Goodfellas: American Gangster Film

243 Words1 Page

‘Goodfellas’ is a film about American gangsters; we know this because of the images that are in the opening scene. The first thing we see after the opening credits is a Pontiac Grand Prix which is a popular American car (during the 70s), you cannot find one of these cars anywhere but in the U.S., and this is the first image that shows us we are watching an America gangster film. After that scene we see a black screen with the words “New York, 1970”, this time period was infamous for mobsters/gangsters. The final piece of imagery that tells us that we are watching an American gangster film is the narrator; he (Ray Liotta) has a strong, distinguished American accent. A viewers’ generic expectations of a gangster film are fulfilled by the costumes,

Show More
Related

  • Little Caesar And Scarface: The Shame Of The Nation

    1793 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the 1920’s came to a close and America was in the midst of the Great Depression, a new genre of film was becoming popular. With 1928’s Lights of New York the “gangster” film genre as we know it today was born. Little Caesar and The Public Enemy (1931) were also highly influential and set the scene for the modern gangster film. The culmination of the gangster genre came about a year later. Howard Hawks’ Scarface (1932), is one of the boldest and most political gangster films ever made. Many changes were made by industry censor boards due to the diabolical nature of the film. Most notably, all scenes that contained shots of blood were removed and a subtitle was tacked onto the film denoting it as Scarface: The Shame of the Nation. Considered

    Read More

  • Monster: The Autobiography of an L.A. Gang Member

    3185 Words  | 7 Pages

    It was on the day of June 15th, 1975 that the world of eleven year old boy named Kody Scott would change completely. A month prior to this day, Kody was suspended from school for flashing a gang sign during the school’s panorama picture; from here it was evident where Kody was heading in life. Growing up in South Central Los Angeles, Kody was always surrounded by gangs and constantly witnessed the warfare created by rival gangs. Upon his return home from his sixth grade graduation Kody dashed out of the window in his room and ran to meet up with Tray Ball, a gang member of the Eight Tray Gangster Crips who had agreed to sponsor Kody into the gang. That night Kody was beaten senseless by the members of the set as a part of his initiation. Then, Tray Ball came and approached Kody with a pump shotgun that contained eight shells and said: “Kody, you got eight shots, you don’t come back to the car unless they are all gone.” The gang drove north into their enemy territory and eventually found and ambushed their target, a group of Bloods (the main enemy of the Crips). It was instant, gun shots rained from all directions, Kody shot six times before chasing an enemy blood who was then shot in the back by Kody. Kody’s future in the gang was set in stone. He was accepted by all members immediately, especially Tray Ball, who encouraged him to pursue barbaric acts that made Kody’s name soar in the streets. Two years later, at the age of thirteen, Kody was attempting robbery and proceeded to stomp on the man for about twenty minutes until the man was put into a coma at the hands of Kody. The police stated to bystanders that whoever did such an act was a monster, that name stuck to Kody and eventually became more prominent than his actual birth name. Needless to say, school was never Kody’s main focus. Over the course of the next two years, Kody made it his only ambition to fight for the gang and promote the superiority of the Eight Tray Gangsters. Kody’s end goal was to ultimately achieve the status of “Ghetto Star”, a title given to a individual who is known throughout gang because of the barbaric acts they have committed in the name of their own gang set.

    Read More

  • Movie Analysis: American Hustle

    764 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first thing we see is Christian Bale’s almost surreal beer belly, similar to an overdue pregnant stomach. He stands in front of a mirror and adjusting one of the most complex comb overs I have ever seen, which includes artful interweaving of glued hair extensions. Add to this a pair of smoked colored pilot glasses and a sophisticated outfit that screams out our worst nightmares of the late 1970s, and it is dangerously tempting to expect a continuation of a hard groomed freak show, populated by thoroughly ridiculous people who make and says ridiculous things. Especially as the second thing we see is one of Amy Adams countless, magnificently deep necklines. But if that's what we believe will happen, we will become thoroughly

    Read More

  • Movie Analysis: The Gangs of New York

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    The movie Gangs of New York takes place in Lower Manhattan’s Five Points’ neighborhood. It begins in 1846. The main protagonist Amsterdam Fallon, Priest Fallon’s son, watches his father who is the leader of the Dead Rabbit gang prepare and die in battle. As his father is on his last breadths of life giving his son counsel, Billy “the Butcher” Cutting snaps the Priest Fallon’s head. Amsterdam runs away from Cuttings henchmen to hide his father’s knife before he is captured by the Natives gang. He is taken to Hellgate orphanage. In 1862 Amsterdam returns to Five Point’s neighborhood and finds his old friend Johnny Sirocco. Johnny works now for Billy “the Butcher” and introduces Amsterdam to Cutting. Amsterdam makes his way into Cutting’s inner circle of Natives. Amsterdam also meets Jenny Everdeane while hanging out with Johnny. She bumps into Johnny to pickpocket his watch. Amsterdam notices and lets Johnny know. Johnny claims he always lets her take things. As both Cutting and Jenny take a liking to Amsterdam Johnny becomes jealous. He notices young Vallon quickly making his way into Cutting’s gang’s high ranks and into Jenny’s heart. Out of jealousy, Johnny reveals Amsterdam’s true identity to Cutting. Cutting decides to make Vallon angry. He succeeds by playing a dangerous game that involves knives with Jenny at the annual celebration of Priests Vallon’s death. Amsterdam then attempts to assassinate Cutting but fails and is taught a lesson by Cutting. Amsterdam lives at the help of Jenny. To avenge his father he starts the outlawed Dead Rabbit gang up again. He proposes a challenge to Cutting after his friend “Monk” McGinn is killed by Cutting. The fight takes place at Five Points’ neighborhood on the day the ...

