Godfather or Goodfellas?
Goodfellas and Godfather may be different films, but they have many common themes. The fall of great characters is a common theme. A great character is someone of high importance and status. Both movies depict the downfall of great characters in a different way. The Godfather shows Michael’s fall in a much more polished way. Goodfellas, however, shows the horrifying and under-reported secrets of the Italian Mobsters.
Michael had just returned to war and didn’t intend to take part in his father’s business. Michael was the “good guy” at the time. Michael was forced to get involved in the family business when problems and situations began to arise. Michael appeared like a good man at first because he stood against his father’s attempts to kill him and his family. As the film progressed, his father made him into a “bad” person. Because Michael was not allowed to be influenced or influenced by the Italian Mobsters, it is obvious that he was a decent person. You can see the pain he felt when his son became aware that he had been taken into a world that would never allow him to return to safety. Michael’s turning-point was when the two men he thought were dangerous to his family were shot. His safety and innocence were lost as the bullets flew from his gun. Michael, once known for his innocence and goodness, has been lost forever. Michael would always be a dangerous, powerful, dishonest, and corrupt man. The wealth and power that gangsters have accumulated attracted him to them. He rose up the ranks of the mob to become a prominent figure and eventually became a successful businessman. He was living the high-life worry-free before he knew it. Henry was so powerful that he only had to walk into any place to get the best service. Henry was overcome by greed. Henry was driven by greed and began to sell and steal drugs. Henry was warned from others within the mafia that drugs can be more harmful than they are good. Henry, however, continued his drug-related scandal and ended up in serious trouble. His life collapsed after he was taken into custody and placed in jail for several years. He couldn’t live the high-life he used to love and had to start again as a normal civilian. He calls himself the Great Henry, but he is no longer that Great Henry.
The Godfather isn’t about the fall of one person. It shows two. The original Godfather himself is thrown out of high-ranking in the mafia. He is shown to be a weakling in the final moments of his life. It is almost impossible to feel defeated in this atmosphere. It is less important for him to be Godfather than it used to. Goodfellas also features the downfall of many characters. Tommy, Paulie, Jimmie, and Paulie are three of the mafia’s top leaders. Jimmie and Paulie are both executed in prison. Tommy is also killed by his mafia relatives. Henry’s downfall is shown in Goodfellas’ makeup. Henry appears glowing in the beginning but his skin becomes paler as the film progresses. He appears tired and defeated.
Goodfellas is a movie that shares many similarities to Godfather. The movie’s major theme was the death of a great character. Even if people are kind and good-natured, they do eventually fall. It is impossible to predict what your life will bring. As you can see, Michael became the bad guy and Henry became the bad gangster. You can have the best of both worlds. It is impossible to predict what you will find in your life.
