25 Reasons Why 'GoodFellas' Is the Definitive Mob Movie of Our Time

In honor of its 25th anniversary, we take a look back to see what elements made 'GoodFellas' the perfect mob film.

Not Available Lead
Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

Not Available Lead

Martin Scorsese may not have invented the gangster movie, but he has undoubtedly set the bar for the tough guy genre. And while he’s contributed some of the genre’s greatest entries going back to the earliest days of his career with movies like 1973’s Mean Streets, 1995’s Casino, 2002’s Gangs of New York, and 2006’s The Departed (which won the legendary director his sole Oscar), there’s no arguing the simple fact that 1990’s GoodFellas is his crowning achievement. And the kind of movie to which all other gangster films aspire.

As the big-screen adaptation of the life of gangster-turned-rat Henry Hill celebrates its 25th anniversary, we’re offering up 25 Reasons Why GoodFellas Is the Definitive Mob Movie of Our Time.

The Scope

Not Available Interstitial

The Pacing

Not Available Interstitial

The Voiceover

Not Available Interstitial

The Female Perspective

Not Available Interstitial

The Outsider Perspective

Not Available Interstitial

The Insiders as Outsiders

Not Available Interstitial

That Tracking Shot

Not Available Interstitial

The Soundtrack

Not Available Interstitial

The Visceral Nature

Not Available Interstitial

The Freeze-Frames

Not Available Interstitial

Cooking Lessons

Not Available Interstitial

The Procedural Aspect

Not Available Interstitial

Levity

Not Available Interstitial

Morrie’s Commercials

Not Available Interstitial

Mrs. Scorsese

Not Available Interstitial

Authenticity

Not Available Interstitial

Quotability

Not Available Interstitial

“How Am I Funny?”

Not Available Interstitial

Tommy

Not Available Interstitial

The Characters

Not Available Interstitial

Gaudiness, Glorious Gaudiness

Not Available Interstitial

Mob Wives

Not Available Interstitial

Michael Imperioli’s Gangster Beginnings

Not Available Interstitial

Breaking the Fourth Wall

Not Available Interstitial

In Summation: Scorsese

Not Available Interstitial

Latest in Pop Culture