Goodfellas - Scorsese's Masterclass in Visual Storytelling

This video essay reviews Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas (1990), particularly the cinematography and editing. Goodfellas is a masterpiece but this video explores why it is so engrossing from start to finish.
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Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
2:46 Camera Tracking
4:46 People, Slow Mo and Zooms
7:27 Editing
Music used:
The Hours by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
Cover Charge by Tracktribe
Like You Mean it by Dan Lebowitz
Uptown by Topher Mohr and Alex Elena
Confusing Disco by Birocratic
Cumbia City by An Jone
#goodfellas #scorsese #cinematography

[@JustanObservation]

Download HUSK FOR FREE: testflight.apple.com/join/f3OtyoxC App tutorial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXTHenqAoLpnlas

[@SuiGenerisAbbie]

This content is riveting! GoodFellas is one of my favourite films!

[@tristramcoffin926]

Outstanding movie. Outstanding study of the movie, but that's just an observation.

[@soaringbuddha7249]

That’s clever 😅

[@stenbiller99]

Outstanding comment. Outstanding study of the comment of the study of the movie. But that’s just an observation

[@profoundpronoun4712]

I couldn’t agree more

[@kentuckyfriedchildren5385]

Thing with goodfellas is, there is literally nothing wrong with it. It's that good

[@watermxrk]

Debatable

[@jalenr.6542]

@@watermxrkSo let’s debate then. What’s wrong with the film?

[@prod.kidmizu]

My only slight problem is young Henry’s actor did such a good job, he made Liota seem a little boring after the time skip.

[@c3s-way929]

Fr I’ve watched it about 50 times and I’m still not bored of it

[@elijahalbiston]

@@prod.kidmizu might just be you on that, I always heard people praise Liota

[@EmptyGlass99]

I went to see this movie by accident in 1990. The one we wanted to see was sold out. My friends and I were so utterly engrossed that we left the cinema feeling like gangsters. A masterpiece.

[@louballou8584]

I left the cinema feeling like I was going to get whacked any second. :-)

[@fluentincinema7730]

Still one of the greatest films ever made.

[@Ahmed-vz7fd]

It's one of the best movies of all time for me. You can watch this movie again and again and never get bored.This movie is a timeless masterpiece,with every new watch you understand the characters more, you discover something new about the characters, great acting ,great cinematography great soundtrack everything is just amazing.

[@miqx1977]

Discovering your channel was one of the best things that happened in 2021. Keep it up.

[@JustanObservation]

Thank you, that means a lot!

[@peterismyfirstname2872]

Yeah, I guess you nailed that one. Perfectly. Watching the movie in the theater I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest.

[@SpotCam]

Goodfellas is one of my fav movies of all time, so excited to watch this vid! legit clicked AS SOON as I saw it

[@jimlarose633]

I never comment on videos but this is really well done. I’ve watched probably 5 times and it’s nice to see what’s making me feel my feels.

[@iTechmen1]

Imo greatest movie of all time. Absolutely perfect and fun all the way through. I feel like any crime movie after this was influenced or tried to be like goodfellas

[@errwhattheflip]

I wouldn´t call it the greatest, but it´s damn near it.

[@thomasmason6631]

Agreed except pulp

[@antoinepetrov]

The most interesting video essay about Goodfellas I have ever seen.

[@stevenasaavedra]

@Just an Observation great take. Thank you so much. Though, just an observation (pun very much intended), I believe there may be 2 more freeze frames that may not have been accounted for: the one of Jimmy Conway tipping a teenage Henry, therefore introducing Henry to the world, introducing him to Jimmy Conway. The other is when the airline ticket is freeze framed that Lois I believe has to book for the drug deal and does over the phone “after all her ‘yea yea yea”, thereby sealing the fate of the botched drug deal.

[@JustanObservation]

Just checked again, you’re right.

[@replicacity92]

Just saw this movie yesterday for the first time at the theaters, such a treat to watch on the big screen

[@stonecold6521]

Keep up the good work buddy. Your channel will grow quickly if you keep producing quality videos like this. Hope everyone comments and likes to help with algorithm.

[@JustanObservation]

Thanks buddy!

[@stonecold6521]

@@JustanObservation I rarely comment. Felt compelled. 😃

[@pab1381]

Pesci tells the best stories in this film. Flawless and hilarious. Not many actors can do that.

[@GrandSlamSilver]

10:32 - The Vertigo Effect. No one has ever referred to it as "The Jaws Effect".

[@jordachejordan90]

Today I was taught the definition of 'match cut.' Thank you.

[@jaw9095]

your channel is extremely underrated, keep uploading these quality videos and u have 100k with ease.

[@MatadorShifter]

Scorsese was heavily inspired by Sergio Leone (among many others) - a well known master of visual storytelling

[@theorderofthebees7308]

Oh thank you for that

[@mikeywise3411]

who also coincidentally made his own gangster movie, once upon a time in america

[@elichilton7031]

An excellent essay on one of the all time greats. Kudos.

