Opening Analysis | Goodfellas

Goodfellas is a 1990 Biography, Crime and Drama movie directed by Martin Scorsese (ALSO THE BEST MOVIE FOREVER). It stars Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci and Robert Di Niro as gangsters during the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. The opening of this movie is rather dark and brings the audience right into the life of a gangster.

Firstly, the opening credit titles of the movie are rather strange in comparison to the genres of the movie. The titles speed past, with accompanying sounds of cars speeding past. Normally, you would associate this with an action, even racing movie. However, it could be used here to represent the fast, dangerous world of gang life, the rush of excitement and the danger it brings. It also serves another purpose. As mentioned earlier, there are sounds of cars speeding past in time with the text. This is actually diegetic and the sounds of actual cars driving past, as shown by the following shots of the three main characters above driving. This could have been done because at this moment and when they are driving the audience is unaware that they have a dying man in the boot of their car, the same as the cars driving past. It puts us into the same position as the other drivers, completely unaware of the life these people lead, and that they could be anyway, and you would not even notice. Heightening the reality as well as excitement of the movie, strongly linking it to the crime genre also.

The titles are also shown in a specific order: ‘Warner Bros. Presents’ – ‘An Irwin Winkler Production’ – ‘A Martin Scorsese Picture’ – ‘Robert Di Niro’ – ‘Ray Liotta’ – ‘Joe Pesci’ – ‘Lorraine Bracco’ – ‘And Paul Sorvino’. The titles are placed in order of importance, Warner Bros being the largest movie companies would obviously have a front row position. Martin Scorsese, a much respected director, very well acclaimed. Robert Di Niro even comes before Ray Liotta, despite not being the main character, due to his fame and position in the acting world. The order is purposely done to introduce the big stars, the heavy hitters, to the audience in order to create excitement, to increase the interest in the movie. This may have also been done to relate to the genres, Robert Di Niro is very well known for his crime and drama movies, especially at the time this movie was released. By showing him first, it can directly appeal to the target audience of the Crime and Drama genres.

The final title of the opening: “This film is based on a true story” also relates to the genres. Of course, this directly links to the Biography genre, but the audience, knowing this is also a Crime/Drama starring Robert Di Niro, can expect a very tense movie. This, combined with the knowledge that this is based on a true story, increases the tension greatly, as the realism is increased. Demonstrating how the opening titles are used effectively.

The first shot of the movie is a mid shot showcasing the back of car before panning round to the side. The shot itself establishes a rather uncanny effect. While what is shown would usually be considered normal, the use of mise en scene and sound crates a foreboding effect. Firstly, there is a distinct lack of music during the shot, or many sounds altogether, (the only dominant one being the diegetic engine of the car). It raises numerous enigma codes, the audience would expect some ambient sounds or radio music, but instead receive just the sound of the engine. It's almost too quiet. The lack of sounds creates what would normally be a common sight into something more menacing, almost as if the car is hiding something, attempting to be inconspicuous. This idea is developed by the fact that the car is travelling in what seems to be an empty road, very late at night. The low key light not only disables the audience from seeing where the car is headed, creating tension as well as questions, but it, again, has connotations with trying to keep hidden, the idea of keeping in the shadows. This links in with the themes of the opening as well as the overarching themes of the movie. In fact, the only lights within this shot are the rear lights, a searing red colour protruding from the back of the car. Red is commonly associated with danger, it has negative connotations but also draws attention to itself. By using these red rear lights, the audience's attention is drawn to the boot of the car, possibly foreshadowing the end of the opening as well as, one more time, creating a foreboding tone throughout the shot. The audience is unaware of what is happening but through the use of media techniques the atmosphere created is unsettling, making the opening far more intense and engrossing to the audience.

The next shot is equally important, albeit for different reasons. The mid shot showcases the three main characters of the movie: Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), James Conway (Robert Di Niro) and Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) sitting inside the car. Jimmy is asleep and Tommy is sitting relaxed in the back while Henry drives. The car is dimly lit and overall has a very relaxed atmosphere. Even when the diegetic sounds of emerging from the boot begin, it still maintains that tone. Henry, swearing, suggest that the relationship is friendly. This is done for a specific purpose. It directly contrasts with not only the previous shot, but the following shots also. This juxtaposition is to demonstrate the unsettling nature of the gangster lifestyle. It emphasises the fact that these people think that murder, arson and drugs are part of everyday, normal life. Car headlamps in the background suggest that these people are living in plain sight, but you cannot tell because, as shown in the previous shot, they blend. Combine this with the 'true story' title, and you create a very tense opening, brining the realism of a Biopic and an opening that quickly introduces you to this life, again, through the use of specific media techniques.

The next shot is a long shot of the three men standing behind the car, the red headlamps illuminating them. Again, a similar lighting effect is employed that was used in the first shot. The red representing danger, it is a very negative colour and foreshadows the events of the opening and the themes of the movie. The light also illuminating the main characters gives connotations into their lives, and the danger but exciting themes associated with it. The rest of the shot is still dimly lit, the only lit items being the characters and the boot of the car. This, again, suggests that they are hiding this life, making the whole movie far more realistic and therefore tense. The use of light also only draws attention to the car and the actors, and my highlight the fact that men are friend, as they bask in the same light, as well as the same profession, continuing that idea from the second shot.

