I read the review of one of my favorite movies of all time "Goodfellas" from the critic Joseph McBride. This is the link to the review "http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=Variety100&reviewid=VE1117789056&content=jump&jump=review&category=1935&cs=1&p=0"
Joeseph Mcbride wrote a lengthy review praising and also criticizing this movie. Towards the beginning of the review it was all praise. McBride talked about how amazing Scorscese is as a director and comments about how this is one of his best films ever. Beyond that, McBride talks about the plot and describes it in full detail about Ray Liotta's character and the moral struggle he goes through as a "nobody in a neighborhood full of somebodies" and how Liotta must do what he has to do to make his way. McBride keeps going on and on throughout the review about only the 1st half of the movie and how Liotta grows as a character and how Scorscese makes you think you that the protaginast will have to make a desicion between life or death...but ends up flipping the tables on you and changes almost the whole story line becuase of Liotta's pinch inbeetween jail and freedom. McBride ends up starting to compare "Goodfellas" to the american mob gangster classic known as "The Godfather". "but since "Goodfellas" doesn't share the "Godfather" films' examination of the Mafia’s evolution in reaction to social injustice, the conflict has no weight and Scorsese misguidedly abandons his focus on the mob community to tell the unrewarding story of a lone wolf." McBride was just quoted saying a major difference (and Mcbride considered a flaw) was that Scorscese abonded the evolving mob drama and changed it into a story about a man on his own and who has to make a heavy desicion, whether to put his godfather and boss in jail...or go to jail himself. Mcbride also talks about the style in the 2nd half of the movie and is quoted saying, "The film's style in the second half turns into a frenetic, feverish mimicry of the wasted-looking Liotta's coked-up mental state" and also comments another flaw about the film, McBride thinks DeNiro is a MUCH more interesting character then Liotta and DeNiro doesnt get enough screen time. I completely disagree becuase i think Liotta's character is the confilct throughout the whole movie and without him the story has no through character and would not be considered Scorscese's best picture.
All in all i somewhat agree with Mr. McBride's review with a few minor disagreements in negatives, but we agree in almost every positive comment the critiquer made.
http://dmackdaddy.vendioweb.com/badguys/Gfellas/goodfellas.jpg (supposed to be picture html, not sure whether it worked though)
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8 comments:
This a very good choice of movie in my opinion. I think that Robert DeNiro is and excellent actor and I am a big fan of mob movies. I haven't seen Goodfellas in a while but now I think I will have to watch it soon because its been too long. I like that the critic liked the movie very much and am also glad that Mack enjoyed the movie because there is very little not to like about the movie. Good Day.
Mini-pooh here.
I've never seen The Goodfellas, but the movie shouldn't be criticized just because it deviates from the generic mob movie. That's just stupid, bashing a movie for being original. Also, the guy complaining that his favorite character not getting enough screen time being some sort of fault with the movie is a bit absurd, too.
i haven't ever seen that movie before but now i think im going to have to.
deniro is an amazing actor and he for sure fills his role in this movie amazingly. one thing that you may have needed to improve would be cleaning up the URL you posted and putting it into a hyperlink, otherwise amazing job
Mack, after reading this review, i'm thinking I might have ti go see it! Although, I don't think its right to look down on a movie for being original.
I still need to see this movie. I have already herd good things but your review just gave me more of a need to see this movie.
Mack: I agree with your view of the review, though I'd like to see you go into more detail as to why (you start to when you say Henry's dilemma is what drives the movie). For me, the movie would end up being a celebration of the mafia if it weren't for the last third, which I think is edited brilliantly.
I have never seen this movie but through reading both your review and that of the critic I am compelled to watch it. I think that mob movies are very interesting and in some cases incredibly entertaining. I am also a very large fan of Robert Deniro and pretty much any movie he is in. I have heard nothing but good things about this movie from everyone who has seen it. Based on the critic's positive review and this review I have a feeling that I am going to enjoy this movie. Looking forward to seeing it.
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