One of the finest films of the ’90s, or of any decade for that matter, has finally been given the DVD special treatment it deserves. Martin Scorsese’s “Goodfellas” is one movie that truly is a “modern masterpiece.”
That term is applied to many films today, but few are as universally acclaimed as Scorsese’s exploration of life in the mafia. The general consensus is that “Goodfellas” ranks alongside three cinematic landmarks in Scorsese’s long career –“Mean Streets,” “Taxi Driver,” and “Raging Bull”– and was ranked the 94th best film of all-time by the American Film Institute’s list of the top 100 movies of film’s first 100 years.
“Goodfellas” presents the mafia in a completely opposite light from that of director Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather.” Where Coppola’s film glamorized the mafia lifestyle, Scorsese’s film paints a realistic and, frankly, ugly picture of organized crime.
“Goodfellas” is a fascinating, dynamic film that showcases Scorsese’s superb direction. Furthermore, it contains great performances from an all-star cast.
The story is about three decades of life in the mafia, as experienced by central character Henry Hill (Ray Liotta). The movie is told from his perspective via voice-over narration, and it begins with Hill’s induction into the mafia.
From there, we witness his rise to fortune and respect and, eventually, his fall from stature. In the course of events, he marries Karen (Lorraine Bracco) and develops friendships with fellow mobsters Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci). These four characters form the foundation around which most of the plot events unfold.
While all of these actors turn in outstanding performances, the true impact of the film lies with Scorsese, who demonstrates his incredible talent with this film. Scorsese employs numerous narrative and stylistic techniques to enhance the story, including non-chronological storytelling and unrestricted voice-over narration (Henry and Karen both are heard on voice-over talking about each other). But what Scorsese really utilizes is the camera. He keeps the camera moving, giving the film a heightened sense of energy. In addition, the soundtrack gives the story a strong sense of place and time.
The film alone is worthy of purchase, but now Warner Bros. has revamped the film and supplied fans with the special edition DVD. The original DVD version required the viewer to flip the disc over mid-movie (a slap in the face to film fans), but this is no longer the case. On disc one of the special edition, we are treated to the complete film, as well as two commentary tracks, one from the principle cast and crew, the other from the real-life Henry Hill on whom the film is based, and the FBI agent who investigated him.
Neither commentary actually analyzes the film scene by scene, but nevertheless, the cast and crew supplies interesting back-story and behind-the-scenes information. The Hill/FBI agent commentary is intermittently interesting.
Disc two features four featurettes, one of them the making of the film. This is an insightful, 30-minute piece that explains the adaptation of the novel “Wiseguy” by Nicholas Pileggi into the movie, Scorsese’s directing style, the casting of the roles, the editing process, and the selection of the music. Another featurette is a short interview with Henry Hill in which he talks about his life as a gangster and how it was presented on the screen. The third featurette will be of interest to film buffs, as it features interviews with a number of directors, such as Joe Carnahan, the Hughes brothers, Richard Linklater, Jon Favreau, Antoine Fuqua, and Frank Darabont, who have all been influenced by Scorsese and “Goodfellas.” Also found on this disc is a brief montage of script notes with screen shots and the theatrical trailer.
“Goodfellas” is undoubtedly a milestone in American cinema, and it has finally received the ultimate DVD treatment. Hopefully, this will help preserve this landmark film for future generations to experience. And even for those who have already seen the movie, “Goodfellas” is just as powerful and visceral today as it was over a decade ago.