I'll never understand the love for Goodfellas... There can't be anything worse in cinema than having Ray Liotta provide narration in a film... frankly, I abhor narration in any film that isn't a documentary, with very few exceptions... but, Mr. Liotta's particular whiny, unweaned shrill tones add that little extra something that take it to greater irritating levels... Two of the central characters were irredeemably obnoxious (Ray's and Lorraine's respectively) and their downward spiral was less dramatically disquieting and more nails-on-a-chalk-board annoying, their "romance" in their kind of "sophisticated" criminal environment... played less like two adults pushing the envelope of their indulgences, and more like two juvenile delinquents on an idiotic escapade of excess... Bob De Niro and Joe Pesci were the only bright spots in the entire film... At the end, in a movie that results in an old-fashioned mafia internal cleansing/murderous reckoning... the two characters I did want to see end up dead, lived... It was a truly horrible movie watching experience for me... In the Godfather I and II, you had a plethora of interesting characters, story and backstory wonderful executed, universally brilliant acting, beautiful cinematography, and a charming musical score... equally.. Goodfellas, had two interesting/fun characters (James Conway and Tommy DeVito) portrayed engagingly by one incredible actor, and one terrific character actor... A dull story supported by a woefully, regrettably narrated backstory... and doo-wop... How anyone can list Goodfellas above The Godfather, either I or II... is a mystery to me...
The narrating is such a small part of the film and only in a few scenes, it's not like Shawshank where almost every scene is narrated. Goodfellas is fantastic because the writing, the acting, and nuances as a whole are brilliantly done. Every scene is a stand alone gem, it's much more than DeNiro and Pesci. Even minor characters like Morrey and Carbone bring a lot to the film. It really is Scorcesi's masterpiece. <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/7FnAV1XbfKE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It's funny to read a thread and discover that you posted in it. Funnier to find you knew things 10 years ago that you don't know now.
The godfather II is incredibly boring, takes forever to get going. Goodfellas on the other hand, brilliant from beginning to end, Engaging from start to finish with performances through the roof!!! How can you not pick Goodfellas over The Godfather?
Boom, nailed it! Make these a priority, OP. In terms of great non-mob "gangster" movies: The Departed Scarface Pulp Fiction
Did you attend the Robert McKee seminar... <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/o2fz_elzjF4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
The Godfather for sure. Big fan of Mario Puzo. Off the topic a bit: It defined our modern perception of the Italian Mafia, away from the previously cartoonish image.. i.e. Cagney. There's lot of quotes from the movie now synonymous with the mafia. "It's not personal, just business", "Keep your friend close, but keep your friends closer" (a paraphrasing of Sun Tzu). Even the term "Godfather" became associated with the mob. Mario Puzo only wrote the Godfather because his previous book "the Dark Area", while critically acclaimed, wasn't a financial success. He wrote the Godfather to sell books and thought it was somewhat sleazy. I consider it a master piece. A lot of the characters resembles real life mobsters like Moe Green and Hyman Roth and the Frank Sinatra guy. Frank hated Puzo and called him a "bum" for writing a book which sort of suggest Frank was associated with the mafia. Puzo's response was "I made it all up".
le cercle rouge le samourai bonnie and clyde shoot the pianist do these next two count as gangster movies? a bout de souffle the bad sleep well (kurosawa) on my list for all time favorite scenes: Spoiler <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k4R5wZs8cxI?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> james cagney's gangster films were great. also can't leave out the original G: Spoiler edward g. robinson scarface by howard hawks is another great one from old hollywood. which was a remake of the hong kong film infernal affairs. i thought it was good but liked the young and dangerous series more. these were more b-movie though. the japanese made some good yakuza b-movies in the 60s/70s but they were more exploitation revenge.
City of God. Best gangster movie (excluding Goodfellas) Elite Squad Outrage Romper Stomper All not American gangster movies but still really good. Best underrated gangster film that I hardly hear anyone mention. Road to Perdition
