The Sympathetic Gangster | Henry Hill Character Analysis (Goodfellas)

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Komentáře • 88

  • @speedracer2008
    @speedracer2008 Před 2 lety +137

    Rest In Peace, Ray Liotta. Your performance as Henry Hill will never be forgotten.

  • @scottdelo8485
    @scottdelo8485 Před 2 lety +78

    I think this is Ray Liotta’s best work and this iconic movie will secure his place in history.

    • @hwanjung8230
      @hwanjung8230 Před 2 lety

      He was better in Something Wild

    • @sole__doubt
      @sole__doubt Před 11 měsíci

      He made the biggest scumbag in history look attractive, kudos to Liotta.

    • @thatoneguyiscool556
      @thatoneguyiscool556 Před 11 měsíci

      ​@@sole__doubtI'd say there have been bigger scumbags tho he is a big one

  • @formulajuan6038
    @formulajuan6038 Před 2 lety +52

    "I'm gonna go get the papers, get the papers"

    • @MunworthCrowell
      @MunworthCrowell Před 2 lety +12

      need a character analysis on jimmy two times

    • @formulajuan6038
      @formulajuan6038 Před rokem +13

      @@MunworthCrowell Two analysis might be more suitable

    • @peterthegreat996
      @peterthegreat996 Před rokem +2

      One of the people depicted in that scene resides in Vegas , living well…there is no justice

    • @kwajotube
      @kwajotube Před 17 dny

      @@formulajuan6038Good one‼️

  • @johnsellas4455
    @johnsellas4455 Před 2 lety +41

    Ray Liotta just did a really good job narrating that movie. He was extremely ahead of his time.

  • @gabbybaggins69
    @gabbybaggins69 Před 2 lety +18

    Plenty of people glamorise something that has a real ugly side. The entire entertainment business for example.
    Which makes his glamorising of mob life relatable, the audience can just see past the glamour, just as somebody else can see the ugly side of what we ourselves romanticise and glamorise.
    Henry Hill is a lot of people. He's me and he's probably you.
    RIP Ray Liotta

  • @michaelhill3305
    @michaelhill3305 Před rokem +12

    Liotta was incredibly talented. Even when he wasn't the main character I always felt he delivered the best scenes. Such as his role opposite Johnny Depp in Blow.

  • @NeutralGuyDoubleZero
    @NeutralGuyDoubleZero Před 10 měsíci +7

    The films final shot did a fantastic job of silently but suddenly pivoting the way I felt for him, the sympathetic mobster of the bunch turned to an ungrateful shmuck.
    One last chance for him to realize the value of what he has outside of the mob, gets the best ending someone like him could possibly hope for in that situation.
    And he still chooses to sneer at it.

  • @GrtSage
    @GrtSage Před 2 lety +38

    The moment he saw Tommy and Jimmy murder Billy Bats it was two fold. It was the splash of cold water to the face that made Henry see exactly what he had gotten himself into. He saw his friends brutally murder a guy for the pettiest reasons. It’s also the moment of no return for him. Because he was an accessory. There’s no way out of the life now, he’s stuck there or he’s a dead man. His story was all down hill from there.
    I don’t think Henry belonged there because at the end of the day he couldn’t stomach them at their absolute worst.

    • @self-proclaimedcomedian1037
      @self-proclaimedcomedian1037 Před 2 lety

      The movie is much different than the actual stories. Go onto see interviews of Henry Hill, you can tell he was a scummy guy who took joy out of being a mob associate. (To an extent)

    • @GrtSage
      @GrtSage Před 2 lety +5

      @@self-proclaimedcomedian1037 oh ya I know the movie isn’t 100% accurate to the real guy. He did try to get out though. But the Billy Bats murder effectively trapped him there.

    • @self-proclaimedcomedian1037
      @self-proclaimedcomedian1037 Před 2 lety +1

      @@GrtSage no doubt about it man. Ig to an extent rats aren't cut out for the life. It's just astonishing they're still able to commit the crimes and evils that they do

    • @GrtSage
      @GrtSage Před 2 lety +1

      @@self-proclaimedcomedian1037 it’s profitable and people want power.

