Goodfellas - Stacks Gets Whacked and How Scorsese Went CGI

-You were late for your own fuckin' funeral

Boardwalk Empire premiered on Sunday and it was everything you could expect from the great Martin Scorsese. The sets, the acting, and the cinematography were all very impressive. But when it comes to the gratuitous mob violence, Martin Scorsese shines. Boardwalk Empire delivers, as the death scenes were very violent-one scene in particular involving a shotgun to the face, but there was something a little off. Something that I have noticed Scorsese has been doing ever since The Departed in 2006, a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film Infernal Affairs. The CGI headshot.

Not sure what the hell I'm talking about? Take a look at the final scene from The Departed. Pay close attention, because once you see it you can't unsee....

But it wasn't always like this, before CGI took over Scorsese was the master of the unconventional headshot. From the goon that gets his face shot up by Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver to this scene great scene from Goodfellas, where Stacks(Samuel L. Jackson) gets a visit from Tommy(Joe Pesci). Scorsese loves to show us the blood splatter and we get plenty of that here. Notice the difference between this scene and the computer generated one from The Departed. Does the CGI take anything away from the story? No, but it does seem to diminish some of the gritty realism. Almost to the point where it screams out: Look! I'm animated!

Infernal Affairs/The Departed - Rooftop/Elevator Scene Comparison

Let's get one thing straight, without the the 2002 film Infernal Affairs there would be no Departed in 2006. That being said, you have to watch The Departed as its own film and not just as a remake of Infernal Affairs.

Okay, now fast forward to the meeting on the rooftop between the mole (Matt Damon - Departed/Andy Lau - Infernal Affairs) and the undercover (Leonardo Dicaprio - Departed/Tony Leung - Infernal Affairs)

The Departed
WATCH IT HERE


Infernal Affairs
WATCH IT HERE

so, which one did you like better?

Goodfellas - The Spider Incident

I'm still pissed about Malcolm McDowell getting snubbed for A Clockwork Orange, but at least the Academy got something right. Joe Pesci richly deserved to win best supporting actor as the short, deranged, loud-mouthed Tommy Devito. From the now famous "You're a funny guy" scene to this scene involving a young helper named Michael "Spider" Gianco (Michael Imperioli). Tommy tries to provoke Spider to "dance" by taking out his pistol and impersonating the Oklahoma Kid. Tommy ends up shooting Spider's foot and shattering it. Shortly thereafter, Spider who now has a cast on his foot is provoked again by Tommy, asking him to dance on his wounded foot. However, Spider surprisingly stands up to Tommy. After Jimmy razzes Tommy regarding the young man’s gumption, Tommy instantly shoots Spider to death.

C.O.D. - Gunfire

Victim - Michael "Spider" Gianco (Michael Imperioli)

Assailant - Tommy Devito (Joe Pesci)

Quote - "Good shot. What do you want from me? I'm a good shot." -- Tommy Devito


watch the buildup to this scene where Tommy shoots Spider's foot HERE

Tommy is always looking to find some hidden gesture from someone that is putting him down. Billy Batts, the Spider incident, even the "you're a funny guy" scene. Tommy is kidding with Henri but deep down inside he's angry with him, you can see it and feel it. Joe Pesci gave the performance of his career.

Casino - Beaten and Buried

It's funny, in this scene when Pesci is doing the narration, he yells out in pain when his character is hit by the bat. As if someone came into the studio where the monologue was recorded and smacked him with the bat. It just adds to the unexpectedness of this epic movie. I love what Scorcese did in this film. He made Nicky and Sam as if they were brothers who would do anything for each other, then Sam ends up being so vicious, killing him and his brother like they meant nothing.....and we learn that there's no such thing as friends in this game, plus Nicky was a major prick. Actually all of Joe Pesci's characters make really good pricks who deserve the worst possible death. Thanks Joe.

Nice touch that Scorcese cast the same actor who played Billy Batts(Frank Vincent) in Goodfellas (who got beat to death by Pesci & Deniro's characters) to beat Pesci's character to death here...

Taxi Driver - Travis Bickle shooting spree

You don't see a lot of gunshots to the face in movies these days. Sure, there's plenty of head shots, but they're always so accurate; right between the eyes or in the middle of the forehead, where's the realism? This scene from Taxi Driver changed everything. After Bickle gets shot in the arm he pulls out another gun(with the help of his nifty invention) and unloads into some poor goon's face. Ouch.

Related Movie Deaths

Dawn of the Dead - Headshot!
Saving Private Ryan - Sniper Headshot!
Maniac - Shotgun Headshot!
The Godfather - The Moe Greene Special
Bad Boys 2 - Slow-mo Headshot!