RateItAll: The Opinion Network

A masterpiece. Much more true to life than the more popular Godfather series. Great cast, direction, acting, and dialogue. See it...Now! Not for the kiddies please.

Released in 1990, it has to make anyone's best films of the decade. . .flawless, fascinating, well-acted and shot. . .

Very good acting, but I don't get America's fascination with the romanticising of the mob.

Very strong performances from Liotta and Pesci. Brilliant job by De Niro. A great movie. Nasty, but great.

Among the greatest gangster movies of all time, I have to give Goodfellas a slight edge over The Godfather, which are two of my favorite movies. Very violent, but that was truly the life of a gangster. Joe Pesci's portayal of Tommy D makes you love him, and hate him. He cracked me up in the scene in the restaurant("What do you mean I'm funny?"), the scene where he and Henry are purposely setting fire to the restaurant("You look like you're decorating a Christmas tree, you don't know what you're doin'!), and the scene after he killed "Spider("He woulda grown up to be a rat anyway..his family are all rats!"), but the scene where he kills "Stax," and Morie in cold blood, and just his overall nastiness could make you glad he met the end that he did. The movie somewhat made the boss Paulie Vario to be some kind of affectionate teddy bear type, which wasn't the case with the real Paulie, but it was well-acted. I've lost count on how many times I've seen this movie, and I'm sure I'll see it many more times.

I think this is one of the more realistic gangster films.The acting was excellent,and the action was not too over the top.The comic relief didn't hurt,either.

I thought I'd get bored by this excellant movie, but it ended up being one of the most interesting, entertaining things I've ever seen. Awesome acting, fascinating plot based on a true story, funny and intriguing narration by Liotta.

at first i douted the style of the movies but as i watched it i really began to understand the characters and the film really grew on me

A mesmerizing look into the lives an organized crime family through the eyes of a neighborhood Irish/Italian kid (Played as an adult by Ray Liotta) recruited at a young age to perform small jobs and later rising through the ranks as a soldier and racketeer. Director Martin Scorsese's masterpiece epic features a brilliant ensemble cast, (including many of his group of "regulars" from earlier fims including; "Mean Streets", "The Raging Bull", and later, "Casino.") an excellant soundtrack, and many depictions of graphic violence. While the film is laced with dark and subtle humor, certain scenes are not for the squeemish. Robert Dinero co-stars as the brutal Irish-American thug Jimmy Conway, giving a powerful, and menacing performance. Paul Sorvino, as mob boss Paul Cicero is also standout as is Lorraine Brocco as the wife of Henry Hill (Liotta). The breakout star of the film is Joe Pesci (winner of the Best Supporting Actor for his role in the fim), who, as the sociopathic Tommy DeVito, steals nearly every scene that involves him, and his murder at the hands of the family that be believes he is moving up in, signals the downhill slide of the principal characters and of the tale itself. With Tommy eliminated, the shady world that had been illuminated for it's glamour and allure, quickly reveals massive, unrepairable cracks eventually ending with all of the players either dead or in prison. Scorcese purposefully lures the viewers into this tale of high times and easy money before dropping the inevitable trap door that springs to life the eternal message that, "Crime doesn't pay!" Scorsese's mob films are not at all like Coppolla's "Godfather" series as the graphic nature and profanity laced dialogue is less likely to create the image of the sort of "tragic hero" portayed by Al Pacino, Marlon Brando (and a young Robert Deniro) who appear as almost likable family men whereas the boys in the Cicero gang are more of the ruthless killer type. The classic scene in which Joe Pesci's Tommy "D" has Ray Liotta's character nearly crapping himself before a confused bunch of his cohorts while reveling in a nightclub ("You think I'm a clown? I amuse you? What the f@#k is so f@#king funny?...) shows how quickly these so-called friends can turn on each other and how confused and terrified they are in each other's presense. In my opinion, this is one of the ten best films made on American soil and it was and outright robbery that it was not named best picture and Scorsese also lost out on being named best director. This movie is popular with filmgoers, film students, and artists alike. How many lines can you recite from "Dances with Wolves?" (1990's Best Film and Best Director, Kevin Costner) I guess crime doesn't pay.

A bit violent for my tastes, but very well written and acted.

BEST OF ALL TIME

Best Damn Scorcese Movie Ever hands down.

What I'm clown, I'm her to amuse you. Greatest mob movie of all time.

Easily one of the best movies ever made. Martin Scorsese has a directing style unlike any other and this movie presents both a serious and laid-back look at the Mafia. Ray Liotta delivers quite possibly his best performance as Henry Hill (Remember, this movie is based on a true story). GoodFellas is different from other ganster films such as The Godfather and Scarface, but in a very good way. If you see this movie at the end the only way you will able to sum up what you just saw is: Holy S***!

I like it better than the Gocfather, but for one reason I think I always miss the subtle genius of the Godfather movies...

I am not a mafia movie fan, but I first caught this movie on HBO back in the early '90's and I was hooked. With apologies to Scarface and the Godfathers, if you are going to see a mob this is the one and only to see. Period.

What can I say. Simply the best gangster film of all time. I have never heard more people quoting lines from any other movie.. Even to this day!

I'm a big fan of Scorsese, and(f.y.i) Raging Bull is one of me favorite movies.After Godfather pt1 & pt2,Goodfellas is the best mob movie. What makes it great is that the movie breaksthrough the mob genre it's a great overall movie.

Awesome movie. Better than the Godfather, even.

This movie is in my personal top ten. the chemistry between Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci is not unlike Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney, a perfect pairing. But Pesci steals the scene as a ruthless gangster,as he did in Casino

For anyone who gets stranded on a deserted island and who always wanted to be a gangster,this is the video ;flawless.

Fantastic Movie.

This is one of Scorsese's best. Probably his most entertaining film.

best mob movie i have seen!

Great Mob movie, I would put this one up with the Godfather, different but quality wise it's real close. DeNiro, Pesci , Ray Liotta were great, and so are the supporting actors. This is one of the best movies period.

One of the most outstanding films about the mob. Great performances by Robert DeNiro, Ray Liotta and Joe Pesci.

Fantastic movie...seeing the mobsters transform thru the 70's and 80's...the bloodshed..the mafia banter...i never get sick of seeing this movie... Deniro's gangster laugh kills me!!!...he is the mob.

One of the best mob movies ever made. Ray Liotta is excellent in this depiction of the rise and fall of a half Italian unmade mobster. Beautifully supported by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, this film is worth watching. Funny thing though, I found that I did not actually enjoy the movie until the second time I saw it. Let it grow on you a little.

A top five movie of all time!

full of memorable scenes and characters. peschi especially.

A fantastic movie from start to finish! Was the first time I ever saw the acting of both Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco and they both were superb! Great story and really great acting. It's one of those movies I have taped and can watch over and over and enjoy it each time!!

Probably my favorite movie of all time. Scorsese captures the personalities of that era/lifestyle flawlessly. Every word in the dialogue and every song on the soundtrack are so carefully hand-picked...This is one of those few movies that simply won't get old. I plain-and-simple can not watch the scene where Pesci critiques his mom's artwork without cracking up laughing. ("I love it. One dog goes one way, another dog goes the other. And the guy in the back, he's sayin' 'What you want from me?'")

The best gangster movie of all time--better than The Godfather. It's not so much a story, but rather an extremely entertaining collection of classic scenes. One of those rare films that you love more every time you see it. Superb use of oldies music. GoodFellas really engages you from the start, and takes you on one heckuva ride. Maybe not his best (Raging Bull is), but definitely Scorsese's most entertaining movie.

Frankly, I've never really considered this to be in the same league as the Godfather movies, but it is still a great movie. When I think of this one, I always remember the scene where Joe Pesci borrows his mother's big knife, and then he goes and offs that guy with it, stabbing him as he's laying there half dead in the trunk of the car. It's pretty gruesome, but a very memorable scene.

This is my favorite movie of all time. I've read the book too (called "Wise Guys"), the book and movie are equally superb. Robert Deniro portrays Jimmy the Gent beautifully (of course, would you expect any less from Deniro?). He has a certain charisma that will never be possessed by any other actor...it's undescribable. Ray Liotta did an excellent job of portraying Henry Hill..I love his cool and calm demeanor through out the movie (except when he goes into panic mode toward the end). Another great, Joe Pesci. Goodfellas is his best performance. Any guy that can portray a member of the mobb and then go on to play a crook in a kids movie (Home Alone) deserves credit. My favorite part of the movie? The scene with Billy Batts. Moral: Don't bang on the trunk. Most tantalizing movie ever! Definatley a classic!

ProbabLY the best Mob movie ever made, much better than The Godfather, to my mind. Ray Liotta is terrific, and Deniro and Pesci at their finest. Great story, great action and it's all TRUE

One of the best movies ever!

This movie is absolutely my favorite gangster movie. It's a great storyteller that doesn't lose you at all. It's a 2 1/2 hour movie that doesn't even feel like one because it keeps you in so much suspense. I love it. Every actor played a vital role in this movie.

The most entertaining of all of Martin Scorsese's film and a candidate for the best film of the nineties. It's just so fun to watch Paukie, Jimmy, Henry and especially Tommy do their thing! In every single shot, you can clearly see Scorsese recalling his childhood days, sitting in front of a movie screen and watching gangster movies. "Goodfellas" is a masterpiece.

