SPOILERS AHEAD. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

“As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster.” If it were possible for a single line of dialogue to sum up the thesis statement of a film in the most perfect manner, this might be a top contender for that award. This line is uttered as voiceover by the character of Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) in the opening scene of the movie- a scene that that is completely juxtaposed with the line of dialogue itself as it shows the true horrors of being a wise guy.

From the moment you hit play, you know what kind of ride you are being taken on. This film focuses on a character, Henry, who had a very romanticized view of life as a gangster from a very young age. Over the course of the film, he his forced to deal with the realities of that life- murder, prison, scheming, lying, and endangering his own life and the lives of his loved ones.

This film is well-acted, well-shot, and well-paced. It moves along swiftly despite the run time of 2 hours 26 minutes, in no small part because this film pulls no punches without being too crude. Material such as this could so easily drift in the direction of the ridiculous or of the emotionlessly gruesome, but somehow this movie walks a fine line between the two extremes. The voiceover work of Ray Liotta is not only a nice addition to the film but is integral to its success. (On a related note, I couldn’t help but notice that his voice sounds eerily like that of Leonardo DiCaprio- a compliment if there ever was one.)

Despite my clear admiration and enjoyment of this movie, I did have one issue with the character of Henry and his arc throughout the film. He begins the film as a boy who is completely taken in by the lifestyle of the gangsters in the neighborhood. He starts working for them and is quickly given more responsibilities and, with it, more privileges. As the movie progresses and he transitions into adulthood, he meets his future wife, Karen, played by Lorraine Bracco, and starts a family. He is still very much enthralled with his chosen profession and group of friends/colleagues, taking bigger and bigger risks, even doing jail time. As time passes, life becomes more and more complicated, with a wife, children, a girlfriend, side hustles that he has to keep secret from the big bossman Paul, and so much more. Even after knowing that he and Karen are in danger, have no more allies, and he has no better choice than to turn snitch and join the witness protection program, he still longs to be a wise guy again. His complete failure to repent of his sins might simply be a creative choice on the part of the screenwriters or an attempt to stay true to the real Henry Hill’s character, but either way I do wish he had learned a lesson by the end.

This was my second viewing of this film. On first viewing, I had no idea that Ray Liotta was playing the main character until I began watching. I attribute this to the fact that the stars of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci have shone brighter and longer than that of Liotta. Now that I have seen this film twice, I would be thrilled to see more of him! Overall, this is an excellent film and a wild ride.

Now, onto my questions!

1. Did I like the movie? Yes!!
2. Did I appreciate the movie? Of course!
3. Would I recommend this movie to a friend? Most friends, yes, but this is not for the feint of heart.
4. Do I plan to see this movie again? Absolutely!
5. Am I glad I have now watched this movie? Yes!

Now let me update my list to include this movie from best to worst:

1. Pulp Fiction (1994)
2. Goodfellas (1990)
3. Toy Story (1995)
4. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)
5. Blade Runner (1982)
6. The Last Picture Show (1971)
7. Do the Right Thing (1989)
8. Ben-Hur (1959)
9. The French Connection (1971)

Next up is Sophie’s Choice (1982). It’s a first watch for me, so stay tuned!