This almost felt like a "live interview". The part where Sam mentions a job change, he says it in such a way like, "Then I changed my job title to, uhhhhh, food and beverage director". Then Nicky's narration right up until he gets hit with a baseball bat.
Don't get me wrong, I love this movie. It's a classic for sure. I just thought this was a bit strange.
I think he overdid the music, my biggest problem.
shareI think I'd have to agree a little on that point as well.
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I agree on both the narration AND the music, EXCEPT when I was first watching it in 1995, it all felt natural. It's only upon many, many viewings that I started to notice how overly "meta" both the music and narration sorta seem.
So ultimately, I think it actually worked. But reasonable minds can differ.
I'd say Scorsese overdid it with the music a little in The Departed, especially Gimme Shelter.
shareI'm surprised that Marty avoids criticism from contemporaries and film critics over his OVER-use of narration. Casino and Goodfellas rely on it all too much and even though it works and is effective in moving the movie along it also feels like a narrative cheat-sheet, like I would feel if I read the Liner-notes to a novel instead of sitting down and reading the novel itself.
I don't agree that the music was overdone and thought it was a brilliant background character, same for Goodfellas. Others here mention the Departed which I do think the music was a tad too much because Marty didn't rely on narration as much. He also regurgitated some all too familiar songs that have been done to death in other movies so it felt like he was taking the lead from directors who are fanboys of his style. Btw, I feel that this is what ruined Ridley Scott's involvement in the Alien prequels as both Prometheus and Covenant took all of the send up Sci-Fi horror tropes borne out of other movies that were heavily influenced by his original "Alien" movie.
watch "a bronx tale" for actual overuse of narration in a mob film. it makes the others you mentioned look like the directors didnt use it enough in comparison
shareI've seen that movie a few times. It was overall filled with every Italian American Mafia trope available and I rate it 2.5 out of 5 stars.
shareDeniro directed it. and its pretty clearly why it was his first, and basically last directing venture. Pretty much every single shot is a flat, eye level medium shot with nothing unique or interesting
its like the person who directed it watched goodfellas (or starred in it), didnt understand what actually made that a good film, and so dialled up the different elements they thought made it good to an 11. their lack of film technique shows. They saw how goodfellas often bombastically used music, so they did that. they saw how each gangster has quirky names, so did that. they saw Voice Over was used, so almost a quarter the film is voiceover
sorry I have a hate of that film. I was going through gangster film watching binge and that one stood out as pure trash.