9 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.9 |
The life and times of Henry Hill, who grew up idolizing the wiseguys in his neighborhood and eventually became one of them. With his friends Jimmy Conway and Tommy De Vito, Henry lived the dream life of taking whatever he wanted and answering to no one—until everything caught up with him.
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul SorvinoCrime | 100% |
Drama | 92% |
Epic | 62% |
Biography | 29% |
Video codec: VC-1
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.77:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby Digital 5.1 (640 kbps)
French: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
Spanish: Dolby Digital 2.0 (192 kbps)
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region free
Movie | 5.0 | |
Video | 3.0 | |
Audio | 3.0 | |
Extras | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
Is it possible to be declared one of the greatest films of all time, and manage to drop the F-bomb three-hundred times? Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Goodfellas: a coarse, vulgar, visceral, gut-wrenching gangland tragedy from Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese that's earned a coveted spot among some truly unforgettable genre classics and groundbreaking masterpieces, and yes, is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. From its startling, unflinching performances to its portrayal of a man succumbing to his own devilish devices; from its depiction of violence to its arresting cinematography; from Scorsese's steely, unwavering direction to his impeccable grasp of character and story, Goodfellas is a cinematic powder keg like no other. Based on author Nicholas Pileggi's account of Henry Hill -- the infamous mobster-turned-informant who handed the FBI the keys to his cocaine-addled kingdom in 1980, and helped the agency secure more than fifty criminal convictions -- it's an unrelenting tour de force; a rapidfire biopic that doesn't pull a single punch, pummeling its audience with the ferocity of its increasingly unstable protagonist's rage and the madness of his unsavory world.
"Jimmy was the kind of guy that rooted for bad guys in the movies."
Don't bother comparing Warner's new 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of Goodfellas to its early-2007 high definition cousin: the two are identical. Baffling as it is, the studio has simply repackaged the same dated, problematic 1080p/VC-1 transfer that left videophiles shrugging their shoulders some three years ago. That's not to say the presentation is completely without merit -- it handily bests each of its previously released DVD counterparts -- but it also lacks the polish and power of lesser catalog titles. Brightly lit shots fare well, as do closeups, but dingy nightclubs, shadowy restaurants, and midnight heists look worse for the wear. Faint compression artifacts, smeared textures, ringing, aliasing, and crush all have their way with the image, limiting the impact of several otherwise staggering scenes. Other anomalies abound as well, regardless of Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus' lighting. Errant print specks, inconsistent contrast leveling, waxy faces, wavering, intermittent edge halos, and other seemingly minor distractions litter the proceedings, wreaking relative havoc on a film that deserves far better. The studio didn't even take the time to eliminate glaring mishaps fans have complained about for years, among them an unsightly vertical line that cuts a swath through De Niro's face around the 1:16:00 mark (see screenshot 11).
That being said, the transfer boasts enough improvements to warrant a purchase, at least for those who don't already own the 2007 Blu-ray release. Compared to the standard DVD, the Blu-ray edition's picture is stronger and more stable (despite some noticeable telecine wobble), delineation is more revealing (overwhelming black levels notwithstanding), and overall clarity is more rewarding (even if only by a moderate margin). For all of its technical woes, there's a lot to be said for the inherent upgrades afforded by a high definition presentation. But would it have looked better had its handlers granted it a proper remaster? Undoubtedly. The fine fellows at Disney recently went back to the drawing board to correct the atrocity that was their first Gangs of New York outing, and the resulting remastered release is well worth the cost of a second admission. Unfortunately, Warner has merely tossed an old disc into a new Digibook; one with a misleading "Anniversary" moniker that will inspire many an uninformed consumer to shell out cash on a release that, unbeknownst to them, is already sitting on their shelves.
Alas, Warner's new 20th Anniversary Edition of Goodfellas doesn't even feature lossless audio. The disc's video transfer is the same, its technical issues are the same, its 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track is the same, its limitations are the same... is that a collective sigh I hear? The mix is competent enough I suppose -- dialogue is clean and well-prioritized (albeit a tad muddy on occasion), the LFE channel offers some nice kick (blunt and soupy as it may be when the wiseguy-waters get rough), the rear speakers are fairly active throughout, and directionality and separation are commendable (particularly for a catalog title) -- but the subsequent experience was far more impressive in 2007, before every major and minor studio (minus Warner) began granting every Blu-ray release, even the worst direct-to-video fiascoes and obscure cult classics, a lossless audio track. My apologies if my review is starting to sound more like a rant than an unbiased technical analysis, but the further we drift away from the days of lossy audio, the more infuriating the appearance of a lossy mix becomes. Ah well. Like the studio's video transfer, its Dolby Digital offering shouldn't prevent anyone from owning such a remarkable film, especially when its 640kbps sonics still sound better than they do on DVD. Just beware buying the 20th Anniversary Edition if you already own the 2007 Blu-ray release.
Once again, it's best to ignore the "20th Anniversary Edition" moniker slapped on the new Blu-ray release of Goodfellas. Aside from a feature-length documentary about the golden age of gangster cinema (relegated to a second disc), a small batch of period shorts, and Digibook packaging, its supplemental package is unchanged. However, for the first time, that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Blessed with a pair of exceptional audio commentaries -- one with the cast and crew, one with the real Henry Hill and Edward McDonald -- it will continue to provide fans, even the disgruntled among us, a fascinating tour of the production of one of Scorsese's finest.
Not to repeat myself ad nauseum, but be sure to approach the 20th Anniversary Edition of Goodfellas with caution. If you already own the 2007 Blu-ray release, this version offers nothing more than an additional feature-length documentary (about gangster cinema in general, not Goodfellas specifically), a handful of classic animated shorts, and Digibook packaging. Both editions feature the same problematic video transfer, the same standard Dolby Digital audio track, and the same central supplemental package. Don't misunderstand: Scorsese's Henry Hill biopic is, without a doubt, one of the director's best, and deserves a hallowed home on every cinephile's shelves. But anyone who already owns Warner's previous Blu-ray release should steer clear of this thinly veiled double-dip.
1990
1990
Academy Awards O-Sleeve
1990
1990
25th Anniversary Edition
1990
FYE Exclusive Steelbook
1990
25th Anniversary Edition | Movie-Only Version
1990
25th Anniversary Edition | with Instawatch
1990
1990
Anniversary Edition | Iconic Moments
1990
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1990
Anniversary Edition | Iconic Moments
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1974
2013
Extended Director's Cut
1984
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2016
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2007
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Gold Edition
1983
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2011