tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post6754573251399065157..comments2024-01-11T05:02:32.321-05:00Comments on Goodfella's Movie Blog: 1990: Goodfellas (Martin Scorsese)Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-88657141580273101372009-10-20T23:34:07.320-04:002009-10-20T23:34:07.320-04:00Let's see if I'm getting the hang of this....Let's see if I'm getting the hang of this. My guess is you'll pick ... JFK for '91 and Unforgiven for '92? Not sure if JFK will fall into your "good Stone" category, though, so perhaps I'm safer picking Silence of the Lambs? (2 Oscar winners in a row?) Then again, you'll probably keep surprising us with your 90s picks. We shall see...MovieMan0283http://thedancingimage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-14724405807828187762009-10-19T22:09:14.088-04:002009-10-19T22:09:14.088-04:00Superb review of a superb film. It is as if Scorse...Superb review of a superb film. It is as if Scorsese has reversed the hierarchy of The Godfather.<br /><br /><br />My favorites:<br /><br />Dances With Wolves (Costner)<br />Edward Scissorhands (Burton)<br />Goodfellas (Scorsese)<br />The Godfather Part 3 (Coppola)<br />Echoes From A Somber Empire (Herzog)<br />Close-up (Kiarostami)<br />New Wave (Godard)<br />Dreams (Kurosawa)Just Another Film Buffhttp://theseventhart.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-83791674412514894382009-10-19T21:51:51.719-04:002009-10-19T21:51:51.719-04:00Incredible job in catching up with the countdown, ...Incredible job in catching up with the countdown, MovieMan! I haven't responded to all of your comments, but I have seen all of them and they have been outstanding.<br /><br />There's a strong chance that Goodfellas will be my #1 in the 90s poll at WitD. If it's not, then it'll be either my choice for 1991 or 1992... how's that for a little teaser? :)Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-60555121941072227412009-10-19T21:28:11.757-04:002009-10-19T21:28:11.757-04:00How appropriate that I've finally caught up wi...How appropriate that I've finally caught up with you on this film!<br /><br />It's a masterpiece, my favorite of 1990, and just so much goddamn fun, despite the brutal violence and intensity on display. I've had some major disagreements with Bob Clark over on Wonders lately, but I agree with him when he stresses this film's influence. Stylistically, it may be the most influential picture of the past 20 years.<br /><br />Thanks for putting in a good word for Godfather Part III. I can no longer convince myself it's a great film - it's too flawed - but its flaws mirror the decline of the Mafia in the film itself, and are therefore somewhat appropriate - and when it wants too, the film has as much tragic resonance as the previous two. The ending is one of the most powerful in cinema; though I've heard people make fun of it, I find Pacino's expression and the decision to cut out the sound incredibly moving. It's as if the bullet which killed Vito's brother at the beginning of Part II, and sent the future Don fleeing to America, has hit its final mark. Devastating.<br /><br />But Goodfellas remains the film of the year, and one of if not the film of the decade.MovieMan0283http://thedancingimage.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-26015601939991819062009-10-19T14:29:35.545-04:002009-10-19T14:29:35.545-04:00I'm another one who loves Goodfellas - Joe Pes...I'm another one who loves Goodfellas - Joe Pesci is fantastic, as you say. A fine review which makes me want to watch it again. I agree with Shubhajit that Mean Streets gives an even grittier view of gangsters.<br /><br />My other favourites from 2009 are:<br /><br />Edward Scissorhands <br />Cyrano de Bergerac<br />King of New York <br />Wild at Heart <br />Dances With Wolves<br />Metropolitan<br />Memphis Belle <br />Green Card (this last one is a bit of a guilty pleasure, but the amount of times I've watched it tells me that I have to include it!) JudyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-15788376081586866952009-10-19T14:16:52.388-04:002009-10-19T14:16:52.388-04:00John - Glad to see we're in agreement! I'...John - Glad to see we're in agreement! I'm guessing that everyone knew what my pick would be, but it was still interesting for me to try and get down some thoughts on why I love it.<br /><br />Sam - You've selected another one that I am completely in the dark about, so I'll have to do some investigation. And you're right about this movie being huge for me... I don't think I could gush about it any more, but it can't be helped.