    • @civotamuaz5781
      @civotamuaz5781 Před měsícem

      In movie yeah sure. But Real Henry Hill probably murked couple of guys here and there.

  • @danieljohnson2005
    @danieljohnson2005 Před rokem +8

    This was an outstanding analysis! It should be seen by a lot more people.

  • @jojobubs5637
    @jojobubs5637 Před 2 lety +9

    this was great!! i hold this movie dear to my heart! maybe a tony soprano video in the future?

  • @SilverScarletSpider
    @SilverScarletSpider Před 5 měsíci +2

    1:50 relatable 2:39 my dad despised his life too and used a belt

  • @overweight_chungus3307
    @overweight_chungus3307 Před rokem +5

    Fun fact: Henry hill was 5 years older than Tommy DeSimone

  • @Pina-
    @Pina- Před 5 dny

    The part where you mention how the mob viewed Morrie’s wife as annoying when Morrie disappeared and she was at her weakest is bang on. Reminds me of how Silvio and Tony viewed Vito’s wife in the Sopranos after Vito was killed. Very indicative of how selfish self-centred people treat people who they view as weaker in our society.

  • @oscarvillarreal8951
    @oscarvillarreal8951 Před 11 měsíci +4

    Ray Liotta Nailed this Character to a "T" with being an Antihero, rat, charismatic, dangerous, light hearted person that the audience have sympathy for.

  • @jeancaron9325
    @jeancaron9325 Před měsícem +1

    When Tommy dies,Jimmy lost the last Person,who was Loyal to him.

  • @jasonpalacios1363
    @jasonpalacios1363 Před rokem +2

    Actually Henry Hill is a good man but he's also a weak-minded guy because he didn't have the guts to stay away from that life and then in his later years, he did drugs and became an alcoholic until his death and RIP to Ray Liotta for playing a fantastic role in this movie, great actor.

    • @barbados_ririfenty8553
      @barbados_ririfenty8553 Před rokem +1

      He choose that life do he had deal with what comes with it

    • @mphrdldn
      @mphrdldn Před 7 měsíci

      I think he tried by starting the restaurant but the mob guys patronized it.

  • @478TV
    @478TV Před 2 lety +5

    “Got all eyes on us can we chill? Eating with snakes prolly get em killed, cause trust me every family had a Henry Hill” - The Butcher

    • @mariolisa2832
      @mariolisa2832 Před rokem +1

      i dont get it...

    • @478TV
      @478TV Před rokem +1

      @@mariolisa2832 exactly..

    • @mariolisa2832
      @mariolisa2832 Před rokem

      @@478TV ok

    • @russellseilhamer4552
      @russellseilhamer4552 Před 6 měsíci

      I don’t believe it. I think since Hill is telling the story, he’s making himself look good omitting ugly details. His own kids wrote a derogatory book about him. It’s impossible for me to believe that he’s around murderers and they let him stand around and watch and he never gets his hands dirty. Nah, not buying it

  • @blackbatman3152
    @blackbatman3152 Před 2 lety +5

    I'm Surprised no one has done an analysis on Jimmy

  • @Under_Sky_Third_Gaia
    @Under_Sky_Third_Gaia Před rokem +3

    Not for nothing, rest in Peace Ray Liotta

  • @demonicusa.k.a.theblindguy3929

    After years of hiding out heralda Rivera had Henry hill on his show. After the introduction and pleasantries Rivera asked are you high now? It completely shut hill down. Just another alcopons vault for Mr. Rivera. Blown opportunity.

    • @GoldenFava
      @GoldenFava Před 2 lety +1

      There’s hours of him on Stern in the 90’s…must listen. Henry was a character for the ages.

    • @demonicusa.k.a.theblindguy3929
      @demonicusa.k.a.theblindguy3929 Před 2 lety +1

      @@GoldenFava Cool that info is much appreciated. Headed there now.

