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Goodfellas
Warner Bros.

Goodfellas reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 89 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.8 out of 10
based on 18 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 71 votes
Read user comments
Rate this movie

MPAA RATING: R

Starring Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Sivero, Tony Darrow, and Mike Starr

Based on the bestselling book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi, Scorsese's film profiles nearly 30 years of mob life in New York City.


GENRE(S): Drama  
WRITTEN BY: Nicholas Pileggi (novel
Martin Scorsese
 
DIRECTED BY: Martin Scorsese  
RELEASE DATE: DVD: March 24, 1997 
Video: February 5, 1992 
Theatrical: September 1, 1990 
RUNNING TIME: 146 minutes, Color 
ORIGIN: USA 

Nominated for six Academy Awards in 1991, including Best Picture (but lost out to Dances With Wolves). It did win Best Picture from the British Academy Awards, the Boston Society of Film Critics, the Golden Globes, the LA Film Critics Association, the National Society of Film Critics, and the NY Film Critics Circle.

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt
Stunningly acted. [21 September 1990, The Arts, p.12]
100
Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert
No finer film has ever been made about organized crime - not even "The Godfather."
Read Full Review
100
Chicago Tribune Gene Siskel
All of the performances are first-rate; Pesci stands out, though, with his seemingly unscripted manner. GoodFellas is easily one of the year's best films. [21 September 1990, Friday, p.C]
100
Mr. Showbiz Carmel Dagan
Director Martin Scorsese's spectacular, irreverent picture.
100
San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle
Ferocious brutality is presented without commentary or judgment, yet with unmistakable moral understanding and vision. [21 September 1990, Daily Notebook p.E-1]
100
USA Today Mike Clark
Great cinema - and also a whopping good time. [19 September 1990, Life, p.1D]
100
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Jay Scott
No so-called serious gangster film has ever been more fun, or less dangerous, or more intrinsically feminist, than GoodFellas. Even "I Married the Mob" was scarier.
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100
ReelViews James Berardinelli
With patience, care, and strict attention to detail, Scorsese has staked out an impregnable position in the history of motion pictures.
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100
Time Richard Corliss
So it is Scorsese's triumph that GoodFellas offers the fastest, sharpest 2 1/2-hr. ride in recent film history. [Sept 24, 1990]
100
Los Angeles Times Sheila Benson
GoodFellas is "Raging Bull" squared. [20 September 1990, Calendar, p.F-1]
90
Washington Post Desson Thomson
One of Martin Scorsese's most brutal but stunning movies, an incredible, relentless experience about the singleminded pursuit of crime.
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90
Film.com John Hartl
An appalling masterpiece.
80
Rolling Stone Jeremy Beday
Martin Scorsese scores again with his gritty, kinetic adaptation of Nicolas Pileggi's best-selling "Wiseguy."
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80
Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum
Stylistically, it's a remarkable effort -- with a continuous sense of gliding motion -- and the film is entertaining and gripping throughout.
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80
TV Guide Staff (not credited)
Scorsese's rich tapestry is both broader in scope and more detailed than a mere recounting of the events in the trio's life of crime.
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70
The New Yorker Pauline Kael
Is it a great movie? I don't think so. But it's a triumphant piece of filmmaking -- journalism presented with the brio of drama. [24 Sept 1990]
70
Variety Staff (Not credited)
Simultaneously fascinating and repellent, Goodfellas is Martin Scorsese's colorful but dramatically unsatisfying inside look at Mafia life in 1955-1980 New York City.
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50
The New Republic Stanley Kauffmann
Scorsese's style, fierce as it is, doesn't accomplish what he clearly expected of it. Often, in many arts, fresh treatment can redeem familiar subjects, but it doesn't happen here. [Oct 22, 1990]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 9.8 (out of 10) based on 71 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Harry G. gave it a10:
Superb. One of the greatest gangster films ever made.

Chad S. gave it a6:
This IS NOT...NOT...the best gangsta movie ever. It's not even close, and it surely isnt Scorsese best film. I unfortunately watched this after watching Casino, which is much better, and since they are very similiar movies i would highly recommend you either A. watch this movie first, then Casino or B. watch Casino and dont watch this movie...just ok

Jay K. gave it a10:
Astounding, they don't make them like this anymore.

Blake J. gave it a10:
A masterpiece. The performances are stellar. Ray Liotta's best movie, by far. One of Scorsese's finest hours, hands down. Thank you Mr. Scorsese, and thank you underground crime syndicates!

Rachel gave it a10:
Without a shadow of a doubt the absolute masterpiece of cinema. Unsurpassable.

Josh C gave it a10:
One of the best American films of the 1990's. You either love it or you love it.

Eric R. gave it a10:
The best gangster movie ever. It's also my second favorite movie of all-time.

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