We are going through the AFI Top 100 list.  Check out all of our previous posts from #100 – #93. #92 is a film that completely engages you from the beginning and doesn’t let go – Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas.

TCM.com gives this synopsis:

A young man works his way up through the New York City mobs.

Goodfellas is brilliant.  It makes crime look so appealing at the beginning of the movie that at half-way through, I’m figuring out how to join a “crew.”  But by the end of the movie, I’m so glad I didn’t.

I’ve seen Goodfellas many times, but this time, the take away was a bit different.

I’d been watching a lot of French New Wave.  The filmmakers generally don’t want you to identify with the protagonist.  In The 400 Blows, the boy (Antoine) turns to a life of crime and rebellion just like Ray Liotta’s character, Henry.  But, in The 400 Blows, I don’t care about the kid.  He comes off as a spoiled brat.  I feel sorry for him but I don’t identify with him.

In Goodfellas, I’m right there with Henry.  I identify with him from the start.  As I said above, I want to be him for most of the movie.

So what is the difference between Antoine and Henry?  Why am I so indifferent about the one but I want to BE the other?  I’m still pondering the question.

It’s more than just the difference between a gangster movie and a movie about a kid in France.  I could have been made to identify with a kid growing up in France and I’ve seen other gangster films where I cared nothing about the main character.

Goodfellas is pure cinematic genius from start to finish.  If you haven’t seen it, go rent it and be prepared to have your mind blown.

What is your favorite Scorsese film?  Why do you think we identify so strongly with Henry?  Let’s start a discussion!