Favorite Mob Movie?

Nirvanadude · 11-05-2005, 01:31 AM

Contrary to my avatar - Goodfellas is NOT my favorite mafia movie. It is my 2nd favorite however.

My favorite is Once Upon A Time In America

How about yours?

**Shaggy** · 11-05-2005, 01:51 AM

Casino is the first movie with the mob that jumps in my head. I love that movie!!

Gearjammer · 11-05-2005, 01:58 AM

I really didn't get into mob movies until I saw Donnie Brasco. I never cared for the Godfather, but perhaps I'll give it another shot. Anyway, my favorite though is definitely Goodfellas.

Nirvanadude · 11-05-2005, 01:59 AM

Great choice Shaggy! Casino ranks up there with me too

India_Blue · 11-05-2005, 02:04 AM

Analyze This

Music Wench · 11-05-2005, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by India_Blue

Analyze This

LOL I loved that one!

My favorite is probably Good Fellas cause it really puts them in the light they deserve to be seen in - bad. I didn't like the Godfather movies either and I think it's because they sort of glorified the whole mob thing in a way. Can't stand thugs and the romanticizing of the mafia was just a bit much for me.

Gearjammer · 11-05-2005, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by Music Wench

LOL I loved that one!

My favorite is probably Good Fellas cause it really puts them in the light they deserve to be seen in - bad. I didn't like the Godfather movies either and I think it's because they sort of glorified the whole mob thing in a way. Can't stand thugs and the romanticizing of the mafia was just a bit much for me.

Funny, I got a completely different take on that. I mean, I actually came away liking some of these characters. No doubt it showed the terrible things mobsters are known for, but I thought for the bulk of the picture the characters came off as likeable, like one big happy family, the exception being Joe Pesci (Tommy). He was just a bad seed, a total bastard from start to finish.

Music Wench · 11-05-2005, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by Gearjammer

Funny, I got a completely different take on that. I mean, I actually came away liking some of these characters. No doubt it showed the terrible things mobsters are known for, but I thought for the bulk of the picture the characters came off as likeable, like one big happy family, the exception being Joe Pesci (Tommy). He was just a bad seed, a total bastard from start to finish.

I think it's just that I can't stand mobsters and the idea of them having a meal at someone's mother's house while there was a dead body in the trunk of their car waiting to be dumped some place made it just disgusting.

All kinds of other things like having mistresses and doing other rather sordid things just made it seem like they had a bad moral compass. It's like saying loyalty above all - even if it's to murderers and thugs - is the most important thing.

Guess I saw it as one big dysfunctional family.

Nirvanadude · 11-06-2005, 10:26 PM

I have seen Goodfellas dozens of times. I agree totally about romantisizing the "thug" life.

If you have the "special edition" of Goodfellas with the commentary listen to it. The real Henry Hill tells how he feared for his life every day while involved- and it was not a life to be proud of.

Yes, I think when Jimmy& Henry were eating at Tommy's mothers house and Billy Batts could be heard thumping around in the trunk was a little sick. Scrorsese tried to portray this image of heartlessness yet loyalty and he succeeded IMO.

I remember one line that Henry said: "Your killers come with smiles. People you have known your entire life as your friends. And they always come at your most vulnerable time."

Martha Washington · 11-10-2005, 06:56 PM

I think I'd go with the first 'Godfather'
my dad was a projectionist and he hated it but I got to see it dozens of times.
Coppolla did something really amazing with that movie. He made a GOOD movie that was SO violent and amoral (for the times) that people who had never GONE to the movies flocked to see it. critics gave it good reviews, my dad showed that movie for a YEAR and people were STILL lined up to watch it because they couldn't go home and watch it.

It's classy and it's junk.
This magic combo elevates it, I think to a type of art.

I'll hasten to add that I think 'Goodfellas' and 'Once Upon a Time..." count as art also.
when Raoul Walsh and those guys were making good 'gangster' pictures in the 40's and 50's, nobody much thought of them as 'art' I think 'The Godfather' changed that.

TeleCat · 11-17-2005, 01:03 PM

The Pope of Greenwich Village.

Martha Washington · 11-17-2005, 06:28 PM

"They took my THUMBS, Charlie!!!"