Roger Ebert’s four-star, best-of-1990 review is discussed, including his claim that no finer organized-crime film had been made and his praise of Scorsese at his peak.

In the discussion (3)

Approx. transcript time · 00:47:13Read transcript

Ebert gave Goodfellas four stars and named it his best film of 1990.
Ebert wrote that no finer film about organized crime had been made, including The Godfather.
He described Scorsese as America’s finest filmmaker at the peak of his form.

Casting What-Ifs

De Niro’s choice of Jimmy, Malkovich and William Petersen alternatives, Liotta and Sean Penn possibilities, Sorvino’s self-discovery, and Cruise/Madonna rumors are discussed.

In the discussion (6)

Approx. transcript time · 01:50:32Read transcript

De Niro was offered Jimmy or Tommy, chose Jimmy, and his commitment secured financing.
John Malkovich and William Petersen are discussed as reported Jimmy alternatives.
Liotta’s Something Wild work helped establish him for Henry, and he reportedly turned down Harvey Dent in Batman.
Sean Penn is discussed as a possible Henry.
Paul Sorvino reportedly considered leaving until he saw a frightening expression in the mirror and found Paulie.
Tom Cruise and Madonna are discussed as reported alternate star casting, though the panel questions how real the offers were.

Recasting Couch

Linda Fiorentino is selected as a stronger Janice or gumar option, over Annabella Sciorra.

In the discussion (2)

Approx. transcript time · 01:59:37Read transcript

Linda Fiorentino is proposed and selected.
Annabella Sciorra is proposed as an alternative.

The research pass covers the Scorsese–Pileggi call, Henry Hill payment, a pistol-whip accident, filmmakers’ relationships, Imperioli’s injury, the painting, Oscar-winning killer roles, the closing shot, music planning, made-man rules, ratings edits, and profanity.

In the discussion (13)

Approx. transcript time · 02:00:06Read transcript

Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi’s reciprocal “waiting for this” phone-call lines are recounted.
Henry Hill was reportedly paid $480,000.
The actor pistol-whipped by Henry describes Liotta maintaining rage between takes and accidentally getting too close.
Scorsese dating Illeana Douglas and Lorraine Bracco’s marriage to Harvey Keitel are discussed.
Michael Imperioli broke glass in his hand, and hospital staff initially thought it was a gunshot wound.
Scorsese predicted Imperioli would tell the injury story on Jay Leno, which he later did.
Tommy’s mother’s painting was reportedly based on a 1977 National Geographic image.
Five actors said to have won Oscars for portraying real-life killers are counted.
Pesci shooting at the camera is connected to The Great Train Robbery and Henry always looking over his shoulder.
The music editor said Scorsese planned songs years before shooting and included them in the script.
A 2000 change to made-man ancestry rules is described.
Scorsese reportedly removed ten frames of blood to secure an R rating.
The movie is reported to contain 321 uses or derivatives of “fuck.”

Picking Nits

Age mismatches, Sonny confronting Tommy publicly, absent strip clubs, prison meals, a mannequin-like assault victim, post-wedding housing, Billy Batts’s party, Lufthansa associates who fail to flee, Karen locating Henry, and payphones supply distinct nitpicks.

In the discussion (10)

Approx. transcript time · 02:16:22Read transcript

Liotta and Pesci are judged much too old for the early ages they portray.
Sonny discussing the restaurant bill in front of Tommy’s friends is questioned.
The absence of an obligatory strip-club scene is questioned.
The elaborate prison meals are questioned but accepted as fun.
The pistol-whipping victim stands like a mannequin.
Henry and Karen living with her mother after receiving substantial wedding cash is questioned, then defended as living off-grid.
Billy Batts’s sparsely attended party and friends leaving him with a rival crew are questioned; Jimmy may have kept him there and drunk.
Lufthansa associates fail to flee despite participating in Jimmy’s other murders.
How Karen knows Henry is at Morrie’s shop after Bruce assaults her is questioned.
Mobsters repeatedly using the same supposedly untraceable payphone is questioned.

Probably Unanswerable Questions

Liotta, Bracco, bodies, cocaine acting, and Jimmy’s plan for Karen anchor the questions.

In the discussion (5)

Approx. transcript time · 02:25:46Read transcript

Why did Ray Liotta’s career not produce more roles at this level?
Why did Lorraine Bracco’s movie career not become larger?
Did the smell of Billy Batts’s corpse ever leave Henry’s trunk?
How much of Liotta’s cocaine performance was method or physical technique?
Was Jimmy truly planning to kill Karen?