  • @Pina-
    @Pina- Před 5 dny

    The actor who plays young Henry really looks like a young Ray Liotta

  • @haaa911
    @haaa911 Před 9 dny

    Funny that between A Bronx Tale and Goodfellas, the two people that the mafia kid looks up to are both played by Robert De Niro

  • @mirrlamp
    @mirrlamp Před 9 měsíci +1

    One of the greatest films of all time and Ray Liotta gave the performance of a lifetime. May he rest in eternal peace.

  • @Exodus26.13Pi
    @Exodus26.13Pi Před 2 lety +7

    The nerdy guy who had a family in Police Academy. He was a Zen master. We missed it the first time.

  • @trueromani7262
    @trueromani7262 Před 2 lety +1

    its just the eyes on the dude.. speak a million words alone

  • @The_Com-Mentor
    @The_Com-Mentor Před rokem +1

    Nah u nailed it man. Ray Liotta will never top this performance anymore than Al Pacino will out do Tony Montana...NEVER!

  • @TriceyDiva
    @TriceyDiva Před rokem +2

    Henry was a walking contradiction

  • @Rodney_TheOperaRat
    @Rodney_TheOperaRat Před 2 měsíci +1

    *I feel like Henry and Karen’s marriage is pretty chauvinistic and toxic*

  • @PAPAxBLITZ
    @PAPAxBLITZ Před 2 lety +10

    Instant click.

  • @DanTarrant1
    @DanTarrant1 Před 9 měsíci +1

    Great analysis.

  • @orangewarm1
    @orangewarm1 Před 6 měsíci

    We also have to bear in mind that this is Hill's version of events. He says he was in the shower when the Lufthansa heist was happening. He says he was locking the door when Billy Bats was getting kicked. He says Jimmy wacked his crew but, 'it had nothing to do with me'. Even though his two best friends were at the heart of the plan. Yeah right.

  • @sahilkamal1499
    @sahilkamal1499 Před 2 lety +2

    rip ray liotta

  • @Papas223
    @Papas223 Před 2 lety +2

    Try Scarface pls. Tony Montana

  • @agayweirdo5404
    @agayweirdo5404 Před rokem +6

    what makes me sympathetic towards Henry Hill is that he never killed anyone and he always didn't like it when people did get killed deep down he could never be a murderer sure he could beat someone to a bloody pulp but he could never kill them.

    • @davidemelia6296
      @davidemelia6296 Před rokem +1

      You have to remember that this movie, and the book it's based on, are from Henry Hill's mouth, or at least his perspective. There's no statute of limitations (for the purposes of being prosecuted) for murder, or a wide range of other serious crimes. Why would he tell on himself?

    • @radhiadeedou8286
      @radhiadeedou8286 Před rokem +1

      *according to him

  • @lsporter88
    @lsporter88 Před 8 měsíci

    Superb analysis.

  • @aprilcanipe2614
    @aprilcanipe2614 Před 2 lety +1

    This movie is my age! I love it 👌

  • @radhiadeedou8286
    @radhiadeedou8286 Před rokem +1

    I think people giving you envelopes full of cash at your wedding is just an Italian thing

  • @teekaa2520
    @teekaa2520 Před 2 lety

    Thanks for this video.

  • @devilghost
    @devilghost Před 2 lety

    dude why do you gotta make us think about this so much!

  • @dylancolon-r2w
    @dylancolon-r2w Před 29 dny

    this pen ad paper is from mr tony over there

  • @vtecanddohc
    @vtecanddohc Před rokem

    My favorite Ray Liotta character was in BO2 Mob of the Dead

  • @williamf.buckleyjr3227
    @williamf.buckleyjr3227 Před 4 měsíci

    4:42
    Whoa, Dude.
    Slow down.
    Henry didn't "feel slighted" by Karen's "neighbor".
    Karen's "neighbor" tried to R@PE her!!
    And he got what he had coming.

