Goodfellas (Exclusive Series) (HBO Max)

Initial release date: September 19, 1990

Studios: Warner Bros.

Plot: A young man grows up in the mob and works very hard to advance himself through the marks. He enjoys his life of money and luxury, but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. A drug addiction and a few mistakes ultimately unravel his climb to the top.

Cast

Robert DeNiro - James Conway

Ray Liotta - Henry Hill

Joe Pesci - Tommy DeVito

Lorraine Bracco - Karen Hill

Paul Soevino - Paul Cicero

Frank Sivero - Frankie Carbone

Tony Darrow - Sonny Bunz

Mike Starr - Frenchy

Frank Vincent - Billy Batts

Chuck Low - Morris Kessler

Gina Mastrogiacomo - Janice Rossi

Debi Mazur - Sandy

Christopher Serrone - Young Henry

Kevin Corrigan - Michael Hill

Michael Imperioli - Spider

Writer(s): Nicholas Pileggi (book) (Casino)

Martin Scorsese (Silence)

Director: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman; Silence)

Rated R (146 min)

If any movie studio wants an excellent mob or gangster movie made, the man you go to is Martin Scorsese. The acclaimed filmmaker has directed numerous gangster films, and, of course, films that don’t have anything to do with gangsters lol. And, one of his best films in his entire filmography - the 1990 film ‘Goodfellas.’

This 1990 film is very gripping and extremely tense in parts. ‘Goodfellas’ also features quite a few memorable moments that will be remembered for years to come. The entire cast, even the performers who are in only a few scenes, do an amazing job.

Indeed, the film is roughly two and a half hours in length. But, all of the fast-paced sequences and intriguing moments helps the film fly by.

This Martin Scorsese feature film should most definitely be a must watch on everyone’s list. ‘Goodfellas’ can currently be streamed on the HBO Max streaming platform.

Here are quite a few interesting tidbits for ‘Goodfellas’:

• According to Henry Hill, whose life was the basis for the book and film, Pesci’s portrayal of Tommy DeSimone (the character’s real name) was 90-99& accurate, with one notable exception: the real Tommy DeSimone was massively built.

• According to Nicholas Pileggi, some mobsters were hired as extras to lend authenticity to scenes. The mobsters gave Warner Bros. fake SS numbers, and no one knows how they received their paychecks.

• The studio was initially very nervous about the film, due to its extreme violence and language. The film reportedly received the worst preview response in the studio’s history at that point. Nevertheless, the film was released without alteration to overwhelming critical acclaim, cementing Scorsese's reputation as one of America’s foremost filmmakers.

• Liotta’s mother died of cancer during filming. Liotta says he used his anger over losing his mother for certain scenes, the pistol-whipping scene in particular.

• In ‘The Real Goodfellas’ (a 2006 doc), which aired in the UK, Hill claimed that DeNiro would phone him six to eight times a day to discuss certain things about Jimmy’s character, such as how Jimmy would hold his cigarette.

• The line “As far back as I could remember, I’ve always wanted to be a gangster” was voted as No. 20 of “The 100 Greatest Movie Lines” by Premiere in 2007.

• After Pesci’s mother saw the film, she told him the movie was good, then asked him if he had to curse so much.

• Jimmy Burke (whom Jimmy Conway was based) would’ve been eligible for parole in 2004. He died of lung cancer in 1996, while still in prison.

• At Scorsese's request, associates of the actual people were always on the set of the film, giving helpful and essential info about the life, people, settings and moods.

• Ranked No. 2 on the AFIs list of the ten greatest films in the genre “Gangster” in June 2008.

• In 2000, the US Library of Congress selected the film for the National Film Registry.

• The Lufthansa heist remained an unsolved mystery until 2014. Most of the members of the crew that were still alive were elderly or arrested.

• After the premiere, Henry Hill went around and revealed his true identity. In response, the government kicked him out of the Federal Witness Protection Program.

• ‘Goodfellas’ is based on NY crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi’s book ‘Wiseguy.’ Scorsese didn’t intend to make another mob/gangster film, but he saw a review of the book, which he then read while working on the set of ‘The Color of Money’ in 1986.

https://youtu.be/2ilzidi_J8Q