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In this masterpiece of a movie from one of the greatest after directors of our times, goodfellas was one of the most captivating movies it has ever been my privilege to watch. Martin Scorsese directed brilliantly in one of his greatest works since raging bull. He got together a wonderful cast of actors who all portrayed very convincing roles. The movie stars Ray Liotta, and co-stars Loraine back, Robert Deniro, and Joe pesci.
All three co-stars won Oscar nominations, but it was joe pesci who actually won an Oscar for his disturbing portrayal of Tommy devito under world crime hood. The movie was also nominated for best film. Now the reason why I choose goodfellas as my movie to write about was basically because I seen the movie about a thousand times and in my opinion the greatest film since the godfather movies (parts 1 and 2 of course). However, since I have taken your class, I have appreciated the movie so much more.
The approach I took in writing this paper was not one of a very technical shot for shot analysis, but a basic alkalization of the movie. I did however analyze important cuts and camera movements that were of significance and that best illustrate the style of Scorsese. The movie begins with the opening credits. Even the credits have there own special unique quality about them as the stroll past the screen. We then cut to the back of a Cadillac.
The camera then cuts to a medium close up of the star of the movie, Henry Hill, portrayed by Liotta. We then suddenly hear a sort of knocking coming from the back of the car. Henrys two passengers who are sitting in the back are also wondering what exactly the noise is. Henry pulls over the car. We then cut to the back of the car where all three passengers have exited the car and are now standing in front the trunk of the car. The lighting effects her is done beautifully in which the break lights let off an eerie kind of red lighting effect.
Henry then pops the trunk to reveal a bloodied man inside. Pesci then proceeds to stab the individual numerous times and then Deniro proceeds to unload his gun into the victim. What a great opening scene. Now if you have yet to see the film this would throw the average moviegoer off quite a bit. The reason being is not even five minuet's into the movie Scorsese has managed to shock the viewers with this violent scene.
And as henry closes the trunk on the now dead victim, he sat one of the most memorable lines in the movie, "as far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." We then hear a song beginning and we see a young henry hill staring out the window at the happenings in front of the neighborhood hangout for wise guys, the cab stand. We are now dating back about twenty years earlier and henry hill begins his narrative approach of explaining how it all began. We are then introduced to a new character named Paulie Sister portrayed by Paul Sorvino. When they show Paulie, he is basically in control of the scene.
The next few minutes of the movie show henry learning the ropes as he works for Paulie and Tutti, Paulie's brother. We now cut to the scene in which a young henry is making a sandwich when his father approaches henry with a letter. He then asks his son if he had a good day at school as henry answers yes. His father then proceeds to beat henry with a belt when all of a sudden the frame freezes on henrys father whipping him. As you see this freeze frame, henry is narrating the situation explaining how every man has to take a beating once in his life. With this freeze-frame signifies just one of the traits that scorsese does in his directing and editing.
This type of freeze frame as well as the voice over narrative going on at the same time is a reoccurring trick that scorsese uses through out the movie, which works to perfection. The next few minuets of the movie show how henry and tutti took car of all of paulie's calls and henry explains what exactly paulie's purpose was. He says that the are like a police force for wise guys, the offer protection for people who can't run to cops. We then get introduced to another significant character in the film, Jimmy "the gent" conway, portrayed by robert deniro.
Henry goes on to explain how Jimmy was a legend by the age of 29, and haw everybody wanted to be near him. We then have another freeze frame only his time it involves Deniro and the shot is about a medium close up with the narrative by henry hill in the back round. Also before I forget to mention, the sound track of the movies plays out beautifully and captures the essence of every scene. After a hijacking scene, which involves Jimmy, we cut to henry selling cigarettes at a corner with his new partner Tommy. Henry then gets pinched and is awaiting arraignment.
After the trial, jimmy congratulates henry on a job well done and gives him money. Henry is confused because he doesn't understand why he is being praised for getting pinched. Jimmy then explains to a young henry why he is so proud of him. He says" you took your first pinch like a man and you learned the two greatest lessons in life; never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.
We then cut to henry and jimmy walking out the door and very one is outside to congratulate henry. There is then another freeze frame of Henry being embraced by his wise guy friends. We are now at a scene where they are panning across an airport then to a truck driver exiting his truck. Then the camera pans upward and shows henry and tommy some 20 years later. As the truck driver walks in the dinner, henry and Tommy get in the truck and pull away.
As this scene is taking place, henry is narrating as he discusses that idelwad airport was like there city bank. Any time they needed money they would rob the airport. We then go to the scene where henry is walking through the bamboo lounge. The camera is tracking through the restaurant as henry is telling the audience who everyone is. This is a nice track shot in the fact that it is pretty long and at the end of the track henry comes out from behind the camera. Scorsese used this trick to give the idea that henry was walking through the restaurant and the camera was his eyes.
We then cut to probably the most memorable and famous scene in the movie. Tommy is working the room as he tells one of his stories, which has everybody around him in tears of laughter. Then the infamous how am I funny routine begins. He then proceeds to smack a bottle over the head of the owner who offends Pics. Then as henry walks he sees an associate walk in whom has a plan for a big caper. He then signals to tommy, then the camera zooms in on jimmy smoking a cigarette and he joins henry and his friend to discuss business.
We then cut too sunny the owner pleading his case to Paulie and asks him to take a piece of the joint. We then meet the love interest of henry in loraine bronco whom portrays karen, his Jewish date. She then begins to take over the narrative position in the movie. After a slow start henry and karen go on a another date. This scene begins with a close up shot of henrys crucifix, then pans up to his face. This was done to show emphasis on the fact that he is Italian, well half anyway, and his date is Jewish.
We then cut to the scene where henry is handing the valet his keys and there camera follows the couple all the way from outside, through the kitchen, and finally sitting down while watching a performance from penny youngman. This scene which carried from the car to the comedian was completely uninterrupted. It was one of the longest uninterrupted scenes ever to be captured in a movie. Also when penny youngman is doing his routine, the scene cuts to tommy and henry walking through the airport, however, you still hear penny youngman talking although he is no longer in the scene. Henry and tommy walk out with some baggage containing hundreds of thousands of dollars. The air France caper according to henry made him.
Basically by this time henry and karen fall in love. We then cut to morey's wig shop in which henry is asking morey for his money that he owes jimmy. Morey refuses to pat the rigorous vig that jimmy demands so morey being the ball breaker that he is winds up getting choked by jim...
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