GoodFellas
Most recently screened in August 2016
Director: Martin Scorsese. Cast: Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco, Joe Pesci, Paul Sorvino, Tony Darrow, Frank Sivero, Mike Starr, Frank Vincent, Gina Mastrogiacomo, Debi Mazar, Frank DiLeo, Chuck Low, Christopher Serrone, Elaine Kagan, Beau Starr, Kevin Corrigan, Michael Imperioli, Jerry Vale, Henny Youngman, Catherine Scorsese. Screenplay: Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese (based on the book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family by Nicholas Pileggi).

Twitter Capsule: Quite a demo of directorial showmanship, with plenty of detail and flair, but is maybe too besotted with its material?

VOR:   Rivals Taxi Driver and Raging Bull as Scorsese's most lasting contributions to culture. Still a gold standard for Mafia yarns. Pushes style, narration to ambitions levels.



Photo © 1990 Warner Bros. Pictures

Not yet reviewed in full. Grade: B+

(since the early 1990s: A)


Academy Award Nominations and Winners:
Best Picture
Best Director: Martin Scorsese
Best Supporting Actress: Lorraine Bracco
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci
Best Adapted Screenplay: Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese
Best Film Editing: Thelma Schoonmaker

Golden Globe Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Director: Martin Scorsese
Best Supporting Actress: Lorraine Bracco
Best Supporting Actor: Joe Pesci
Best Screenplay: Nicholas Pileggi and Martin Scorsese

Other Awards:
Venice Film Festival: Best Director
New York Film Critics Circle: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Actor (De Niro; also cited for Awakenings)
Los Angeles Film Critics Association: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Supporting Actress (Bracco); Best Supporting Actor (Pesci); Best Cinematography (Michael Ballhaus)
National Society of Film Critics: Best Picture; Best Director
Boston Society of Film Critics: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Supporting Actor (Pesci)
Chicago Film Critics Association: Best Picture; Best Director; Best Supporting Actress (Bracco); Best Supporting Actor (Pesci); Best Adapted Screenplay
National Board of Review: Best Supporting Actor (Pesci)
British Academy Awards (BAFTAs): Best Picture; Best Director; Best Adapted Screenplay; Best Film Editing; Best Costume Design (Richard Bruno)

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