Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco

Goodfellas and Donnie Brasco



Good Fellas (realist film) by Martin Sorcese and Donnie Brasco (realist film) by Mike Newell are two films based on actual events and people that existed. Both are stereotypical Italian gangster films and I intend to compare and contrast these two films, which differ in narrative style, tone, and acting. In turn, each of these aspects creates two distinct films and evokes two separate moods in each movie.
Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas details the rise and 'fall' of character Henry Hills' life within the Italian mob (1950's throughout the late 1970's). This story is told from the main character, Henry Hill's perspective. The path of the young Hill is outlined from his formative years through adulthood.
Scorsese makes great use of voice-overs to guide the audience through the story and help the audience gain depth—past what is being shown on film. Scorsese switches voiceovers between Henry and his wife, Karen. Voice overs invades the c...