Good Fellas (1990) *****

In my previous reviews of Taxi Driver and Raging Bull I mentioned that Martin Scorsese was screwed by the Academy in not receiving and Oscar for either of those films. Goodfellas is the third one he got screwed on. It's the story of a Brooklyn youth who slowly becomes indoctrinated into the Mafia and how the world of gangsters in New York City worked in the '50's, '60's, and '70's. It sounds like a simple story, but it isn't. There's a ton of threads rolling around in Goodfellas, but Scorsese is able to present them in a way that keeps the viewer entranced with what's going on before them.

The core Goodfellas are Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci with Liotta playing the lead role of Henry Hill. These three work together so well that they become their characters and you feel like they've known each other for the three decades that this film follows. De Niro plays the sort of patriarch gangster Jimmy Conway, who isn't quite the boss (who is played masterfully by Paul Sorvino) but has a lot of pull and is feared in the underworld. Joe Pesci won the Oscar for best supporting actor for his role as Tommy DeVito, a psychotic hitman who is still pretty damn likable throughout the film.

Goodfellas is based on the book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi who co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese. There is no specially written soundtrack to this film as the director has opted to go with music from each era that's represented, which helps with the effect. The films pace is breathtaking as we go from one event to another. A lot of time and information is covered, yet you don't feel bombarded nor do you feel like somethings left out. It's perfect.

Goodfellas is probably the best gangster movie ever made. When compared to the Godfather this is a grittier film that feels more true to life than Coppola's epic. What's really funny about Goodfellas is that it's really a film about a fall from grace, but not like the way it's typically portrayed. It's a classic.