Good Fellas (1990)

"All my life I wanted to be a gangster".  That's a classic first line of a movie.  This mobster movie may not have been the first to the genre, but it does give it a classical American version, from the immigrant neighborhood, to the automobiles, to the clothes.

Another movie that I never saw the first time around.  The sweep of the life stories has influenced other semi historical movies of the nature, from Boogie Nights to Jersey Boys.   Ray Liotta as Henry is overshadowed by Joe Pesci as the volatile Tommy (Academy Award winner).  Robert De Niro of course must be cast in any mob film and even he is overshadowed by both.

Directed by Martin Scorsece it is probably his best known work, being somewhat autobiographical.   Both his mother and father appear in the film.

Liked but not loved ****