MovieChat Forums > The Long Good Friday (1982) Discussion > re: Is this Ganster film as Good as Good...

re: Is this Ganster film as Good as Goodfella's?

posted 18 years ago by carl170
29 replies | jump to latest

You know what after watching this film, I really do believe that this film is as good, or even better than Good fella's.

Unfortunately, people tend to forget this gangster movie when thinking about Gangster movies...

It seems to be more true to live then Goodfella's especially with The Ira being involved; which it would seem more plausible as both are using Underworld contacts to get what they want...

What do you think?

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BeirutWedding 12 years ago

First of all, let me say that I love The Long Good Friday. I don't, however, think it's in the same class as Goodfellas. The Long Good Friday has an astonishing performance at its core but that's matched by Joe Pesci in Goodfellas. Meanwhile, Helen Mirren who is once again magnificent, is more than matched by Lorraine Bracco, Ray Liotta, Paul Sorvino and of course, Robert DeNiro.

In the end though it comes down to Scorsese. The Long Good Friday is a really good movie but Goodfellas is virtuosic film making. It's the work of a Master functioning at the top of his game. The long shot that follows Henry and Karen down into the bowels of the Copacabana alone is justifiably one of the most famous shots in movie history. What Scorsese does is alter the way stories are told with cinema. There's nothing like that going on in The Long Good Friday.

[–] Seafoodking22 10 years ago

yes

[–] oxo100 18 years ago

Folks I think this calls for a compromise -:

Best Foriegn (including US) Gangster Movie - Goodfellas

Best British Gangster Movie - The Long Good Fiday ... (strongly followed by Get Carter)

Howzat!

Everybody be cool. YOU - be cool.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Josker 18 years ago

Dont agree its over-rated tripe,its not better than or worse than The long Good Friday as they are both from totally different backgrounds although touching on the same theme.Both films were true classics in their own right and get my vote as being two of the best films ever.

Not being biased though Good Friday shades it imo :)

[–] daveysnoek 18 years ago

Both amazing films. But in my top 3 The LOng Good Friday is on the second place and Goodfellas on the third.

(first place goes to One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest BTW)

[–] Josker 18 years ago

Ahhhh now that is a name that says it all,another true classic of a film.

[–] derirre357 17 years ago

Hm, which is better.... I don't know. I like Goodfellas very much, one of Scorcese's best. I PERSONALLY (and I want to emphasize on thata - that's MY PERSONAL opinion) prefer The Long Good Friday.

[–] ultra777 17 years ago

One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest is a different kind of film to LGF and Goodfellas.

And LGF, although a gangster film, is a different kind of film to Goodfellas.

Don't any of you realise this?

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SofaOnWheels 14 years ago

I liked Gangster No. 1 more as far as British crime movies go...

[–] arnis12 15 years ago

I'm from the states, and whenever I want to surprise some of my friends who pretty much have seen all the well known gangster films (Scarface, Goodfellas, etc.) but have never heard of TLGF, I lend them my copy. Though the accents and slang are a bit hard to follow, they're amazed nonetheless, and become fans as well.

[–] m-slovak79 15 years ago

Is this Ganster film as Good as Goodfella's?

Long Good Friday cant hold a candle to Goodfellas (or just about any other gangster film for that matter)

-Goodfellas (1990) = 10/10
-The Long Good Friday (1980) = 5/10 (the best part of this film to be honest was seeing Pierce Brosnan back in the day when he was basically a unknown. but other than that this film is quite overrated. go watch the much superior 'Layer Cake' (2004) (9/10) instead)

---
My Vote History ... http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=11026826
---

[–] truehammer 15 years ago

Layer Cake was pretty poor imo. This isnt as good as Goodfellas but its not a 5/10, thats just ridiculous. around an 8 for me with Goodfellas a 9.5.

"No kitty! This is my pot pie!"

[–] sugreev2001-1 14 years ago

You can't compare the two,since Goodfellas is not only based on true events,but it's also an "American" gangster movie.It's like you comparing City of God to The Godfather,two very different movies.

"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left."

[–] carl170 14 years ago

Like Arnoldo_2002 mentioned earlier on in his posts. Its only the fact that the slang that is used and dialect that many American fans found a bit difficult to follow, but once they got the hang of the Language they loved it.

Remember in this movie what gave it that edge was at the end of the film, was that Gangster from what ever country they maybe reside in think that they are the roughiest and toughiest players around.

However, when a political fraction similiar to the Ira or a Iraq Terrorist splinter group move in, these so called Gangsters (*As powerful as they are) are soon pushed aside as these political freedom fighters are fighting for their supposed Sovereignty, and the very name of their supposed people and will do anything to get it back. It is not just for profit.

And that was what made the Long Good Friday much more chilling then Goodfellas.....

I would have like to have seen a follow up to this movie which then we could have seeb how the Ira took over parts of London gangland strong holds...

Carl Brown
Ipswich, England

[–] jeffandsarah-1 14 years ago

Good fellas - tad boring
TLGF - bloody brilliant.
the sort of film you see years later and wish you could have beem there, but maybe not when it all turns to custard.
I cringed when that bottle went in.

[–] b_ryan_81 14 years ago

Im sorry here....I think alot of you are making some ridiculous claims. Yes, Goodfellas gets international acclaim on every gangester movie list....there is a reason for it. It is one of Scorceses shining masterpieces.
I liked The Long Good Friday, and I am very interested to watch it again as well. I just think the comparison is a little off. And it does deal with hype. There are other gangster movies that get alot of hype/glamour and really are not that good, but Goodfellas isnt one of them. For me, two gangster movies that really offer very little are Boondock Saints (a literal Joke, IMO) and the Untouchables (the 80s one).

[–] SillyPuddy 12 years ago

As great as Goodfellas is I think another American gangster film released the same year is superior. That is Miller's Crossing by the Coen Bros. Better writing and more cerebral IMO.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] hiddenagenda1 11 years ago

They're both in my top 60, but I rank The Long Good Friday (1980) higher.

Freddy Krueger: Come here. Come here, my little piggy. I got some gingerbread for ya.

[–] jcp-12 10 years ago

For me, between these 2 films it will always be "The Long Good Friday".

I enjoyed Goodfellas, but on several re watches, I have to say Ray Liotta is not so good, a very over the top performance, plus he was acted off the screen by most of the cast, sorry if I have offended anyone, but not a fan of Mr Liotta.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] adkturn 10 years ago

It's my favorite gangster film of either nationality, UK or US. Not that Goodfellas and other American examples of the genre aren't great flicks. It's just that there is a subtlety and nuance to the characters and plot in the Long Good Friday that is usually missing from Hollywood depictions. With us it's loads of profanity, machine guns blazing and tough-guy poses. I rewatch TLGF at least twice a year. It never ages. And -- yes -- I love the accents and all the Cockney slang!