Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas: Analysis and Screenwriting Tips

Discover screenwriting tips in Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas, celebrated as one of the best mafia movies ever made, and it all starts with the screenplay.
Screenwriting secrets in GOODFELLAS (1990):
00:00 - Introduction
00:35 - Character
04:36 - The Story World
06:30 - Dramatic Irony
09:04 - Narration
11:02 - Humanity
13:11 - Consequences
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GOODFELLAS (1990)
Screenplay by Nicholas Pileggi & Martin Scorsese
Based on the book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi
#41 on the WGA's 101 Greatest Screenplays
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Miles Unsworth
William Chevalier
Brenda Garcia
#screenwriting #goodfellas #MartinScorsese

[@ojacobsen3727]

A bunch of screenwriter channels don't really provide simple tools that help in a big way. You do. Great job.

[@ScriptSleuth]

That makes me happy that it's useful for you!

[@doorsofperception18]

The music in this movie is also top notch and used to underline the pace of the movie and what's going on with Henry

[@charlieparker5678]

Would love to see you break down another Scorsese classic: _The Departed_

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great film. Noted!

[@AntonWongVideo]

"He isn't a GOOD fella. He's a BAAAAD fella!!!!" oh, wait, wrong movie...

[@ScriptSleuth]

😅

[@HistorywithHannibal]

I love that line

[@debrachambers1304]

What movie _is_ that from?

[@thanos2615]

You deserve more subscribers.

[@sumeermalik9127]

Dear Script Sleuth, Thank you so much for creating these amazing videos which examine the screenwriting of these masterpieces! Every time I watch your videos, I feel inspired to write and I genuinely feel that I am improving as a writer because of your videos! Keep up the incredible and inspiring work and your channel will go very far! Please take care and stay safe... :-)

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thank you so much for the nice comment, Sumeer!

[@mortalclown3812]

Gosh, I haven't seen this since Ray Liotta died. What a shining light he was ~ Terrific star born here. Rest in paradise, paisan.

[@bluecollarlit]

Please do one of these videos about Body Heat, a 1981 film noir.

[@Sainte305]

You gotta do Casino after this one.

[@grandmasterstudent8786]

Great commentary and great information. I have seen Goodfellas dozens of times but your video helped me breakdown the format of the film from a writer’s standpoint. Thank you.

[@ScriptSleuth]

Glad you found it useful! 🙂

[@CelltheGREAT]

This has been a huge help. Great content!!! One of my favorite mafioso films. 👏🏾👏🏾👌🏾

[@ScriptSleuth]

Awesome, happy to know it was useful! 🙂

[@jangapallivyaskumar6949]

Thankyou man for the videos

[@ScriptSleuth]

You're welcome!

[@joechristie3578]

the thin red line seems to be an interesting one to cover

[@ScriptSleuth]

It's been a while. I'll have to watch that again soon!

[@r8yad]

sure it is, dosen't have a Hollywood structure

[@joechristie3578]

@@ScriptSleuth highly recommend it :)

[@jordancridland9657]

I think that 'Witness' 1985 would make an excellent video for you to cover. that Harrison Ford Amish thriller, that is also on the WGA list

[@ScriptSleuth]

That's definitely coming at some point. Excellent screenplay. Thanks, Jordan!

[@angelofdeath1395]

What you’re doing is very unique and useful for writers. You should do fight club, Django Unchained, & Nightcrawler

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thanks for the comment, and the suggestions!

[@danielohio9462]

Man I just found your channel and absolutely love it. Subscribed. If you ever get chance I’d love to see a breakdown of any of these - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Sin City Ballad of Buster Scruggs

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thanks so much, Daniel! Great suggestions, too. 😎

[@HistorywithHannibal]

@@ScriptSleuth I thought you were Daniel

[@garyzimmerman122]

I am enjoying your breakdown of this and some of my other favorite films from the perspective of a writer. I would like to suggest an analysis of, “Fallen”, starring Denzel Washington, Donald Sutherland, and John Goodman.

[@oldwinston4691]

GREAT INSIGHTS! ID LIKE TO SEE A BREAKDOWN OF “DEVIL IN A BLUE DRESS” starring Denzel Washington or “NIXON” starring Anthony Hopkins

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thanks for the suggestions!

[@mariohartmann9829]

Great thank you so much. Would you please explain Lock Stock and two Smoking Barrels from Guy Ritchie ?

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great movie!

[@ScriptSleuth]

Hey guys, please do me a huge favor and hit the LIKE button (above). That's all I ask - it helps out the channel a lot!

[@ScriptSleuth]

Support the channel on Patreon and get access to more videos: patreon.com/scriptsleuth CITY OF GOD CRIES AND WHISPERS DO THE RIGHT THING IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

[@Sainte305]

Casino.

