The arc of the film spans over forty years and follows the connection between the pair that forms over their decades-long relationship. The chief focus of the film is legendary mobman Jimmy Hoffa, played by Al Pacino, and Ed Sheeran, played by Robert De Niro, a hitman who Hoffa hires. It took a three camera rig to capture all the shots Scorcese wanted, and the final result is a masterful piece of cinema magic, built at least as much by machines as it is by men.
With over 200 million dollars spent on production, no expense is spared for this high-tech, three hour, Scorcesian extravaganza actors are featured in high-definition, CGI glory, aged up and down so that the movie could take place over more than 50 years of life without casting younger actors to double their older counterparts.
Read Moreįeaturing Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino, plus directing by Martin Scorcese, The Irishman got some of the biggest legends in cinema history and managed to stick them all in one movie. Whether you’re a long time Scorcese fan or new to his work, this is an excellent, more hard-hitting look at mafia life. But that’s no reason to sit this one out. And it is pretty darn violent, even by today’s standards. Goodfellas was considered fairly violent for its time, with over 40 people walking out of the pre-screenings the studio showed. It’s a gritty, violent look at mob life that pulls few punches and chooses to focus on realism rather than glamourize the habits, addictions, and losses of mob life, featuring film icons like Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, as well as guest appearances from Scorcese’s parents, who he cast in bit parts as Joe Pesci’s parents. The film follows Pileggi’s source material loosely, telling the tale of a young man (Ray Liotta) making his way through the ranks of the mob and slowly spiraling into addiction, drugs, and violence. The final result was a critical darling and box office success, snagging six Academy Award nominations and earning a reputation as one of the highest points of Martin Scorcese’s career. According to legend, when Scorcese finished the book and called Pileggi, he declared “I’ve been waiting for this book my entire life” to which Pileggi responded “I’ve been waiting for this phone call my entire life.” The two collaborated on the screenplay together, creating over twelve drafts before they were satisfied with the project. Undaunted? Read on for our picks for the top best mafia movies of all time.Īnother Scorcese film, Goodfellas was created after the famous filmmaker happened upon an investigative mob life novel written by crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi. And while they may not be everyone's cup of tea, you can't deny that mafia movies have launched the careers of some of the most iconic men of American cinema, like Robert Di Niro, Martin Scorcese, and Al Pacino. The best mafia movies are at their best when the grit is shown in the most careful of ways.īut if you're a lover of action and cinematic history, it’s also a genre that’s resplendent with films to choose from: sprawling epics like the Godfather trilogy, old classics like On the Waterfront, and modern staples like T he Irishman.
Even in their earliest incarnations, mafia movies were infamous for their realistic depictions of violence, street crime, and gang antics it’s a genre marked by controversy and brutality, one that refuses to shy away from the gritty elements of the crime world. To the squeamish, the particular, the easily nauseated, be forewarned: gangster and mafia movies aren't for you.