One of the most fascinating aspect of the United States is its crime. From squabbling small-town gangs to to the brutality of the Bloods and Crips and the all-powerful Italian Mafia. “Goodfellas” is one of the greatest, if not the greatest film, to ever be made that centers on the strength, power and downfall of the most feared gang in American History.
Directed by the legendary Martin Scorsese, the film narrates the real-life Lucchese crime family in New York and the life of Henry Hill during his association with the family from 1955 to 1980.
Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) grew up in an Irish-Italian neighborhood in East New York, and had always dreamt of being a gangster. At thirteen, Henry quit school and began working for mob capo, or lieutenant, Paul “Paulie” Cicero (Paul Sorvino).
He had begun to work as a drug-runner and a courier for the family, finally living his dream. Before long he met Jimmy “Jimmy The Gent” Conway (Robert De Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci). The three quickly become close friends.
Jimmy was known for his love of hijacking things. Cars,trucks and even planes. If it moved, he would jack it. And he loved it. Tommy was possibly the most violent person in the family. Hot-headed and loud, Tommy had no qualms about killing someone. He, in fact, loved to kill.
Together, the three would run various jobs for the family, steal many vehicles, kill many people, steal millions of dollars and further spread the power, and fear, of the Lucchese family.