January 04, 2022
'Goodfellas'
As far back as The Ringer's Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, and Sean Fennessey can remember, they always wanted to be a gangster. We take a seat right up front at the Copacabana to revisit Martin Scorsese's 1990 classic 'Goodfellas' starring Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Lorraine Bracco.
Cast
Ray Liotta as Henry Hill
Robert De Niro as Jimmy Conway
Joe Pesci as Tommy DeVito
Lorraine Bracco as Karen Hill
Paul Sorvino as Paulie Cicero
Frank Vincent as Billy Batts
Michael Imperioli as Spider
Mike Starr as Frenchy
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Martin Scorsese, Nicholas Pileggi
Cinematography by: Michael Ballhaus
Notes
- Budget: $25.1 million; grossed $47.1 million.
- Scorsese cold-called Pileggi after reading Wiseguy: 'I've been waiting for this book my entire life.' Pileggi replied: 'I've been waiting for this phone call my entire life.'
- The 'You're a funny guy' scene was ad-libbed by Pesci and Liotta, based on a real incident where Pesci complimented a mobster while working as a waiter. Only Pesci, Liotta, and Scorsese knew what was happening.
- De Niro called Henry Hill 7-8 times a day asking about Jimmy Burke – how he held his cigarette, wore his shoes. Demanded new outfits for every scene and real money instead of props for the craps scene.
- The phone booth scene after Tommy's death was shot only once.
- Paul Sorvino almost dropped out, thinking he wasn't 'cold enough'; changed his mind after seeing his own frightening expression in the mirror.
- 43 songs on the soundtrack – Scorsese planned all of them 3 years before shooting. The Layla montage was timed on set to the music.
- Focus group reactions to the cocaine helicopter sequence were so negative ('fuck you' on comment cards) that Scorsese made it even faster.
- Scorsese removed 10 frames of blood to avoid an X rating. 321 uses of 'fuck' in the film.
- Henry Hill was paid $480,000 for the movie rights.
- 27 actors appeared in both 'Goodfellas' and The Sopranos. David Chase cited 'Goodfellas' as a major Sopranos inspiration.
- Michael Imperioli broke a glass and cut his hand during filming; Scorsese told him 'someday you'll be telling this story on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' – which he did in March 2000.
- Liotta turned down Harvey Dent in Tim Burton's 'Batman' to do this film.
- 6 Oscar nominations. Pesci won Best Supporting Actor ('It's my privilege. Thank you.'). Lost Best Picture and Best Director to Dances with Wolves.
- The Copacabana Steadicam shot: characters end up where they could have entered through the front door – the point is to simulate falling in love for Karen.
- Thelma Schoonmaker's husband (filmmaker Michael Powell) passed away during post-production.
- Scorsese: 'I wanted to seduce everybody into the movie and the style, and then I wanted to take them apart.'
Categories
Roger Ebert's review
Quote from Rog's review:
“No finer film has ever been made about organized crime. Not even The Godfather.”
Ebert: 'Most films evaporate like mist once you've returned to the real world. Not this film, which shows America's finest filmmaker at the peak of his form.'
Most re-watchable scene
- Winner: the Billy Batts / 'Shine Box' scene at the Suite Lounge, leading into the visit to Tommy's mother's house at 4 AM.
- Other top candidates: the Copacabana Steadicam shot, 'You're a funny guy,' the Layla montage, the helicopter/cocaine sequence, Spider getting killed.
What aged the best?
- The opening line and freeze frame technique.
- The introduction of all the guys and their nicknames.
- The narration (both Henry's and Karen's).
- The Sopranos connection – 27 actors appeared in both.
- The music/soundtrack – 43 songs, 'a snapshot of American popular music for 25 years.'
- Karen and Henry's fights – their intimacy and guttural realism.
- Not showing the Lufthansa heist – ingenious budget save; the aftermath matters more.
What aged the worst?
- The original double-sided DVD – had to flip it mid-movie.
- Michael Imperioli as Spider vs. Christopher on The Sopranos – crossing-the-beams confusion.
- Henry's girlfriend Janice – wished they had upgraded the casting ~20%.
Casting what-ifs
- De Niro was offered Jimmy or Tommy; chose Jimmy. Once he agreed, the movie secured funding.
- William Peterson and John Malkovich were considered for Jimmy. Malkovich did The Sheltering Sky instead.
- Sean Penn was considered for Henry Hill. Tom Cruise was offered the movie.
- Madonna was scouted by Scorsese for the Karen role.
- Liotta cast after Scorsese saw Something Wild; he turned down Harvey Dent in 'Batman' for this.
Best "heat check" performance
- Frank Vincent as Billy Batts – 'one scene and you'll never forget him'; came in and immediately matched De Niro and Pesci's energy for 4 minutes.
- 2nd: Chuck Low as Morrie (De Niro's real-life landlord). 3rd: Debi Mazar as Sandy.
Best "that guy"
Mike Starr as Frenchy – in 'The Bodyguard', 'Dumb and Dumber', 100+ movies; you never know his real name.
Over-acting award
- Liotta when Karen flushes the cocaine – 'Why did you do that? That was everything we had, Karen!'
- Chuck Low as Morrie – over-the-top throughout.
Apex Mountain
- Martin Scorsese: yes – his best film; resets the trajectory of his career.
- Gangster movies: yes – after this, the genre had to move to TV (The Sopranos).
- Joe Pesci: yes – peak of his run before 25-year retirement.
- Ray Liotta: yes. Lorraine Bracco: yes.
- Copacabana: 'Goodfellas' over Barry Manilow's song.
- The word 'Fucko': yes – '100%, never been used better.'
Re-casting couch
Recast Janice (Henry's goomar): Linda Fiorentino (Chris's pick) or Annabella Sciorra (Bill's pick).
Picking nits
- Liotta and Pesci are too old for their parts – Pesci was 18 years older than the real Tommy.
- Billy Batts has only 3 people at his getting-out-of-prison party.
- After Lufthansa, Frankie Carbone doesn't think to flee despite witnessing the pattern of murders.
- No strip club scene in the whole movie – unusual for a mob film.
Best (or worst!) life lessons from the movie
- Don't whack a made man.
- After a massive heist, don't buy anything fancy – lay low.
- Don't use coke if you're also selling coke.
- Never rat on your friends, always keep your mouth shut.
What memorabilia would you want (or not want!) from the movie?
- Bill: the painting from Tommy's mom's house (based on November 1978 National Geographic).
- Chris: Karen's living room set.
- Sean: the Pink Cadillac.
Who won the movie?
Martin Scorsese – unanimous. Without this movie, he becomes a relic of the 70s rather than remaining relevant into his 70s and 80s.