“Goodfellas” is on Max and it’s still the most enjoyable mobster classic
With many serious movie fans, the mobster movie genre comes down to one question.
The Godfather or Goodfellas?
Now, there are no wrong answers there, but when it comes to walking out of the theater or shutting off the television, the most enjoyable movie has the be the Martin Scorsese 1990 classic and it’s on MAX right now.
You’ve probably seen the story of Henry Hill by now, but in case you haven’t, we’ve got the late great Ray Liota both playing Hill and narrating the story, in one of the best narration jobs you’ll ever see. And keep in mind, this is before Liota got really big. You’ve also got Scorsese staples Robert Deniro, and Joe Pesci in his Oscar winning turn as the mobster mentors for Henry. And of course we can’t leave out Lorraine Bracco as Hill’s suffering wife, Karen.
You could write a book on the wins in “Goodfellas”. There is that legendary rolling shot through the supper club as we observe Henry and Karen walking to their front and center table. We’ve got Pesci explosions throughout the film. There is the “Cocaine” montage towards the end. And it just keeps going on and on. It’s world building 35 years ago that we still can’t get on a regular basis here today.
Negatives? Eh. Maybe a bit too long? That’s splitting hairs. But a lot of fans didn’t want Goodfellas to end. It’s that good. The movie did not win Best Picture. That went to “Dances with Wolves”. But you’ve got to wonder how that contest would go today.
If you’re a younger movie fan and want a classic that doesn’t strand you in the past, watch Goodfellas. It’s masterful storytelling that hasn’t been reached in the mobster movie ever since it was released.
Goodfellas:
Grade (1994 when I first saw the film): A+
Grade (2024): A+
What do you think of Goodfellas? Let me know in the comments.
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