Goodfellas (1990)
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The film follows the rise and fall of a mob associate navigating the dangerous allure of the Italian-American criminal underworld.
The story
In 1955, teenager Henry Hill becomes enamored by the criminal life and Mafia presence in East New York, a working class Italian American neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York City. He begins working for local caporegime Paulie Cicero and his associates Jimmy Conway, an Irish American truck hijacker and gangster, and Tommy DeVito, a fellow juvenile delinquent predisposed to violence. Henry begins as a fence for Jimmy, gradually working his way up to more serious crimes. The narrative follows his immersion into the lifestyle, his involvement in high-stakes heists, and the escalating consequences of his choices within the organized crime structure.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film follows Henry Hill from 1955 to 1980 as he rises through the ranks of the mob. He begins as a fence for Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito, eventually participating in major crimes like the 1967 Air France robbery and the 1978 Lufthansa vault heist. Along the way, he marries Karen Friedman, who becomes seduced by his lifestyle. The narrative details the violent repercussions of their actions, including the murder of Billy Batts and the subsequent disposal of his body. By 1978, Henry expands a cocaine business, leading to his arrest. After being paroled, he is eventually abandoned by his associates and becomes a 'schnook' in the witness protection program, reflecting on his former life. The film concludes with Henry's realization of the emptiness of his former existence.
- First release year
- 1990
- Runtime (minutes)
- 146
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Martin Scorsese
- Writers
- Nicholas Pileggi · writer; Martin Scorsese · writer
- Cast and characters
- Robert De Niro · Jimmy Conway; Ray Liotta · Henry Hill; Joe Pesci · Tommy DeVito; Lorraine Bracco · Karen; Paul Sorvino · Paulie
- Genres
- biographical; gangster; crime drama
- Themes
- loyalty; consequences of crime; addiction
- Tone and mood
- tense; fast-paced
- Premise and plot tags
- true story; mafia; crime
- Source material / true-story basis
- Wiseguy
- Content notes
- language; cultural stereotypes
- Reception
- The film received widespread acclaim and is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made, particularly in the gangster genre, with critical consensus calling it a 'gangster classic'.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 92 · scale: 100 · review count: 21
- Awards and nominations
- Silver Lion · Best Director · win; Academy Award · Best Supporting Actor · win; BAFTA · Best Film · win; BAFTA · Best Director · win
- Production trivia
- The film was originally titled 'Wise Guy'.; The film inspired the creation of The Sopranos.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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