<br /><br />Samuel - We seem to be very much on the same wavelength with this year. As good as Miller's Crossing is, and as fun as it is to watch, I cringe whenever people get tricky and rank it above Goodfellas. Scorsese's film is just on a different level from it, I think.<br /><br />Shubhajit - I can agree with you concerning Mean Streets, which is even grittier than Goodfellas. I just don't think Mean Streets reaches quite the same level as Goodfellas or The Godfather, which is why I'm quicker to compare those two.<br /><br />As I've repeated a few times, Pesci at his best can be a real force on-screen.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-16283302535172764802009-10-19T12:38:52.088-04:002009-10-19T12:38:52.088-04:00"If The Godfather is the romanticized view of..."If The Godfather is the romanticized view of organized crime, depicting regal mafia dons who rule as something akin to benevolent monarchs, then Goodfellas is the gritty rebuttal". Well said, though personally I feel that holds more for Mean Streets.<br /><br />Yeah, the background score for the movie is really awesome. And, as you aptly observed, Joe Pesci delivered a truly volcanic performance in the movie. The movie would have achieved greatness even if the only scene in the movie was "You think I'm a funny guy" scene.Shubhajithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02040495040897333606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-60304581526727954882009-10-19T12:16:55.850-04:002009-10-19T12:16:55.850-04:00Dave, Miller's Crossing is my sentimental favo...Dave, Miller's Crossing is my sentimental favorite of 1990 but Goodfellas simply cannot be denied. It and its companion piece Casino are "fall of America" epics that describe the nuts and bolts of an unjust exploitative system that nevertheless worked for those who played by the rules, but nevertheless fell apart, superficially due to drugs but more likely because systems designed to exploit rampant appetites of all kinds ultimately can't contain them. By comparison, Miller's Crossing is only a pulp masterpiece, albeit one I can always watch whenever it pops up on TV.<br /><br />So what about the rest?<br />3. Edward Scissorhands (Tim Burton)<br />4. King of New York (Abel Ferrara)<br />5. Wild at Heart<br />6. Jacob's Ladder<br />7. Taxi Blues (Pavel Lugin)<br />8. Dances With Wolves<br />9. The Grifters<br />10. White Hunter, Black Heart (Eastwood)Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-43148576731930169242009-10-19T09:47:38.956-04:002009-10-19T09:47:38.956-04:00Sam's post reminded me that I left off Mr and ...Sam's post reminded me that I left off Mr and Mrs Bridges from my runner up list.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-70594223835735562232009-10-19T08:43:46.876-04:002009-10-19T08:43:46.876-04:00Of course, as this is the name of the blog, I woul...Of course, as this is the name of the blog, I would further assert that this is monumental in these parts.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-83580487917780590172009-10-19T08:42:22.150-04:002009-10-19T08:42:22.150-04:00A great review of a seminal film both for Scorsese...A great review of a seminal film both for Scorsese and American cinema. I have it high up there too, but a little-known but critically-praised African film heads up my list.<br /><br />My Own #1 Film of 1990:<br /><br />Tilai (Oudreago; Burkina Faso)<br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (Ivory; USA)<br />Life is Sweet (Leigh; UK)<br />Good Fellas (Scorsese; USA)<br />Close-Up (Kiarostami; Iran)<br />Metropolitan (Stillman; USA)<br />Delicatessen (Jeunet; France)<br />Cyrano de Bergerac (Rappaneau; France)<br />Vincent and Theo (Altman; USA)<br />The Grifters (Frears; USA)<br />An Angel at My Table (Campion; NZ)Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-578997264816756307.post-90930781198144234522009-10-19T08:32:12.602-04:002009-10-19T08:32:12.602-04:00Dave,
A great review and I am in total agreement ...Dave,<br /><br />A great review and I am in total agreement here. Scorsese, along with Woody Allen, Hitchcock and Wilder constitute my favorite filmmakers. Goodfella’s is down and out one of the best gangster films. The non-glamorous day to day life of a hood is so brilliant played out here. The acting is superb. A great job!<br /><br /><br /># 1 Goodfella’s<br /><br /><br />Best of the rest<br /><br />The Grifters<br />Edward Scissorhands<br />Cry Baby<br />Metropolitan<br />La Femme Nikita<br />Misery<br />Miller’s Crossing<br />The Godfather – Part 3<br />Wild at HeartsJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.com