Goodfellas

A perfect portrait of the brutality and cruelty of people who assume the role of demigods who decide the life and death of others. De Niro, with his fluffy shoulders and swaggering gait, is flawless. Ray Liotta in the only role he can be proud of. Joe Pesci would successfully reprise the role of the murderous brute a few years later in Casino. A mafia saga that would be a big mistake not to watch. (13/04/2003)

Scorsese’s grand work about gangsters from a slightly different perspective than we are used to, for instance, in The Godfather. This isn’t about the top ranks of the Mafia, but simply about the pawns for whom this is a job like any other. Perfect acting performances and unforgettable dialogs are just the tip of the iceberg of this perfectly cut and faceted diamond. (24/08/2007)

Goodfellas is awesome, it exudes life experience and it is very likely one Martin Scorsese’s best film. Robert De Niro is excellent and Joe Pesci is truly unforgettable and deservedly received an Oscar. A masterpiece of world cinematography. (09/03/2004)

If Leone hadn't made Once Upon a Time in America and Coppola had never made The Godfather, this would definitely be the best gangster movie of all time. It is “only” the third best. I don’t like the ending much. I should be, well, different. (19/09/2007)

One of the best mafia movies ever made. Maybe now (fresh from a sixth viewing) the best one ever. Scorsese's Goodfellas is in every way a masterpiece without compromise, where you literally devour every shot and every line. I really don't like to get too nostalgic about the fact that "they don't make movies like this anymore" and that "this just could never get made today". But I'll make an exception in the case of Goodfellas, because quite frankly I can't imagine anyone coming close to Martin Scorsese's mastery. Apart from the excellent casting (the phenomenal Joe Pesci at 163 cm and the incredibly stylish Robert De Niro, who has precious little space here), Goodfellas stands out for its storytelling style and overall almost inimitable directorial style. Can you honestly think of any other gangster film that is incredibly entertaining despite its chilling subject matter? The opening alone, with a voiceover by "young Ray Liotta", lets you know that you're really in the top league here. It's admirable that Martin Scorsese really doesn't lose his breath for a moment and manages to keep the viewer glued to the screen for the entire running time. Every time I watch Goodfellas, I am overwhelmed with sheer joy that something like this could have been made and that it hasn't aged a bit, even after all these 30 years. The elegance, the style, the charm, the lightness, and at the same time the unabashed fun within a very edgy story is intoxicating and inimitable. "That was it. No more letters from truant officers. No letters from school. In fact, no more letters from anybody. Finally after a few weeks, my mother went to the post office to complain." (19/11/2019)