techniques. Like an addictive pop song, this film carries an allure that can’t be missed nor forgotten, it’s easy to watch yet layered in thematic depth and characterization that shows more than meets the eye.

This is only greatly reinforced by Scorsese’s synonymous combination, the leading three, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, but let’s not forget the power of Lorraine Bracco, who all lift this film’s caliber to an all-time classic height with endless quotations and unforgettable scenes. Yes, we’re all thinking of the same one, I’m sure. Whilst these wise guys establish the madness of this world, imbuing male rage, there’s a certain cinematic quality that gives this film and even more powerful aura and that’s the use of color in an impeccably arranged set design.

All in all, Goodfellas is sheer proof that Martin Scorsese is a master of his own craft, giving us another Magnum Opus to rewatch time and time again.