Why Goodfellas & The Irishman Have Such Different One Shot Sequences
Martin Scorsese used one-shot sequences in two of his most famous gangster movies, Goodfellas and The Irishman, and they show two very different sides of the mob. Martin Scorsese is one of the most respected and beloved filmmakers in the industry, and while he has explored different genres throughout his career – from musicals like New York, New York to black comedy with After Hours and historical drama with Silence –, he’s best known for his gangster movies, and there are two that stand out from the rest: Goodfellas and The Irishman, both based on true stories.
Released in 1990 and based on the book Wiseguy, by Nicholas Pileggi, Goodfellas tells the story of mob associate Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), from his days as a teenager running errands for Paul Cicero (Paul Sorvino) to his full involvement with the Lucchese crime family and his decision to become an FBI informant years later. After staying away from mob stories for years, Scorsese returned to the genre in 2019 with The Irishman, based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, by Charles Brandt. The Irishman tells the story of Frank Sheeran (Robert De Nito), a truck driver who becomes a hitman for Russell Bufalino (Joe Pesci) and his crime family, and he also becomes involved with Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino).
Related: The Irishman Character Mentioned In Goodfellas
Goodfellas and The Irishman were both critical successes, though that doesn’t mean they were safe from some criticism, especially The Irishman, which was heavily criticized for the de-aging of De Niro, Pesci, and Pacino, which many found distracting. Both movies have elements unique to Scorsese’s work, and one of the most notable and praised ones is his use of one-shot sequences. Goodfellas famously has a one-shot
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