The American crime film Goodfellas, widely regarded as one of the greatest gangster movies ever made, is now available for streaming. Some critics even argue that this classic surpasses The Godfather itself.
A Cinematic Masterpiece
Released in 1990 and directed by Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas stars Robert De Niro and tells the true story of Henry Hill, a New York-born Irish-Italian youth lured into criminality through admiration for neighbourhood Mafia personalities. The memorable opening line sets the tone: "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster." The film charts Henry's path through the criminal landscape from the 1950s to his downfall in 1980.
Critical Acclaim
Frequently ranked second only to The Godfather in lists of the greatest mob films, Goodfellas actually exceeds that masterpiece according to distinguished critic Roger Ebert. Ebert gave the film a perfect review in The Chicago Sun-Times, stating: "No finer film has ever been made about organised crime - not even The Godfather."
Recognised as potentially Scorsese's most celebrated achievement, Goodfellas was characterised by USA Today as "a whopping good time" upon its initial cinema release. It has since endured as an everlasting classic.
Audience and Critics Agree
Rotten Tomatoes supports this view, observing: "Hard-hitting and stylish, GoodFellas is a gangster classic - and arguably the high point of Martin Scorsese's career." Interestingly, ordinary cinema-goers demonstrate even greater enthusiasm than professional reviewers, with an outstanding 97% audience rating versus a marginally lower but still excellent 94% critics' rating. On IMDb, the film boasts a stellar 8.7 out of 10.
David Denby of New York Magazine heaped praise upon the gangster masterpiece back in 1990, saying: "GoodFellas, written by Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese, and directed by Scorsese, is the greatest film ever made about the sensual and monetary lure of crime, and the whole perversely brilliant movie comes into focus in a single, staggering shot."
Empire Magazine's Take
Empire magazine celebrated the picture, ranking it above many others in its '100 Best Movies of All Time to Watch' list, albeit beneath The Godfather. The distinguished film publication declared: "No film hits like Goodfellas," likening its effect to the euphoric highs and crushing lows of drug use, mirroring Henry Hill's descent into destruction. They continued: "And you have to live the rest of your life like a schnook, because, frankly, no other film compares to Goodfellas. The only solution: another big snort of Goodfellas. Scorsese, writer Nicholas Pileggi and editor Thelma Schoonmaker constructed almost the entire film like a trailer, one scene bleeding into the next, not giving you the opportunity to stop watching, to let go, to take a breath. It's an unstoppable feat of propulsion. Now that's cinema."