[@epie6]

This movie is right up there with the sopranos tv series really 👌 it’s not really about anything, yet it’s about everything all people deal with in their lives .. love, hatred, injustice, violence, and mainly trust.. my two cents

[@DavidJaramillo.]

1 of my fav yturbers this year

[@JustanObservation]

Thank you I appreciate it!

[@stonecold6521]

Agreed. His expertise needs rewarding.

[@maxeyre2024]

This video really made me appreciate this movie even more. Great job!

[@Artyom_P]

Coming from your previous channel (DG) to this one, it's been great to see you expand your horizons. I was in a difficult spot and you helped me out of it. Me and my new girlfriend have binge watched most of your videos on this channel! Little does she know how I found out about it.. haha. Appreciate all your hard work!

[@VC-ps2vm]

Can you please share the channel link

[@bishoyromani4058]

Amazing content man..keep it up.

[@quinntoohey406]

This channel is brilliant!!! Amazing analysis

[@adamgthompson]

This was brilliant, thank you.

[@charlbeaton3623]

Insightful analysis. Brilliant

[@zwjeffrey]

Brilliant analysis. Thank you.

[@Pancake_Icecream]

great film!! and great analysis too! subscribed!!!

[@decem_sagittae]

Great analysis bro. I can't believe you counted all those tracking shots and cuts.

[@mrbourru2104]

Very nice video, once again. Good job! 👍🏻

[@LCR-iy6xq]

Such a sharp essay on a masterpiece. Glad you covered my favorite Scorsese film. Keep up the good work!!

[@dieselfusion9964]

Good stuff as always!

[@BigPurp9]

I’ve just been on a big mob movie/series binge lately. Finally watched all the Godfathers and The Sopranos, but I had to rewatch my favourite Goodfellas again 🐐

[@joaquincastel8891]

This channel is amazing

[@khcdija]

Love your videos

[@tubbalcain]

Great breakdown, I love it

[@sonnysantana5454]

easy the visuals , the right music , the clothes and the best actors that love and enjoy their craft

[@howardron543]

Will i have to watch Goodfellas again?... I guess so

[@tato4612]

Great video...thank you so much.

[@sage9453]

Great video! Thanks!

[@generichuman2044]

Goodfellas is probably my favourite film. I love everything about it. The opening, shot choices, acting and the music are all faultless in my opinion. I think I could watch 10000 more films and never enjoy one as I much as I enjoyed goodfellas

[@johnablett6633]

Hell of a channel, man. Really enjoying your content.

[@JustanObservation]

Thanks John!

[@RussellTurner]

Great analysis.

[@brucesewe6431]

Fantastic 🙌

[@philhellmuth2771]

Great video! You deserve a comment for the algorithm

[@RodionRomanov]

Thanks for the counts

[@valtterimarsio5440]

Lets just have a moment and appreciate how detailed this movie is

[@phillipnicola6213]

Do ScarFace Tony Montana Next!!!!! Love Your Videos 👍🏼

[@777Nny]

"The Jaws Effect"? I'm familiar with the "Vertigo Effect"...

[@Beefnhammer]

The name I've always heard it referred to as is the 'Hitchcock Pull', mainly due to Vertigo as you mentioned. But its use in Jaws is fairly well known too.

[@ToddWCorey1]

My lord, this is fantastic stuff! You see things that go right over most of our heads! But it looks to me as though that dolly zoom is the camera physically pulling back while it zooms in, not the other way around. Am I wrong here?

[@cadillacdeville5828]

One of my favorite movies ever 🤩

[@curiousworld7912]

Bravo. :)

[@nightcrawler2717]

One of the greatest movie ever made.

[@jessicapinkman-hd4bw]

great movie👍

[@peterismyfirstname2872]

It was a while ago so I can't remember if I made a copy of Goodfellas with Sonic Youth mixed at low volume in the background or a mixed audio cassette tape with Goodfellas the 'Funny how?' scene dialogue over Sonic Youth. I wish I could find it. The last few minutes of the track 'Mote'? or 'Scooter And Jinx'? Chilling. ::::: At 4:26ish Karen impressed as can be, asking Henry what he does for a living and he says he's "in construction". She feels his hands a comments they're aren't any calluses on his hands, very smooth. He replied he was a "union delegate." Good one. I hope he got laid that night. Laughing with astonishment and respect for the writing and the acting, man! That was some magic! What a scene. Amazing restaurant and club. Thinking about how good the steaks are. (Respectfully on the sex language)

[@user-fp3de1ez8m]

Goodfellas is the best at least for rewatching. Godfather 1 n 2 are masterpieces But Goodfellas draws you into a bloody pulp, thrown in the back of the trunk - bleeding and pain meter hitting 10 on both planes of consciousness and unconsciousness, then the road journey ends with the reveal of one more devilish exclamation of stabbings and then thrown down to the ground with a rain of kicks all the while cursed at for being born to watch this classic movie... As the last dirt hits your face whilst lying in the makeshift grave with no name, the movie buries you in forever as the last credits past by and only then one feels like a masochist voyeur eager to experience the hellish nightmare again and again and again...