    Read More

  • Organized Crime In The Film 'Scarface'

    2528 Words  | 6 Pages

    The movie “Scarface” is the story of one these immigrants who came to the United States seeking money and power but ended up with much more than he ever excepted. Al Pacino plays the main

    Read More

  • The Farce of the American Dream in Hawkes’ Original Film, Scarface

    363 Words  | 1 Pages

    In film, many times the auteur often uses the medium to convey a moral or make a social commentary. In the case of Howard Hawkes’s original version of Scarface, there is more being portrayed through the characters then merely the story. Hawkes makes a statement about the façade of organized crime, and the farce of the American Dream.

    Read More

  • Good Will Hunting

    1966 Words  | 4 Pages

    Good Will Hunting is a film which conveys many interlocking themes and messages to its viewers. One of these nicely woven themes is placing trust in the people we care about as well as people we have only recently become acquainted with. Another message, arguably more significant than the last is finding and pursuing the potential one has and bringing meaning into our lives in any form we choose. I believe the potential and success this film demonstrates is that success, growth, and meaning in a person’s life does not always have to come in the form of advancing in a career or social status but rather in the form of overcoming hardships and developing close reciprocating relationships.

    Read More

  • Analytical Critique of The Godfather

    928 Words  | 2 Pages

    I believe the reason that, 'The Godfather', is such a great film is because it lets audiences decide whether they like the characters or not. Too many movies made about organized crime begin with some seemingly random act of violence. 'The Godfather', however, lets it be known from the start to judge the characters in the film based on what type of person they are instead of the criminal activities they may engage in.

    Read More

  • Pulp Fiction: Black Comedy Neo-Noir Crime Film Directed By Quentin Tarantino

    610 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pulp Fiction is a black comedy neo-noir crime film written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The movie is a cult classic and one of the most influential films of its time. It’s a non- linear collection of stories that intertwine in a very interesting way. Pulp Fiction’s circular timeline, brilliant characters, and unforgettable dialogue makes it an amazing movie that everyone should see at least once.

    Read More

  • The Godfather: An American Dream Story

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Godfather is the “dark-side of the American dream story” (Turan, pp2). The film follows the practices of a fictional Italian mafia family, the Corleone’s. Though most Americans do not condone the practices of the Italian mafia, they cannot deny that Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece. This film gave insight to a mysterious way of life that the average person does not have knowledge of. As the audience is educated about the mafia they also are introduced to many stereotypes.

    Read More

  • Good Will Hunting

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    An individual is shaped and molded by how they are treated by those that surround them. Most people value the opinions of those they care about and want to act in accord. Consequently, the choices people make are greatly influenced by the people in their lives. Sometimes, someone will become close with people who are different from each other. Such is the case in Good Will Hunting. Will Hunting (Matt Damon) struggles between the people that created him and the people that discovered him.

    Read More

  • Taxi Driver, Directed by Martin Scorsese

    1070 Words  | 3 Pages

    New York City that is depicted in Taxi Driver seems to be too real to be true. It is a place where violence runs rampant, drugs are cheap, and sex is easy. This world may be all too familiar to many that live in major metropolitan areas. But, in the film there is something interesting, and vibrant about the streets that Travis Bickle drives alone, despite the amount of danger and turmoil that overshadows everything in the nights of the city. In the film “Taxi Driver” director Martin Scorsese and writer Paul Schrader find and express a trial that many people face, the search for belonging and acceptance.

    Read More

  • The Godfather Film Analysis Essay

    1627 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Godfather is most notably one of the most prolific films of its time. This "gangster" film displayed many transformations of permeating color to give the viewer observable cues in its mise en scene that drew one right into the movie. The dramatic acting set the tone of the film with a score that lifted the viewer right out of their seat in many scenes. The directing and cinematography made The Godfather ahead of its time. The nostalgic feel of family importance and the danger of revenge lets us into the life of the Mafia. Even though no other techniques would have given the viewer a feeling of inside the mob like the mise en scene of the power the godfather held, the characters are reinforced literally and figuratively because the story views the Mafia from the inside out, and the cinematography of the film gives it a dangerous and nostalgic feel.

    Read More

  • Drug Cartel Crime Film

    1409 Words  | 3 Pages

    A Cuban immigrant rises in rank within a brutal drug cartel organization, while alienating and endangering his family.

    Read More

  • The Gangster Genre as a Creation of the Necessity to Promote Civic Responsibility and Social Contentment With Ones Society

    2735 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Gangster Genre as a Creation of the Necessity to Promote Civic Responsibility and Social Contentment With Ones Society

    Read More

More about Goodfellas: American Gangster Film

Open Document