The Godfather Vs. Goodfellas (Ep. 0010)

Episode Summary:  You cannot assess the history of cinema without assessing the history of mob films. Filmmakers discovering that crime offered a new narrative form changed the direction of movies to come. Today, the guys discuss two of the most celebrated mob movies in history. The Godfather is in the constant rotation of films that are considered “Best Of All Time”. Goodfellas builds on the modern formula that The Godfather builds by giving the “Behind The Music” of running an organized crime organization. Also, these films don’t lack star power. When we analyze the cast of each film, it reads like the yet-to-be-realized youth of The Godfather versus the tenured De Niro/Pesci cast that Scorsese had perfected chemistry with. Buckle up for our most detailed Movie Wars to date. And remember, "never rat on your friends and keep your mouth shut” as Jimmy Conway put it.  

Movie Wars Scorecard 

Best Top Bill Cast

Best Supporting Cast

Best dressed

Best ending

Which gang do you want to be in?

Music

Highest employer rating

Scorsese Vs Coppola 

Best mob portrayal 

Horsehead in the bed or leave a dead man in a meat freezer truck?

Worst beating? Henry Hill or Sonny

Best Italian cooking

Film Summaries

Goodfellas: A young man grows up in the mob and works very hard to advance himself through the ranks. He enjoys his life of money and luxury, but is oblivious to the horror that he causes. A drug addiction and a few mistakes ultimately unravel his climb to the top. Based on the book "Wiseguy" by Nicholas Pileggi.

• Rating:
• R
• Genre:
• Drama, Crime
• Original Language:
• English
• Director:
• Martin Scorsese
• Producer:
• Irwin Winkler
• Writer:
• Nicholas Pileggi, Martin Scorsese
• Release Date (Theaters):
• Sep 19, 1990  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming):
• Aug 15, 2008
• Box Office (Gross USA):
• $42.6M

-Info courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes, (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1032176-goodfellas)

The Godfather: Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time, this mob drama, based on Mario Puzo's novel of the same name, focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando). When the don's youngest son, Michael (Al Pacino), reluctantly joins the Mafia, he becomes involved in the inevitable cycle of violence and betrayal. Although Michael tries to maintain a normal relationship with his wife, Kay (Diane Keaton), he is drawn deeper into the family business.

• Rating:
• R
• Genre:
• Drama, Crime
• Original Language:
• English
• Director:
• Francis Ford Coppola
• Producer:
• Albert S. Ruddy
• Writer:
• Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, Mario Puzo
• Release Date (Theaters):
• Mar 15, 1972  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming):
• Aug 1, 2013
• Box Office (Gross USA):
• $134.8M
• Runtime:
• 2h 57m
• -Summary courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/godfather)