  • @Bibidrego578
    @Bibidrego578 Před rokem

    How about a video on Christopher Walken - King of New York
    Or deceptive heroin addict
    Mark Renton in Trainspotting

  • @timreeves7963
    @timreeves7963 Před 2 lety +6

    people need to remember that Henry Hill told this story and sold it to Hollywood, so everything in it was taken from a VERY unreliable point of view. Of course he never killed anyone and revolted at killing the weak and defenseless..because it was in his interest to do so. He is never shown actively doing anything morally reprehensible (other than the drug business, but even there it is seen to be more pathetic/funny then a "bad" thing. He seems to only admit guilt in his drug business and "being in the life". The people who could refute him were dead or in jail for worse. So analyzing goodfellas always has to be about analyzing the fictional "Henry Hill" they portrayed onscreen, not the person, as that is unknown.

  • @orangewarm1
    @orangewarm1 Před 6 měsíci +1

    I don't agree with some -- that you have to like a character in a film. Hill's story was engaging -- likeJordan Belfort or Barry Lyndon. I didn't like them or dislike them.

  • @russellseilhamer4552
    @russellseilhamer4552 Před 6 měsíci

    The Ray Liotta performance was one of the best in the history of acting. The real Henry Hill was not such a goodfella. His kids Gina and Greg wrote a book about their life with him. Of course, this is Henry Hill telling the story written for posterity. A ton of ugly details were left out. This man was far worse than what Ray Liotta portrayed in this movie. I wish Tommy, Jimmy, and Paulie were all alive to offer their rebuttal. I’m quite sure that Hill was involved in beatings, murders and all kinds of things. He was not an innocent bystander. Everyone had to get their hands dirty. He was not a nice guy. Goodfellas is an ironic title for the movie because these dudes are all bastards. I’d stay a country mile away from all of them. I wish you’d do an analysis on Casino and my favorite character in that movie which is Frank Lefty Rosenthal played by Robert DeNiro. I am fascinated by Lefty

  • @IELTSguru1120
    @IELTSguru1120 Před 2 lety +2

    I watched Goodfellas for the first time last week and was not crazy about it. I felt that there was no real conflict in most of the film, just this sort of mob pornography which glorified the life without exploring how brutal and costly it could be. So sure Hill makes faces when he has to kill people but I really wanted to see the conflict created by living that life and it just wasn't there through most of the movie. Just a bunch of dislikable men who treat everyone around them like garbage...

    • @jessicapinkman-hd4bw
      @jessicapinkman-hd4bw Před rokem +2

      pornography!? also glorification i think you're confusing it with the godfather the film was actually intended as a counter to the romanticized image of the mob and why did you expect something grand from a film that's based on real life event's

    • @jharris3267
      @jharris3267 Před 4 měsíci

      I don’t know why you said glorify.Everybody I mean everybody was straight trash! There were no good guys.Not one. You listen to how Henry tries to white wash it and then see oh something honorable is in the very next breath real grease ball sh*t.

  • @sole__doubt
    @sole__doubt Před 11 měsíci +2

    He is very different, Jimmy and Tommy would NEVER have ratted. Which actually makes him the worst of the three.

  • @itsreallyreal1337
    @itsreallyreal1337 Před 2 lety +1

    Name a better movie ?

  • @plasticweapon
    @plasticweapon Před 6 měsíci

    he wasn't sympathetic. you're always wrong.

  • @exhinhadaking7607
    @exhinhadaking7607 Před 2 lety +3

    He's a snitch. End of story

    • @cyruscheng499
      @cyruscheng499 Před 2 lety +6

      The snitches tell the story

    • @wimvaughdan7032
      @wimvaughdan7032 Před 2 lety +8

      He is a snitch the moment that the very group of people he would snitch where out to get him and his family. So he was the one being betrayed in the first place.

    • @jayyy1677
      @jayyy1677 Před rokem

      Weird

    • @peterthegreat996
      @peterthegreat996 Před rokem +1

      Most mobsters were snitches , garbage human beings.