[@connorklebs6432]

You should do a video like this for the Wolf of Wall Street, very similar styles

[@TheRockGod]

Same director!

[@isaacanderson5083]

10:36 Tracking out, zooming in

[@marasmusine]

I liked the cloudscape at the end there, what is that?

[@robynvann735]

How he kept us hooked? It was a brilliant movie, brilliant cast and soundtrack...It’s the best gangster movie ever made. Now go get your shine box! Last day of 2021

[@arvindraghavan403]

Can u make an video about sopranos just like u did for breaking bad!

[@thejoking.madmen]

When made the movie so great is the way they made us love and adore the illustrations of a charming derange men, or group of men's. Paulie: ended with his true fear coming true that he'll spend the remainder of his life in a jail cell. Tommy: ended up discovering that his uncivilized mindset isn't worthy enough to become made, instead his actions only rewarded him with death. Henry: ended up realizing that within the mob he isn't considered as an associate of their, instead he was nothing more but a loyal servant that is ready to obey.

[@pabloknapperodriguez219]

In my opinion everything said in the Video is pretty accurate, but what triggered me immensely is you calling the Dolly Zoom the „jaws effect“. Even though Spielberg used it perfectly in Jaws (it is also one of my favorite dolly zooms throughout cinematic history) but if there is another name for it, it is the “vertigo effect” as Alfred Hitchcock was the first one to use it in his 1958 masterpiece Vertigo.

[@JustanObservation]

I know, it’s known as both but Jaws effect seems more popularised

[@epon1357]

@@JustanObservation also, you got the direction of the dolly zoom wrong; it tracks out while zooming in, which is why the background expands. Great vid nonetheless!

[@jessicapinkman-hd4bw]

nothing was scripted since it's all based in reality

[@verticalstance]

i just realized karen is tony sopranos psychiatrist

[@witek688]

vertigo effect*

[@thejanitor9902]

Rip ray liotta

[@Ryuasee]

Would love to see your spin on marvel movies, just for fun!

[@stenbiller99]

I’ll bet directors study these analysis videos on their movies to learn more about themselves lol

[@iamaheretic7829]

😅

[@joevaccaro6655]

Scorsese is a good director, no question about it. However, the success of Goodfellas is owed to Nick Pileggi. He did the research 🧐 and the writing ✍️. Pileggi is the reason why the movie is so non-fictional, which I think adds to the quality. The same for Casino, it’s a great movie thanks to Pileggi. And my opinion, I’d rather watch a movie 🎥 where Pileggi is involved in the production and not Scorsese like American Gangster than one where Scorsese is involved in the production and not Pileggi like The Irishman, which didn’t do very well.

[@jesustovar2549]

This, when Scorsese reunited with Nick Pileggi they really created two memorable masterpices in film, one of the reasons to say that Goodfellas is the best drama and crime film about gangsters, for me it's because the movie was based on a real story, one that many people didn't heard off until they saw the movie, this is one of the best ways to tell a story, I think many people who watched the movie forgets about this imporant detail even if it showed a the beggining, also in Casino. I read that during the filmmaking De Niro and Pesci talked with Pileggi about investigation material about the story, that gives it more authenticity, also the movie has a good lenght, 2 hours and 25 minutes, it's long but it really moves fast, also I didn't realize the significance and importance of the freeze frames until I saw this video.

[@joevaccaro6655]

@@jesustovar2549 I do agree with you on the freeze frames. Something else Scorsese does well, and he does it better than Coppola, is that he brings the general public to a familiar place. He, at times, shows the common ground of mafiosi and legitimate italians, like the dinner scene in with his Mother. I think by Scorsese doing this he makes the characters more realistic and their world more up close and personal, every pleasant and ugly aspect. As matter of fact and not many people know this, he made a short documentary of his parents, who were both in Goodfellas, and he showed them just being themselves. It's called Italian American and I think it inspired some of the acting and the dialogue of Goodfellas.

[@quatreraberbawinner2628]

It's a great movie, but I would say it's not exactly a good example of visual storytelling, almost everything is conveyed through dialogue or narration

[@Grriimace]

It’s nice movie, I just wouldn’t say it’s the greatest.

[@jothishprabu8]

Still don't like this movie despite its fancy camerawork and editing. I just hate all the Characters!!!

[@miracleyacht__1538]

Am I the only one that didn’t like Goodfellas? Casino is waaaaay better

[@billbillson2276]

He's (Scorsese) an OK-ish director and he's certainly had his moments, but he's no James Gunn. Also is it just me or Robert De Niro an atrocious actor with all the range and versatility of a lamppost? Seriously dude's like a poor man's Steven Seagal.

[@stonecold6521]

What do you want people to say when they react to your comment? I mean, people know you're not being serious as much as they know 2+2=4.

[@ultor__]

R.I.P. Ray Liotta