Goodfellas opening

Goodfellas Opening Sequence.

Director: Martin Scorsese

Genre: Crime Drama

Budget: N/A

Total Gross: $46,836,000

Year of release: 1990

The opening of Goodfellas is very dramatic and very bipolar as many crime films is evolves from a very calm scene to graphic violence or intense suspense in a matter of seconds in order to establish the personalities of the characters. No establishing shot used as seemingly mandatory in crime films which doesn't reveal there exact location which creates narrative enigma. This opening in specific begins at the end of the film and is therefore a flashback, instead of a concluding soundtrack also we are met with narration which controls the path of the story for the rest of the film. Characters are very calm and do not once again show any facial expressions. Tracking shots of expensive car is used to show power and wealth of the characters also. Sound is minimal and characters are wearing formal clothes. Camera movement is very smooth and not handheld to show the power of the protagonists. Lighting in this sequence is used to create a mood of bloodlust and evil of the characters as it lights them in red during a very graphic and violent sequence. Violence is used to establish character personal and mindset and each character is shown to have more of an explosive mind set. There is no soundtrack in this sequence which lets us focus on a very realistic opening sequence where everything has a raw feel to it.