GoodFellas:

mafia, true crime, paranoia

Sometime last year, I came across a Graham Norton Show episode that hosted the legendary Robert De Niro. I remember a conversation they had about the reason behind the huge appeal that the movie GoodFellas and other mafia films received by the public. I recall that De Niro explained how, during the late 20th century, there seemed to be more honesty, clarity, and reputability in the structure of the mafia world when compared with the leaders of the government. With the Vietnam War and the unstable situation of the country, people seemed to gravitate toward the world of mobsters to get away from the convolution of reality.

Movies such as the Godfather, with the portrayal of the glory, power, and the strongly bonded mafioso institution, romanticized the gangster culture. However, unlike the Godfather, Goodfellas brought to the screen something more real, something that allows the audience to get a glimpse of the real mafia underworld. The accurate representation of the mafia personalities, their lifestyles, corrupt schemes, and a general lack of moral code causes the previously associated charisma and enchantment of the mafia world to melt down in the minds of the viewers.

The three main personas shown in the film, almost all of whom are suffering from psychopathic or sociopathic diseases, proceed with their crimes in their own unique ways, but possess the same demonic intentions.

The brilliant acting of the stars, the way it was directed, and the fact that it is a true-life story, makes this movie a masterpiece that uniquely and truthfully illustrated the mind-blowing incidents of the Cosa Nostra of New York.

Characters:

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All the characters in the movie are based on the book "Wise Guy" which tells the stories of real-life mafioso. The main character is Henry Hill, a former member who later became an informant to the FBI. The story follows Henry's life journey in becoming a part of the Italian mafia in New York. Starting with small steps, Henry earns the trust and legitimacy of the other members. Gradually forming a strong bond with Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito, Henry manages to climb up the hierarchical ladder of the underworld till he stabilizes his seat at the table with the "wise guys". However, stability is not a long-term phrase in the mafia, as everyone looks to gain the most money, reputation, and glory through the downfall of others. Who you consider a friend can be a secret enemy and whom you assume can be trusted may be the one who prepares for your deterioration.

In fear of being the victim, each member attempts to be the assailant. In fear of being eliminated by another, they initiate the crime. Each tries to survive in an endless cycle of betrayal and paranoia. Mercy is seen to be for the weak. Thus, the wisest of them must pull the trigger the moment he has the gun in his hand.

Henry Hill:

Henry Hill is the main character in the movie who joins the mafia at a young age. Leaving school, he becomes the right-hand man of the wise guys. As he grows up, he gets more and more tangled in the mafia business. Not knowing, he starts being observed closely by the FBI due to drug trafficking. In the end, we see that he breaks the one and most significant rule of the underworld: he gives out names to save himself. He gets his freedom and security by informing the FBI of the other members of the crime family.

Jimmy Conway: ( absolutely astounding acting by Robert De Niro)

Jimmy Conway is the gentleman of the business who engineers numerous crimes behind the scenes. His clean and formal looks, calm behavior, and confident persona make it impossible to spot him as the mastermind behind such horrific crimes. He hides behind the grandeur image that he drew to the world of mystique and glamour, as he suffers from constant paranoia in reality.

Tommy DeVito:

Whom might be considered the life of the party, Tommy is a social and talkative persona with extremally narcissistic behavior. Someone who enjoys the crimes that the mafia commits more than anyone, the character is an impulsive psychopath. The way he uses his crimes as a way of humor and entertainment show how normalized such misdeeds became for him. The movie shows if his eagerness to "be made" as an official mafia member became true.

Karen Hill:

Karen Hill is an assertive Jewish lady who gets into the intricacies of the mafia world after meeting Henry. Throughout the film, she does not take a direct part in the crime till Henry and Jimmy get into dealing drugs. The movie shows how the mafia became a part of her everyday life after her marriage despite the objections of her family.

personal rating of the movie: 9/10