Goodfellas (1990)

Goodfellas (1990)

8/10

Starring
Ray Liotta
Robert De Niro
Joe Pesci


Directed by Martin Scorsese

Goodfellas is the best way to see the mafia from the ground up. While The Godfather gives you a thrill of mafia life from the top, Goodfellas shows you what it’s like at the bottom, following three guys as they work their way up, making money, pulling jobs, and dealing with the harsh realities of the criminal underworld.

The film is based on New York crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi’s non-fiction book Wiseguy, which tells the real-life story of Henry Hill.

Goodfellas starts in the middle, moves backward, then forward. The screenplay was written by both Scorsese and Pileggi, who went through 12 different drafts before finalizing the script used in the film.

The movie follows Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), who always wanted to be a gangster. To help him along the way, he got a job with a mob boss while still in high school. That’s where he met two other gangsters—Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci). The three grew up together, committing crimes across the city, climbing the ranks, and making a name for themselves.

After pulling off a heist that took America by storm, the group started killing off everyone else involved, clearing their path up the mob hierarchy. But with success comes paranoia, and things start to spiral, leading to betrayal, chaos, and inevitable downfall.

With a powerhouse cast featuring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci, Goodfellas is widely regarded as one of the greatest crime films ever made. During its initial box office run, it was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Scorsese. It ultimately took home one Oscar—Best Supporting Actor for Joe Pesci. The film also earned critical acclaim at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), winning five awards, including Best Film and Best Director.

At the time, Goodfellas was Scorsese's most expensive film, though its budget was relatively small compared to other films of its caliber. It was well received by critics, holding a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The American Film Institute (AFI) ranks it as the second greatest gangster film of all time, right behind The Godfather (1972) and ahead of The Godfather Part II (1974).

Goodfellas is a great watch any day, any time. It stands out as one of the best depictions of mafia life—a film you’ll want to own right alongside The Godfather.