“For its swaggering energy, the heart-in-your-throat pacing and for some of the most memorable, most imitated scenes in mafia movie history, this must rank as one of Scorsese’s finest films, if not the best...”
Screened in tribute to Ray Liotta (1954 - 2022)
Ray Liotta stars as real-life mobster Henry Hill, whose rise and fall makes for one of the most thrillingly entertaining entries in Martin Scorsese’s considerable back catalogue. Starting in 1955 with the young Henry falling under the glamorous spell of the neighbourhood gangsters, Goodfellas follows Henry and his associates Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci - in a role that nabbed him the Best Supporting Oscar) as they live fast, get rich quick, and gradually fall apart through excessive greed and drug-fuelled paranoia. Adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s true-crime best-seller, Wiseguy, by Scorsese and Pileggi himself, Goodfellas is, quite simply, an absolute blast from start to finish - and easily Top Tier Scorsese. (Some would even argue the very Toppist Tier Scorsese!) Unforgettable support comes from Lorraine Bracco as Henry’s long-suffering (natch) wife, Karen, and Paul Sorvino as soft-speaking mob boss, Paulie. (Not to mention a large number of soon-to-be-stars of TV’s Sopranos.) That Liotta not only holds his own but actually shines amongst such distinguished acting company is a tribute to his brilliance in this, arguably his greatest role - certainly his most iconic. 90s cinema starts here. Not to be missed!
