Goodfellas (UK)
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"As far back as I can remember, I`ve always wanted to be a gangster." -- Henry Hill, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Certificate: 18
Running Time: 139 mins
Retail Price: £12.99
Release Date:
Content Type: Movie
Synopsis:
When Martin Scorsese, one of the world`s most skilful and respected directors, reunited with two-time Oscar Winner Robert De Niro in `GoodFellas`, the result was one of the most powerful films of the year.
Based on the true life best seller `Wiseguy` by Nicolas Pileggi and backed by a dynamic pop/rock oldies soundtrack, critics and filmgoers alike declared `GoodFellas` great.
It was named the best film of the `90s by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of film critics, and it earned 6 Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Robert De Niro received wide recognition for his performance as veteran criminal Jimmy `The Gent` Conway. And as the volatile Tommy DeVito, Joe Pesci walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.
Academy Award nominee Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino also turned in electrifying performances. You have to see it to believe it - then watch again. `GoodFellas` explores the criminal life like no other movie.
Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Production Notes
Trailer
Video Tracks:
Widescreen Letterbox 1.85:1
Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital 5.1 English
Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 Italian
Dolby Digital Surround 2.0 French
Subtitle Tracks:
English
Arabic
Directed By:
Martin Scorsese
Written By:
Martin Scorsese
Nicholas Pileggi
Starring:
Paul Sorvino
Lorraine Bracco
Joe Pesci
Ray Liotta
Robert De Niro
Casting By:
Ellen Lewis
Soundtrack By:
Charlie Watts
Muddy Waters
Pete Townshend
Keith Richards
Mick Jagger
Eric Clapton
Director of Photography:
Michael Ballhaus
Editor:
Thelma Schoonmaker
James Y. Kwei
Costume Designer:
Richard Bruno
Production Designer:
Kristi Zea
Producer:
Irwin Winkler
Bruce S. Pustin
Executive Producer:
Barbara De Fina
Distributor:
Warner Bros
Your Opinions and Comments
A very good film with a superb story line and great acting
VIDEO
Grainy in places and certainly not the best quality Warner Brothers have ever produced
AUDIO
An improvement over the video with some explosions and gunfire. But mostly involving the front speakers
FEATURES
Production notes and 2 trailers. Nothing special
OVERALL
An exteremly good film let down in places by video quality and the fact that it`s a flipper disc. But it is still a good buy just for the film it`s self
Goodfellas begins calmly, but, by the time the final credits roll, there has been a great deal of blood shed. Some of the violence is sudden, shocking, and visceral. One death in particular comes as a total surprise, and leaves the viewer momentarily stunned and disoriented. Even after I have seen the film numerous times, this scene remains unsettling. There are many other moments that have a similar, albeit less amplified, impact. Goodfellas does not rely on plot twists to hold the viewer`s attention - the strength and breadth of the story and characters do that - but one of the film`s strongest traits is the sense of uncertainty that hangs over every frame. Scorsese`s tactic of using two narrators (sometimes Henry`s voiceovers are replaced by Karen`s) even leaves open the possibility that Henry might not survive the film.
Michael Ballhaus` cinematography is a marvel in itself. Ballhaus does almost everything imaginable with light in this film. He bounces it, bends it, shifts it and Scorsese plunges his camera right into the violent abyss and never makes it seem mindless but yet an important part of the story.
The only downside to this particular DVD is that it`s a flipper!
I`m sure that a better version is being planned as you read this, so hang on in there and wait.