GoodFellas Blu-ray

GoodFellas

 (1990)

Biography | Crime | Drama



From Nicholas Pileggi's true-life bestseller Wiseguy, GoodFellas explores the criminal life like no other movie. Directed and co-written by Martin Scorsese, it was judged 1990's Best Picture by the New York, Los Angeles and National Society of Film Critics and named to the American Film Institute's Top-100 American Film List. Electrifying performances abound, and from a standout cast that includes Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Lorraine Bracco and Paul Sorvino. Joe Pesci walked off with the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. It "bristles with passion, wit and style" and endures as "an American classic" (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone).

For more details about GoodFellas on Blu-ray, see the GoodFellas Blu-ray Review

Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino
Director: Martin Scorsese

GoodFellas Blu-ray, Video Quality

 


Don't bother comparing Warner's new 20th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray release of Goodfellas to its early-2007 high definition cousin: the two are identical. Baffling as it is, the studio has simply repackaged the same dated, problematic 1080p/VC-1 transfer that left videophiles shrugging their shoulders some three years ago. That's not to say the presentation is completely without merit -- it handily bests each of its previously released DVD counterparts -- but it also lacks the polish and power of lesser catalog titles. Brightly lit shots fare well, as do closeups, but dingy nightclubs, shadowy restaurants, and midnight heists look worse for the wear. Faint compression artifacts, smeared textures, ringing, aliasing, and crush all have their way with the image, limiting the impact of several otherwise staggering scenes. Other anomalies abound as well, regardless of Scorsese and cinematographer Michael Ballhaus' lighting. Errant print specks, inconsistent contrast leveling, waxy faces, wavering, intermittent edge halos, and other seemingly minor distractions litter the proceedings, wreaking relative havoc on a film that deserves far better. The studio didn't even take the time to eliminate glaring mishaps fans have complained about for years, among them an unsightly vertical line that cuts a swath through De Niro's face around the 1:16:00 mark (see screenshot 11).

That being said, the transfer boasts enough improvements to warrant a purchase, at least for those who don't already own the 2007 Blu-ray release. Compared to the standard DVD, the Blu-ray edition's picture is stronger and more stable (despite some noticeable telecine wobble), delineation is more revealing (overwhelming black levels notwithstanding), and overall clarity is more rewarding (even if only by a moderate margin). For all of its technical woes, there's a lot to be said for the inherent upgrades afforded by a high definition presentation. But would it have looked better had its handlers granted it a proper remaster? Undoubtedly. The fine fellows at Disney recently went back to the drawing board to correct the atrocity that was their first Gangs of New York outing, and the resulting remastered release is well worth the cost of a second admission. Unfortunately, Warner has merely tossed an old disc into a new Digibook; one with a misleading "Anniversary" moniker that will inspire many an uninformed consumer to shell out cash on a release that, unbeknownst to them, is already sitting on their shelves.

GoodFellas Blu-ray, Audio Quality

 


Alas, Warner's new 20th Anniversary Edition of Goodfellas doesn't even feature lossless audio. The disc's video transfer is the same, its technical issues are the same, its 640kbps Dolby Digital 5.1 surround track is the same, its limitations are the same... is that a collective sigh I hear? The mix is competent enough I suppose -- dialogue is clean and well-prioritized (albeit a tad muddy on occasion), the LFE channel offers some nice kick (blunt and soupy as it may be when the wiseguy-waters get rough), the rear speakers are fairly active throughout, and directionality and separation are commendable (particularly for a catalog title) -- but the subsequent experience was far more impressive in 2007, before every major and minor studio (minus Warner) began granting every Blu-ray release, even the worst direct-to-video fiascoes and obscure cult classics, a lossless audio track. My apologies if my review is starting to sound more like a rant than an unbiased technical analysis, but the further we drift away from the days of lossy audio, the more infuriating the appearance of a lossy mix becomes. Ah well. Like the studio's video transfer, its Dolby Digital offering shouldn't prevent anyone from owning such a remarkable film, especially when its 640kbps sonics still sound better than they do on DVD. Just beware buying the 20th Anniversary Edition if you already own the 2007 Blu-ray release.

GoodFellas Blu-ray, News and Updates

• GoodFellas 20th Anniversary Blu-ray Recycles 3-Year-Old Disc - February 1, 2010


• Warner to Re-release Goodfellas for 20th Anniversary - October 26, 2009

GoodFellas Blu-ray, Forum Discussions

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