Movie Stats:
Released 1990 (Italy)
American, in English
Director - Martin Scorsese
Stars - Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco
Plot Summary:
It’s the true story of small-time gangster Henry Hill (Liotta). De Niro co-stars as Henry’s partner in crime, Jimmy Conway; Pesci as Henry’s other partner, Tommy DeVito; and Bracco as Henry’s wife, Karen.
Warnings:
Extreme violence; gore; lots of blue language (including racial epithets); drug use; heavily implied sexy times.
Bad Stuff:
It’s TOO LONG. Seriously, Scorsese, dial it down a notch.
Joe Pesci is Joe Pesci is Joe Pesci.
I realize that this story is based on real people, but there’s nothing to those people. They’re completely two-dimensional.
Good Stuff:
The story was pretty engaging. I really liked the voiceover. It worked with this film (unlike Casino).
I quite enjoyed Ray Liotta’s performance (Except for his over-the-top laugh. So weird.).
Great soundtrack.
The Verdict:
I'm actually a fan of this one. Liotta really makes the movie. His voiceover has a lot of personality. That and his performance breathe life into a story that I think would otherwise fall a bit flat. All the other performers seem to play the same characters they always play, and the story is the same one that Scorsese keeps telling over and over. It’s basically mafia porn. But there’s a charisma to it that drew me in, and until the last half hour or so, I found myself thoroughly entertained.
I give it 4 stars.
When I watched this movie recently, I was not as enamored of it as I had been. But it's still pretty darn good. I also love Liotta's performance and I think the way the movie keeps ratcheting up to its climax to be very well done.
ReplyDeleteIt's true, that was very well done, and they also did a really good job of making him look like a coked-out fiend. However, by that point in the lengthy film, I was in the "when is this going to be over" zone.
ReplyDelete