I believe that GoodFellas is an absolutely astounding and brilliant film with great acting, dialogue, directing (Scorsese shines again), and one of the best views on the mob. Maybe not as haunting as The Godfather, but it's still one of my favorite movies. Summary: ONE OF THE GREAT FILMS OF THE 90s - BRILLIANT!

scorstassy hits the spot again(even though I spelled his name wrong). this movie is cool, the gangsters are lovable and hateable. very twisted, I love it

Astonishing movie, from the virtuostic direction and film editing to the brilliant ensemble cast. My only (minor) complaints are about the soundtrack. First off, it is a little too relentless. The pop songs are NONSTOP. Secondly, for most of the movie, the music parallels the setting, but towards the end, the music and the era that is being depicted are a mismatch. Still, a brilliant movie from Scorcese, as good as Taxi Driver, maybe better.

One of the very best ganster films ever made. Totally watchable, superb direction from Scorsese, first class acting all round especially from De Niro and Joe Pesci. Brilliant music and superb editing.

Scorsese is a genius! Pechi and Liota steal the show!

A excellent film by any genre's standards. The only effective voice over that doesn't either (1) numb the mind or (2)unconfuse a convoluted plotline. Rather, it is essential to the narrative. And this is in ADDITION to the performances, editing, and camerawork. I would be surprised if anything could be dreamt up to beat it, especially considering it is non-fiction. The highest commendations to all involved.

I took an organized crime class in college and the class was great. Our professor gave this one lecture where he explained how the mafia worked. When I saw this movie, it followed his lecture almost for the letter! So I would say this movie is great for another more important reason that the wonderful acting and the great writing. It offers a real insight into how the Mafia worked.

I love mafia movies. This one is no exception. The writing and directing are great. The only problem I had was believing Ray Liotta as a mobster.

Goodfellas is one of my favorites because of Joe Pesci. His character along with all of the characters drew me into the plot. Mofia movies have always intruiged me. This movie did because of that.

Goodfella's is one of my favorite movies. It is well writeen and well acted by Robert DiNiro and Joe Pesci. It is a classic gangster movie that everyone should see.

One of the best modern gangster films of all time. Joe Pesci in one of his best roles, with his classic scene "funny how!" The rise and fall of big-time, small time criminals with no "family" backing them. Plus, the youthful shots of Ray Liota's character in the beginning of the film are a nice touch.

I liked it a lot. Nothing else to say. Good all around.

This is the best mob movie ever. Joe Pesci, Robert DeNiro, and Ray Liotta give great performances.

It was almost as good as The Godfather, but not quite. Good dialogue and acting. The movie is based on a true story.

GoodFellas is full of action and violence which I really enjoy watching. The cast was really good and had Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci, who are good actors. The movie was about the Mob and that is interesting.

I thought that Goodfellas was a great movie with a great cast. I thought it was as good as the book, lots of action, and a little comedy. I thought they also did a good job portraying the Mob.

Great movie. Pesci is a straight badass. This movie can never get old.

This is not your usual Mafia movie. This movie is based on a true story, and that's what makes it great.

Another great movie. I really like these kind of movies, the "mafioso" movies. I like how they showed very little detail of his life, how he became one of the Goodfellas, and how he got out. Plus, it's a real story.

The best mob movie I have ever seen. Ray Liotta, Robert DeNiro, and Joe Pesci are one of the best acting trios. I thought those three had the most realistic portrayal of mobsters.

Best gangster movie I have ever seen. If you have five hours to spare and like to whack things, watch this.

Astonishing look at Mafia life. Great actors.

One of the best from the 90's. Liota and Deniro are great. I have rarely seen a soundtrack compliment a movie this well.

Joe Pesci plays Tommy in this movie. Another gangster movie featuring killing people, drug abuse, and family war. Great movie for all the gang bangers out there.

This is one of my top 5 all time favorite movies. I love anything and everything regarding the mob and this movie gives me a big dose of mobsters. I don't know if it is love as much as fascination. The acting is great. It has a lot of big names like Robert DeNiro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Leota. It goes through a long period of time and the characters really develop throughout the film.

In my opinion this movie excedes, by far, The Godfather when it comes to portraying the mafia in a realistic way. There is no sugar-coating found here. Joe Pesci is perfect as a half crazy risk taking murderer who can still make you laugh. Lorraine Bracco, Robert De Niro, and Ray Liota are all in top form as well.

I recently saw this again on TV and I had forgotten how great this film was. Even though a lot of it was cut out due to profanity, it reminded me that I need to rent it again and soon. In terms of mob movies, this one ranks just a hair below Godfather and Godfather II. Joe Pesci was at his psychotic and comedic best and his performance provides enough of reason by itself to see this film. The movie's climactic scene is shot superbly. I've never done cocaine, but after watching that scene, I have a pretty good idea of how I would feel.

Excellent movie!!

This movie was too violent for me. Towards the end, I got tired of all the bullet riddled corpses. I mean it actually distracted me from the storyline.</