[@AK-tw7uq]

Another banger my dude Do an animated film(anime too), one of your choice

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thanks, AK! Any films you highly recommend?

[@AK-tw7uq]

@@ScriptSleuth From you, I’d like to see some Charlie Kaufman breakdown like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Synecdoche, New York. If it’s animated I’d recommend an analysis of Spirited Away, Your Name, or Akira(even though Akira’s is pretty flawed because of all it tries to pack in but it would be fun)

[@ScriptSleuth]

@@AK-tw7uq Excellent suggestions. Noted!

[@monsterkhan3414]

Love to see you breakdown "Ratatouille" (2007).

[@ScriptSleuth]

Ooh, that's a good one! Thanks for the comment.

[@Frexican54]

Great video, and channel. Can you do a Video on American Psycho?

[@ScriptSleuth]

Thanks, Walter, and thanks for the suggestion!

[@ToddWCorey1]

I would argue that this film provides humor, not comedy. But great stuff!

[@bergman6251]

It was very helpful. Thanks. Could you talk about schrader s taxi driver?

[@ScriptSleuth]

That's definitely on the list!

[@bluecollarlit]

The part where you talked about Story World, how the audience should be shown what the rules are, the parameters of that world -- it reminds me of the 1960s TV series, Bewitched. The witch world had rules and parameters. Example: Samantha could not remove a spell cast by someone else, like Endora, or Serena...

[@ScriptSleuth]

Exactly! The audience will buy it as long as the rules are established in the story.

[@mortalclown3812]

😂 It used to kill Mom that she never wiggled her nose to clean the house. She said there was no other reason to have 'powers'.

[@bluecollarlit]

@@mortalclown3812 Your mom had a very good point. And actually, in a few episodes every now and then, Samantha DID clean the house using magic, when she had some reason to be in a really big hurry. I'm going check you tube right now...

[@davidmeneses712]

Yes!!

[@ScriptSleuth]

What's up David!

[@acg4964]

Please cover The French Connection, To Live and Die in LA and The Exorcist

[@ScriptSleuth]

The French Connection is definitely on the list!

[@motionmagicpictures4833]

Do one for Taxi Driver

[@tylerdurden6208]

Night of the Dragon, Mickey Rourck?

[@alperentas5390]

you gotta do Wolf Of Wall Street after this one

[@ramyaashok5905]

Please do the screenwriting videos to the movies such as collateral, the darknight,

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great suggestions. Thanks for the comment!

[@ScriptSleuth]

The Dark Knight is up!

[@rohitindurkar]

Please do analysis of Kill Bill Vol I

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great choice!

[@AA-sn9lz]

3:40 lmao

[@MrCybrg-hs8ws]

Dear script sleuth can you create a video on the Godfather part 2 and one flew over the cuckoo's nest They are one the greates movies of all time imo please 🙏

[@ScriptSleuth]

Not to worry. Those masterpieces are definitely on the list!

[@MrCybrg-hs8ws]

@@ScriptSleuth ahh 💯😌

[@nagmat1]

I would like to see you do bladerunner2049

[@ScriptSleuth]

That's a good one! Thanks for the comment.

[@terrymiller111]

"Karen, don't worry about it." Karen: "Manager!"

[@hflazo]

How about a foreign film? "The Secret in their Eyes" would be a great choice.

[@ScriptSleuth]

I love that movie, and definitely want to cover it at some point!

[@mortalclown3812]

Hfla ~ Great choice. Generally, Americans don't pay attention to foreign art...in any media.

[@prettylitch1785]

The Sopranos, please!

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great choice!

[@ScriptSleuth]

What do you think? What's the greatest gangster movie of all time?

[@akirafella]

Absolutely

[@Sam-nl8ie]

Idk the Irishman ain’t too shabby

[@oldwinston4691]

The Godfather. You cant beat Brando as Don Vito.

[@philiphalpenny3783]

White Heat...

[@benquinneyiii7941]

Intentionally

[@marlsluj]

Silence From Martin Scorsese

[@ScriptSleuth]

I still have to see that one!

[@davidmeneses712]

Could you talk about There Will Be Blood?

[@ScriptSleuth]

Good one!

[@1qwasz12]

Eyes Wide Shut, True Grit (2010 version)

[@Yo-me7rb]

Dr strangelove , MENACE II SOCIETY, or the 400 blows

[@ScriptSleuth]

Great suggestions!

[@Sam-nl8ie]

In Bruges

[@ScriptSleuth]

Definitely on the list!

[@BudsCartoon]

Great movie, obviously, but voice over is VERY cheap.