GoodFellas (1990)

Goodfellas (1990) - 2 Minute Analysis #3

Goodfellas - 1990

The story of a half-Irish, half-Sicilian Brooklyn boy initiated into a neighbourhood mob in his youth, and the struggles he encounters with the gang throughout the next 25 years.

Conventions

• It does break convention in one way - In the beggining there is no music, whereas normally there would be. This makes it more realistic, like you're not watching a film, but something that really happened (Which as the titles show later, the film is based on a true story)
• Typical of a crime thriller, within the opening 2 minutes there is a murder and gun as well as a knife is seen and used
• The killing takes place at night, something you would expect to see

Mise-en-scene

Costume - All of them are wearing clean cut, smart ironed suits. This suggesting they are business men and they are at work. They're neat, the shirts tucked in with an open collar, apart from Tommy's which has a buttoned up high collar. Henry is also wearing an expensive watch, again showing that they have money.

Lighting - The lighting is Low Key around the trio, heightening the disaffected feeling of the three who don't appear to care very much about the man they just killed. It suits the time which is at night, which is when bad things often happen to people in the movies. 

Actors - Tommy's face during the stabbing is mainly cast in shadow, there is no clarity, suggesting he's not thinking clearly whilst carrying out the murder. His words are angry, and almost childish in the way he repeatedly says "DIE", suggesting he is immature and maybe unintelligent. Jimmy's face on the other hand is seen as calm, his movements careful and measured as he pulls out the gun and shoots. Suggesting he knows what hes doing. Henry is the only one who doesn't take part in the killing, he only watches, being observant. When he speaks in the beginning he seems fairly easy going.

Make-up - Within the first 2 minutes, there is not prominent make-up used. However, there may have been make-up used to stop the actors sweating or make them more pale or darker than usual, giving them a different natural look.

Props - Tommy is carrying around a knife, not even a switchblade, but a kitchen knife. Jimmy too carries a gun. Jimmy hand is also carrying a shovel, this all suggests that they are going to bury the person in the car boot. A typical gangster car was also a prob, giving the gangsters transport and showing they can afford a nice car.

Setting - The film is set in New York City, America. Set in a places called Brooklyn at the beginning when he was a kid and later on in the film it's set mainly in Queens, America.

Editing - The editing is kept to a minimum through the first 2 minutes. We see Invisible editing, this is used to bring two scenes together without disruption. Fast editing is also used to keep the audience involved with the action while it's taking place.

Camera - The very first shot in the film is the car which has been placed center framed, suggesting it will be central to the film. There is a medium shot of the 3 people in the car. The most prominently placed is the driver Henry, then Jimmy who is dozing beside him and then Tommy who is out of focus on the back seat - perhaps he is less important than the others. Or maybe because he is out of focus suggests he is slightly sinister and ambiguous. When they get out of the car, the camera shoots a low angle of them, this making the audience look up at them showing that they are in the position of power. There is also close ups to show the expression on the actors faces, zooms to get the audience involved in the scene and medium shots to show 2 or more people.