Goodfellas v Casino

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Goodfella's - one of the most innovative movies to ever be made by Scorsese in 1990 was followed up, via way of The Age of Innocence in 1992, with Casino in 1995.

Immediately, it was claimed Casino was far too similar to Goodfellas; Joe Pesci as the psychotic enforcer, De Niro playing a non-Italian working with/for the Mob, the opening violent scenes before the credits which are teasers for a latter scene in the film and the narration by more than one of the characters.

But which film is best?

Before you answer, let's have a little contest between certain aspects and elements in the film and tell me which you thought were better.


Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) v Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro) - the protagonist

Henry Hill was a likeable villain, charismatic.
Ace Rothstein is a bit of a twonk really, boring, never smiles and a perfectionist yet was mugged by his wife on numerous occasions.

Tommy De Vito (Joe Pesci) v Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) - the psycho

Equally psychotic; Pesci dishes out fear between his friends in Goodfellas, worrying Henry Hill with his "I'm funny? Funny how?" speech as De Vito, whereas he jabs a pen into a cocky bloke in a bar after giving his mate Ace some grief.
Tommy shoots Spider dead in GF for mocking him whilst Nicky sticks an Irish gangster's head in a vice, popping his eye out in Casino.

Lorraine Bracco v Sharon Stone - the leading lady

Bracco plays Karen Hill who impresses Henry by tracking him down and insulting him in front of his mates for standing her up, becomes a coke head and is cheated on by Henry.

Sharon Stone - professional thief and harlot who impresses Ace Rothstein who begs her into marriage and is ultimately then cheated on by her with Nicky whom she gives a nosh and a backdoor job to - eventually karks it via an overdose.

Goodfellas v Casino - the supporting cast

GF had a great ensemble support from Paul Sorvino, a million guys from The Sopranos you will spot and even Samuel L Jackson.
Casino had a decent background cast, notably James Woods but none that really shone.

Goodfellas v Casino - Overall

I'd give it to Goodfellas on originality and getting there first, but Casino must be given props for being an excellent movie in it's own right.

Your views?
 
How the feck have you got time for worrying about such nonsense with an international crisis brewing in your living room.

Love both movies, totally refuse to compare or pick one over the other.......oh OK, Casino wins.
 
Goodfellas had Michael Imperioli as Spyder
 
I've always preferred the originals to their apparently bigger and flashier sequels. This is no exception. Goodfellas 2 isn't in the same league as Goodfellas.
 
Love them both but Goodfellas wins, the first 2/3 of Goodfellas is as good a film as you will ever see.
 
I think Goodfellas is the better film in a lot of ways, Casino has its problems. Goodfellas is immaculate, really (Although I freaking hate Lorraine Bracco).

Despite that, I prefer Casino. I've watched that film loads of times. Just in terms of atmosphere and scale and ambition I think it's a brilliant film if not perfectly executed (I think it has pacing issues).

Kind of like why I prefer Alien 3 over Alien or Aliens. Goodfellas is really endearing, but Casino has really squalid, grimy and sinister qualities, which I think it makes it way more interesting.
 
The baseball bat scene in the cornfield is brutal in Casino. I love both films but if I have to pick one then its Goodfellas.
 
Leg-End said:
The baseball bat scene in the cornfield is brutal in Casino.
Click to expand...

And pretty much how it happened.

GraveAP1806_468x349.jpg
 
I'm not saying this for the sake of trying to be too subversive for my own good. Goodfellas. I have tried watching it 3 times, twice I fell asleep and the other time I got through it, I felt nothing for it.
 
I didn't really get into Casino, i remember a few good scenes but as someone mentioned earlier i think it has pacing issues.

Goodfellas on the other hand is incredible.
 
Excal said:
I don't doubt it. I've seen the shite you feckers eat. Pineapple and beetroot on a burger ffs.
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Ah, very good - except I don't. The Aussie put ridiculous amounts of salad on heir burgers, sandwiches etc you get from a takeaway or whatever.
When I came over aged eighteen, and used to eat a lot of crap on the go like burgers and that, I'd tell them I didn't want salad or onions on my burgers, I just wanted bacon and cheese and they'd give bacon and cheese on a bun minus the burger. Seriously, it was like talking to a headache.
I feel you though, beetroot and pineapple is whicketty-whack, yo...
 
Casino edges it for me, Goodfellas are just....way too... at the end of the day it feels like henry is warping thru time too fast, and all the romance are gone

Casino still do me till the very last minute
 
Both are outstanding. But obviously Goodfellas is superior

De Niro is amazing in both, what has he done to his career though now? I think that actually deserves a thread. One of the most respected actors around turns his back on quality and whores himself out to any ol shite Romcom etc... shite. Pacino has done similar. Although he was never a patch on Rob in the first place IMO
 
Not seen Casino.

As already said in this thread, by the right honourable Mick1991, the first 3/4 of Goodfellas is awesome - within those points, let's face it, we all wanted to be in the Mafia.

Two scenes that stand out are 'What the feck is funny about me?", and when he Karen to the restuarant for the first time, and he knows everybody - oh, and Billy Batts
 
Goodfellas is one of my favourite movies of all time. Casino, whilst I consider it to be a good movie which kept my interest, is nowhere near it
 
I prefer Goodfellas. Casino is brilliant though. In fact, I'm going to download it right now.
 
Goodfellas for me every time.

I definitely recommend reading "Gangsters and Goodfellas: Wiseguys...and Life on the Run" by Guss Russo and Henry Hill - explains some of the backing to Goodfellas, and goes on to tell Henry's account of life in the witness protection programme.
 
Never seen Casino to be honest, Goodfellas is just a stunning film though.. so if Casino is anything like it, I need to definitely get round to watching it.
 
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