Blu-ray Movie Reviews

If not the first movie to expose the true inner workings of organized crime—in contrast to Coppola’s seminal, romanticized The Godfather—GoodFellas is arguably the most influential, and the most enduring. It is also one of Martin Scorsese’s most popular films, a near-perfect intersection of source material and cinematic execution. Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy: Life in a Mafia Family recounted bona-fide gangster Henry Hill’s rise from two-bit mob gopher to prolific felon, as well as his ultimate downfall, and the many escapades in between. Adapted with ample violence and profanity, GoodFellas (renamed to avoid confusion with contemporary TV series Wiseguy) is also incredibly funny, often darkly so, for a more deeply entertaining tale.

I missed GoodFellas in theaters but have been watching it regularly since the VHS days. I think I’ve owned it in every format since, and so while the story might be familiar, the picture and sound have both been noticeably improved for this 25th Anniversary edition. A 4K remaster was performed under Scorsese’s personal supervision, and I can confidently state that this is the best I’ve ever seen GoodFellas look. The 16:9 image reveals ample nuance in the faces, the clothing, and the carefully re-created environments. You can read the various labels and appreciate the sheen of a silk suit. Blacks can be harsh and unyielding, mildly disappointing for a movie with so many scenes set at night, or in bars and clubs. But the colors are warm and inviting, and a healthy layer of the original film grain is still evident.

As recently as 2013, GoodFellas on Blu-ray was still being issued with a Dolby Digital soundtrack, so it’s great to finally be hearing it in uncompromising DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The fine bass of an explosion is nicely balanced by the bright tinkle of shattering glass seconds earlier. The soundscape is strangely inviting and subtly shaded, from the crowd at the Copacabana to the ebb and flow of classic tunes woven throughout so many memorable scenes, to the transitional poof of a flashbulb and the blam of a gunshot.

All previously released on-disc extras appear to have been ported over for this two-Blu-ray affair, including twin commentaries featuring Scorsese, his cast and crew, plus the real Henry Hill and the Fed who brought him in. New for this set is a half-hour documentary packed with on-camera interviews by insiders and famous admirers.

Blu-Ray Studio: Warner, 1990
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio Format: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Length: 145 mins.
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Martin Scorsese
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco