Goodfellas

Saturday, January 12, 2019

In modest suburban houses and apartments throughout greater New York City, gangsters pose as ordinary citizens, shooting, knifing and betraying each other in pursuit of a fast buck. Is it The Sopranos? No, it’s Goodfellas, a gangland saga from director Martin Scorsese and journalist-turned-screenwriter Nicholas Pileggi (adapting his book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family) and an acknowledged influence on David Chase’s long-running HBO drama. You can see traces of Scorsese and Pileggi’s masterpiece in the show’s dynamic use of pop music, its blending of ultraviolence, social commentary and ghastly slapstick, and most of all, its casting. Nearly 30 actors appear in both productions, from stars like Lorraine Bracco and Michael Imperioli to such supporting players as Tony Sirico, Vincent Pastore, Frank Vincent, Tony Lip, Suzanne Shepherd, Tony Darrow and Chuck Low. Introduced by Matt Zoller Seitz.


Part of “The Sopranos Film Festival,” presented by Split Screens. To buy a 10-film pass, click here.
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The Sopranos® Series on HBO Go/HBO NOW.




  • Country USA
  • Year 1990
  • Running Time 146 minutes
  • Director Martin Scorsese
  • Writer Nicholas Pileggo (book & screenplay), Martin Scorsese (screenplay)
  • Editor James Y. Kwei, Thelma Schoonmaker
  • Cinematographer Michael Ballhaus
  • Cast Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Frank Sivero, Tony Darrow, Mike Starr, Frank Vincent

IFC Center does not generally provide advisories about subject matter or potentially triggering content in films, as sensitivities vary from person to person. In addition to the synopses, trailers and other links on our website, further information about content and age-appropriateness for specific films can be found on Common Sense Media, IMDb and DoesTheDogDie.com as well as through general internet searches.