This next shot also highlights the relationship between the actors, as well as continuing the theme of staying hidden. Within the shot, you see James Conway and Tommy DeVito exchange glances as the camera moves closer, becoming a mid-shot from a long shot. The camera moving closer, hiding more of the background and showcasing the characters could represent their relationship, a close, friendly one, which relates to the themes of the movie in the fact that your gangster friends become your family, or your life. The shot also shows Joe Pesci’s character reaching into his suit jacket pocket for what we assume is a weapon of some sort, yet it remains hidden from the audience. This could also represent the ideas of hiding in plain sight, which were similarly explored in previous shots. This is emphasised by the following shots in which this weapon is actually a large knife. This subverts the audience’s expectations, many would expect this to be a gun. The fact a knife is used demonstrates the brutality of the gangster lifestyle and continues the following themes of hiding something dangerous in plain sight. Increasing the tension of the movie; keeping the audience entertained. This shot is also a slight high-angle, further developing the connotations of danger and power suggested earlier, as the subject targets appear larger and looming.

Once the three men open the boot of the car the audience are greeted with a bloodied man begging for his life in a raspy voice. This is perhaps the most important shot in the opening, in any case, the scene showing the death of this character is definitely the most important. Several media techniques are utilised here to bring the audience right into the life of gangster. The shot continues to employ the red lights of the car, highlighting the danger of living like this, as well as the danger that this bloodied man was in. The lights in previous shots were almost foreshadowing the man in the boots eventual death. The camera is also shot at a low-angle, contrasting with the previous shot (being the high angle), creating a greater impression that this man is weak, not only in comparison to the other three, but also to the audience. This could possibly make the scene darker as they are killing a man weaker then them already, demonstrating their ruthlessness. The sound is also key during this shot. While there is some diegetic ambient tone, the main thing the audience can hear is just this man begging Joe Pesci's character not to kill him. This, again, makes him seem weaker, makes the kill far less justified from the audience's perspective, and continues to show the life of a gangster as being brutal. This is backed up by the following shot showing Joe Pesci's character stabbing the man multiple times. This shot is also effective as, obviously a knife is a very brutal weapon, the multiple stabbings emphasising this, but also the fact that the camera does not cut away from the stabbing, the audience experiences it right before their eyes, the true life of a gangster.

And the final act of this brutality is committed in the next shot. Robert Di Niro's character stands over the boot and unloads four rounds of his revolver into the man. This is similar to the stabs, in which an excessive use of force is delivered, again, demonstrating the brutality of this life. However, the use of a mid shot also allows the audience to see all three men stand there and watch this display of brutality. Each character stands over the boot and looks down as the man is riddled with bullets. Not only does this emphasise the brutality, as it shows a three on one scenario, the shot also does not show the man in the boot of car when he is being shot from this angle, almost like the three are attacking a man already down on the ground, just to be more violent. The diegetic sounds of the gun and the bullets tearing into the flesh again devour any of the diegetic ambient sounds of insects, just to draw attention to the violent nature of this life and scene. The shooting segment ends with a close up of the blood on the white sheets covering the man. This could be the ultimate symbol of gangster life: the fact that no matter what, blood will be spilled.

The final shot of the opening holds several connotations into, not the life of a gangster, but why these people get involved with this lifestyle. To start, similar to before, a high angle shot of Ray Liotta's character is used to, again, show power, maybe suggesting why these people get involved in this life. The shot shows him slamming down the boot of the trunk, almost as if blocking out what just happened, removing it from the scene, choosing to ignore it. Combine this with his diegetic monolouge: “As far back as I can remember I always wanted to be a gangster” and his unconcerned face. Not only does the audience now realise that this is the life of a gangster, but that these people involved are used to this, this is their life, their job. This may catch the audience of guard, as this is not how most people would react to a situation like this, it does, however, create a great sense of character for these men. The shot ends with a freezeframe of Ray Liotta's character's face, encompassing these people's reactions to their lives: it is their job and the non-diegetic song “Rags to Riches” by Tony Bennett beings to play. The song encompasses the time the movie is set in, as well as providing a juxtaposition from the previous scene, perhaps further developing the characters, not only is this their life, they enjoy it, as demonstrated by the upbeat song. The title of the movie then pops up in the same fashion as previous titles, however, this time the text is in red. This could continue the theme of danger present throughout, combined with the fast movment of the text, the audience gets the idea that gangster life is exciting, tense and full of danger, all in an effort to gain their interest.

Hopefully by now you will be able to see how different media techniques are employed throughout the opening to give the audience valuable information. They learn that this is a dangerous, but exciting life, and that these kinds of people may be around us in plain sight. This greatly increases the tension as well as the excitement factor the audience has going into the movie, demonstrating the effectiveness of the opening.

Thanks for reading!