Goodfellas in my opinion, is the peak of Scorsese's film career. All of his films have epic moments and are worthy of equal praise. An argument can be made for many of his offerings. However, for me, this movie goes beyond the gold standard. It is a historical piece that stands the test of time. It captures a time in American History, in which Italian-American ancestry is eloquently captured, at the peak of influence in our culture. From the 1930s to the 1980s, Italian Americans were such a dominant part of our culture and we are slowly losing the importance of their impact in our nation's history.
Many Italian Americans hate the gangster stereotype. They should. Italian Americans provided the labor for some of our greatest accomplishments during the first half of the 20th century. They werw also the largest representation of combat soldiers during World War II. Their love for this county and contributions can not be dismissed.
Despite what people might think, the contributions of Italian Americans were also complicated by power structures within diverse communities during this time. The mafia had a stranglehold on larger cities. Within these settings, a skewed set of values reflected traumatic family experiences. A history of violence and corruption was also a part of this time period. Scorsese explores how they work together. Including a dramatic look at domestic violence, confusing value systems, and matriarchal patronage from the most violent of individuals.
It is important for a new generation to become reacquainted with this movie. Watching the movie with a critical lens of history is such a great experience. This is not so much a movie about gangsters, it is an anthropological study of a family system that existed throughout the United States during this time period. One of my all time favorites. I highly recommend if you have not seen Goodfellas, you should put it on your movie bucket list.
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