Topic > A Comparative Analysis of "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather"

Family Feud Few films have been able to surpass Goodfellas and The Godfather in the drama genre. However, these two films have exceptionally different aspects. Both films follow organized crime and the mafia but are told and directed in different ways. Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese, is a much grittier portrait of crime. While The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a much more sophisticated portrait of crime. Goodfellas is a better crime film than The Godfather because of its realistic depictions of crime, its easily accessible narrative, and its entertainment value. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Goodfellas is a better crime film than The Godfather for its realistic portrayal of crime. The Godfather portrays crime in an overly dramatic manner. The dialogue in The Godfather seems unnaturally dramatic. Marlon Brando's performance of Don Vito Corleone is overly dramatized. Corleone's dialogue is well acted and fits the camera well, but it doesn't feel realistic. For example, Don Corleone's first dialogue in the film involves talking to a man who wants revenge after his daughter is beaten. Corleone appears to refuse the offer because the man has never made any previous attempt to get to know him. However, after the man begs Corleone and promises to be a friend, Corleone follows through with the offer as long as the man returns the favor at some point. This dialogue between the two characters is executed well and gives the audience a glimpse into Corleone's character and intentions. The situation, however, is clearly dramatized. Director Francis Ford Coppola's approach to crime throughout the film is romanticized with too much excess. The mafia is portrayed as a force that is not influenced by the police and politicians. The only way the mafia is defeated in the film is through other families. For example, the public is led to believe that the Corleone family has purchased nearly all of New York City's politicians and press. Other families are described as having power over the police. The amount of influence the Mafia is believed to have is overwhelming. Realistically, the Mafia should care more than other families. The film's epic conclusion involves the murder of every conceivable enemy of the Corleone family. The problem with this ending is how easily the murders happen. There is no struggle with any of the murders and each of them goes as expected. While the ending is certainly satisfying and spectacular, it requires the audience to suspend some belief. The Godfather is too polished and polished for a realistic crime drama. For example, the film is shot in a cinematic style that depicts the inner workings of the mafia dramatically rather than realistically. The film is fantastic and revered by critics as one of the greatest films of all time, but some aspects of the film are clearly amplified too much. Unlike The Godfather, the dialogue between the characters in Goodfellas feels realistic and natural. For example, the beginning of the film is narrated by Ray Liotta's character, Henry Hill. He describes his passion for gangsters and how he always wanted to become one. The dialogue flows smoothly and naturally. Director Martin Scorsese portrays the characters' dialogue in a way that doesn't seem forced. The characters talk to each other as they would in real life. One of the main reasons for this is that the film is based on a true story. Scorsese is able to portray dialogue so realistically because he has source material grounded in truth. The representations of crime in Queigood guys are crude and violent. For example, the opening scene involves Joe Pesci's character stabbing a nearly dead person multiple times, followed by Robert De Niro's character shooting the person multiple times. Crime is not glamorous and should not be perceived that way. The intense violence throughout the film informs the audience of this fact. In Goodfellas, criminals are often seen displaying paranoid behavior. For example, criminals are very careful when using telephones and often prefer to talk face to face. This realism is what all serious crime dramas should show. Goodfellas portrays crime in a mostly unrefined way. For example, in one scene the camera pans over people in a restaurant. The narrator talks briefly about the restaurant characters associated with the crime. This shot exists primarily to show the extent of organized crime, as most of these people are never mentioned again in the film. The film wastes no time trying to explain each person's influence but instead focuses on a few main characters. This personal narrative proves effective in portraying the crime in a realistic way. The narrative of Goodfellas is easily accessible and benefits a crime drama film better than the narrative of The Godfather. The Godfather has a complicated narrative that limits audience accessibility. For example, the narrative of The Godfather is elegant. While many films would benefit from elegant storytelling, in a crime film this complicates the film. A large multitude of characters are introduced in the film. When a narrative is as elegant as The Godfather, too many characters exist and aren't introduced properly. The audience will lose interest if they are unable to follow the film. Another example in film that limits audience accessibility is third-person narration. The lack of a first-person narrative often further limits a film's accessibility. For example, films that contain first-person narratives will typically have a narrator who gently guides the audience through the film. Third-person narratives have the potential to lose the audience in the confusion of the film. A third example of The Godfather's limited accessibility is the film's theatrical and cinematic direction. Theatrical representations of crime often conflict with audience expectations about crime. Audiences often expect a crime film to be gritty and gritty, but The Godfather is a much more cinematic experience. This collision between expectations and reality disappoints the audience. On the other hand, Goodfellas has an easily accessible narrative, especially when compared to The Godfather. Goodfellas has a simple and easy to follow narrative. The direction is clear and crisp. For example, the film told from the main character's point of view explains everything that happens in a simple way. The experience of the audience is always taken into account. Director Martin Scorsese deliberately makes it difficult for the audience to get lost during the film. First-person narration significantly increases audience accessibility. The audience is able to experience the film with a character. This personal approach is much more relatable and often more entertaining than a third-person narrative. For example, during Goodfellas, when the main character Henry Hill approaches desperation, the audience becomes attached to his story. He betrays his friends and the audience still feels fond of him. This attachment to the main character makes the film more accessible. The narrative also allows for an honest approach to the crime. Crime is never black and white. Henry Hill can't be.