BY LEE PFEIFFER
In the humble opinion of this writer, Martin Scorsese's "Goodfellas" is the best American movie of the 1990s; a virtually perfect witches brew of violence, betrayal, misguided loyalties and a so-called "code of honor" practiced by a select group of criminals who fancied themselves no worse than your average working stiff. The production, which grabs the viewer from that early, amazing tracking shot that goes inside the Copacabana, boasts some of the finest acting ever seen in any film, with yeomen work by Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino and, most notably, Joe Pesci in an Oscar-winning performance. Add to that some of the best casting ever seen in relation to supporting roles and you have a classic for the ages.
Appropriately, Warner Home Entertainment has released a special 25th anniversary commemorative Blu-ray edition of the film. As outlined below in the official press release, the Blu-ray carries over all previously-released material from other special editions and provides a new documentary produced by Brett Ratner that features most of the principals (and others unrelated to the film) extolling Scorsese's achievement. One cautionary note: despite being referenced in the press release, neither Jack Nicholson -who starred in Scorsese's "The Departed"- or Joe Pesci appear in the new documentary. Nevertheless, add this to your "must-have" list.
On May 5, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE) will release GoodFellas on 2-Disc Blu-ray featuring a new documentary with interviews from Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey
Keitel, Ray Liotta and more, and a
36-page photo book exploring the film’s far-reaching influence. The book also includes a letter written by Martin Scorsese.
The 25th Anniversary Blu-ray release of GoodFellas, cited by film critic Roger Ebert as “the best mob movie ever,†has been
remastered from a 4k scan of the original camera
negative, supervised by Martin Scorsese. The Blu-ray release also includes
Digital HD with UltraViolet and will
be available for $34.99 SRP. Fans can also own GoodFellas on Digital
HD via purchase from digital retailers.
GoodFellas explores the criminal life like no other
movie. Following the rise and fall of a
trio of gangsters over 30 years, it’s an electrifying, fact-inspired tale of
living – and dying. Based on the true-life
best seller “Wiseguy†by Nicholas Pileggi, the film earned six Academy Award® nominations, including Best
Picture and Best Director and was named
1990’s ‘Best Film’ by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film
Critics. In 2000, GoodFellas was selected for
preservation in the National Film Registry by the US Library of Congress.
Scorsese was awarded
the Silver Lion Award for Best Director in Venice. Robert De
Niro received wide recognition for his performance as veteran criminal Jimmy
“The Gent†Conway, and Joe Pesci,
as the volatile Tommy DeVito, walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Oscar®. Academy Award® nominees Lorraine Bracco,
Ray Liotta and Paul Sorvino also
turned in electrifying performances.
SPECIAL
FEATURES will
include all previously released special features along with:
· ALL-NEW
Documentary includes interview with the Director, cast and some of your all-time favorite movie
gangsters! – Join some of Martin Scorsese’s greatest gangsters – Robert De
Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Keitel, Ray
Liotta, Jack Nicholson and Joe Pesci – to discover what it’s like to work for perhaps the greatest gangster director
of them all.