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7th January 2016
01:30pm GMT
1) The script
The film is an adaptation of Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi and a large part of the authenticity on Goodfellas comes from the fact that Scorsese had the nous to hire Pileggi as a co-writer of the screenplay.
What's brilliant about this collaboration though is that neither men were too stubborn to take on new ideas from the actors involved.
According to Pesci, any improv and ad-libbing that came out of the rehearsals was just as important to the final product as the original script.
Scorsese gave his actors the freedom to do whatever they wanted in the rehearsals but most importantly, he had the wisdom to use any improvised lines that he liked.
The two men went through 12 drafts of the screenplay before creating a finished version. Its genius lies in the fact that it it still holds up as an incredibly good piece of writing.
2) The narration technique
It's a technique that's frequently used in 'modern' films but it should never be overlooked just how innovative and groundbreaking this approach was at the time. The fourth-wall was kicked down, held up at gun point and blasted into oblivion.
It's also incredibly clever because the people who star in this film are not nice people, they're gangsters, drug dealers, crooks and murderers, but by humanising Henry Hill and giving us an insight into his mind and home life, it allows the audience the opportunity to eliminate away any prejudices that they might have towards these characters.
That opening scene is still incredibly visceral and raw.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckPHBJWQvpE
Clip via - nostalgicejaculating
Hopefully Goodfellas doesn't sway people towards a life of crime, but there's something seductive about that mixture of money, parties, girls and the lavish life that Scorsese absolutely nails.
It's an incredibly immersive film because you can't help but be swept along in this epic journey of crime, drugs, friendship, violence and betrayal.
3) The narrative structure
Goodfellas is unique because it almost starts in the middle of its narrative before jumping back to its beginning and end sporadically. It's clear that the aesthetic and influence of French New Wave is all over this one.
Looking back on it now, it's remarkable how much Martin Scorsese managed to fit into those scenes.
Quick edits, freeze-frames and multiple locations are all used to give each scene a fresh energy and impetus. There's no waiting around here as the film starts at an absolutely frantic pace which doesn't drop.
A word of praise should go to the directors long time collaborator, the famous editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who had the unenviable task of putting it all together.
4) The cinematography
Did you know that the famous Copacabana nightclub tracking-shot was actually the product of improvisation rather than planning?
The filmmakers didn't get permission to film at the front entrance of the building so they were forced to go around the back. The maverick director is well known for his meticulous approach to storyboarding, but this is further proof of his genius.
Who else could think on their feet with such spontaneity and creativity?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJEEVtqXdK8
Clip via - barthesian
5) The casting
It takes an incredibly strong performance to upstage Robert DeNiro and an even better one to steal focus away from the main star, but Joe Pesci's turn as Tommy DeVito is a joy to behold.
This scene has gone down in cinematic history and rightfully so.
Even watching it now, it still makes us laugh, clench and worry for Henry's safety.
Every actor was meticulous about their part in the film, in fact Robert De Niro frequently talks about how he was constantly in touch with the real-life Henry Hill during the shoot to ensure that he was getting things right.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EJLoxdoI-Q
Clip via - ComputerXsz
6) Stuck to his convictions
The word auteur is becoming increasingly rare in Hollywood because it's getting harder to instantly identify a director's style and approach. With Scorsese though, there has has always been a conviction to his work.
This commitment and self belief in his own talent was put to the test on Goodfellas though, especially when studio bosses insisted that he changed the ending.
They felt that it was too frantic, anarchic and uncomfortable for audiences to enjoy. How wrong they were.
7) The soundtrack
Tarantino may be the golden child of soundtracks for film lovers that were raised in Generation-X, but Scorsese is undoubtedly the master.
The director has always shown a wonderful visual eye that's married to an ear for melody.
Goodfellas is arguably the best soundtrack of his career with memorable contributions from The Rolling Stones, Harry Nilsson, Sid Vicious, The Who, Cream, The Ronettes, Bobby Darin and Aretha Franklin, to name but a few.
This moment right here is why Scorsese is the king.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5pkAgFcyNo
Clip via - Goobelham
8) The 'Layla' scene
One of the most memorable moments in cinematic history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z6MJIjCJ20
Clip via - Erick Verburg
9) The awards
It was nominated for 6 Oscars and won just one, Joe Pesci for Supporting Acotr, but it swept the plate at the BAFTA's, the Venice Film Festival and countless other festivals. Dances with Wolves and Kevin Costner won the Oscars for Best Picture and director that year.
Despite this apparent snub, its legacy will always remain intact. “No finer film has ever been made about organized crime,” wrote the late critic Roger Ebert.
In 2000, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant" and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the United States Library of Congress.
You would be stupid not to agree with their selection.
10) Its impact
Scorsese is a director that has always inspired the next generation of filmmakers and in many ways, Goodfellas is his crowning achievement. It's impossible not to feel its resonance and impact in countless other films and TV shows.
The Sopranos, The Wire, Donnie Brasco, The Usual Suspects and the entire career of a certain Quentin Tarantino all owe this film a huge debt.
Go watch it again, you'll feel like a made man after doing so.
