GoodFellas (30th anniversary)

It’s hard to believe that it has been 30 years since Martin Scorsese’s classic opened in the Netherlands, but it’s true: the film premiered on 4 November 1990, and we are proud to present this 30th anniversary screening in an immaculate 4K restoration. The story is taken from the real-life of Henry Hill (played by Ray Liotta), who grew up idolising the Mafia in his New York neighbourhood, wanting nothing more than to join them. But Henry, who is ‘adopted’ early on by Paul Sorvino’s big boss Paul Cicero, has a fatal flaw: he is half Irish, so he can never be a ‘made man’—something that eventually led him to give evidence to the FBI. ‘Goodfellas’ traces Henry’s apprenticeship and (near) full-fledged membership in this brutal group, alongside Robert De Niro’s Jimmy Conway and Joe (‘You think I’m funny?’) Pesci’s psychotic enforcer Tommy DeVito. This is muscular, bravura filmmaking that ranks with Scorsese’s best.

‘”Goodfellas” is both the most politically serious and evilly entertaining movie yet made about organized crime. As cinema, it ranks alongside Mr Scorsese’s classics “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull”… More than any earlier Scorsese film, “Goodfellas” is memorable for the ensemble nature of the performances. Mr De Niro, Mr Liotta, Mr Pesci and Mr Sorvino shine together.’—Vincent Canby, New York Times