Goodfellas

A "Don" of mafia films, Goodfellas was quite the ride for this week's classic film. Like The Godfather, Casino, and Scarface, Goodfellas is probably one of the best films in the genre. Full of twists and turns, this movie was tense from beginning to end. Everything about it from the characters, plot, scenery, music, and all the mayhem going on was spectacular.

Plot

I don't even know where to begin, and this won't be easy to explain spoiler-free. The plot is based off of a true story. Henry Hill is a man that lived his whole life in the American-Italian mob. It tracks his life from start to finish on his wild journey through cover ups, jobs, and general mob life. His entire story is packed into a two and a half hour movie, and there is a lot to fit in.

The plot, like a said above, was quite a ride. So much happens in so many ways, one minute you think you're watching a mob rendition of Ferris Beuller's Day Off then ten minutes later it's The Wolf of Wall Street. This fight continues until the very end when it flattens out to just pure chaos packed together. A string of emotions just rush through you so fast you begin to forget what you're supposed to feel at certain points. You may have been happy six minutes ago, but now you're sad. But the whole time you are so tense because there is not even the slightest clue of what will happen next.

Characters

The acting in Goodfellas was amazing. Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco as Henry and Karen Hill was a power couple. Teamed up with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Paul Sorvino creates an instant Italian mob. The chemistry between characters was passionate, yet creepy at times. They kept the spontaneity of "a smile one minute, a gun the next" plot. There isn't much to say other than praise from all the actors.

Scenery

The scenery of the film was humble, which is what I believe it was meant to be. It's a true story, so basic sets are the usual for films like these. The camera acted as an almost aside to what was going on in the story. Something will be happening between characters, while you can watch what's going on behind them.

Overall I would highly recommend you take a seat and watch Goodfellas. It is already a top rated movie. I would recommend this for any one looking for something intense, or getting into the mafia genre. It is not for children (obviously) or anyone a bit squeamish towards violence, it's the mob.

Finally, I wanted to let you know that I created a YouTube account where I may post a podcast of a movie review every now and then. I might even have a guest to discuss the films with me. If you want to go check it out, look here.