Scorsese Shoots, He Scores Teddy Durgin Liotta and Joe Pesci
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SEPTEMBER 25, 1990 THE RETRIEVER /PAGE 9 Scorsese Shoots, He Scores Teddy Durgin Liotta and Joe Pesci. Liotta, who A constant challenge to Scorsese Retriever Editorial Staff played "Shoeless" Joe Jackson in must have been to make a film Field of Dreams, has a surprisingly about the realities of the Mafia, There's something about a Mar- big part this time out, portraying rather than the myths most often tin Scorsese film that inspires Henry Hill (a real-life gangster). depicted in the movies. After all, viewers to seek pain. After all, it DeNiro is typically good as a gangster's job is not to go around was Scorsese's Taxi Driver which Jimmy "The Gent" Conway, one of killing people. A gangster's job is prompted John Hinckley, Jr., to the most respected men in organ- to make money. It's just that when shoot President Reagan, and it was ized crime (Hey! Now there's an somebody gets in the way of that his Last Temptation of Christ which honor!). DeNiro has made such a moneymaking, he is quickly turned had people everywhere banging career out of playing dangerous into a, shall we say, deduction. their heads against the Bible. While criminals, that it's a wonder he No one understood this better his new movie, GoodFellas, is not doesn't get himself locked up more than Nicholas Pileggi. Pileggi spent expected to elicit such responses, it often. What's most effective about four years with the real Henry Hill is still one of the most painfully his performance here is the fact that gathering information for Wiseguy. realistic films about the Mafia ever he doesn't act circles around the rest Arguably the most provocative made. of the cast. As a result, actors like inside look at the Mafia ever Based on Nicholas Pileggi's best- Liotta and Paul Sorvino aren't published, it became an instant selling book Wiseguy (not about the forced into the background and are best-seller. TV show), GoodFellas spans thirty thus able to make their characters Scorsese was filming The Color years in the life of a Mafia family. that much more believable. of Money when he finished reading Both the book and the film accu- Believability is the key to this the book and decided to make a rately document the life of a work- film. It would have been so easy movie out of it. He soon began ing mobster: his complex for Scorsese to make another working with Pileggi on the screen- relationships, the camaraderie of gangster film in which the mob were play of what would become one of "the family" and, of course, his portrayed in a glorious and roman- the best films of 1990. business dealings. tic way. But this pain-monger goes GoodFellas is the type of movie But gangsters never refer to out of his way to give us a disturb- that won't have you whistling as you themselves as gangsters. In Mafia ingly negative view of these well- leave the theater (and if it does, then The Seniorlites from South Carolina will be performing at the Mount Vernon Place Unitied Methodist terms, they are known as either dressed scumbags. So much so, that you're one sick puppy!) But if you Church On Setpember 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are S7.50 for adults, $5.00 for students and seniors. "wiseguys" or "goodfellas." The we leave the theater wondering, go looking to be captivated for two principal goodfellas in this film are "Why the hell do they want to be hours, you will find that GoodFel- played by Robert DeNiro (his sixth known as goodfellas?" las is a good show! collaboration with Scorsese), Ray Glory marches to a patriotic beat in Lecture Hall n Teddy Durgin Washington, whose gut- Sound. It lost the Best Art Direc- Retriever Editorial Staff wrenching performance as an tion and Best Film Editing escaped slave earned him an Awards to Batman and Born on When I look back upon the Academy Award for Best Sup- the Fourth of July, respectively. night when I first saw Glory, the porting Actor. Washington If you haven't seen Glory, you thing that I remember most is earned the Oscar, especially in a may leave the lecture hall debating when the audience stood up at the scene where his character, Trip, is whether or not the film had a end and applauded. There aren't whipped for insubordination. happy ending. While I'm not going too many films nowadays that are Moments like those managed to to spoil the conclusion, I will say worthy of a standing ovation, but give the audience goose bumps. that the contributions of Shaw's Glory is the exception to the rule. Glory features some of the most regiment had a great(and largely The Student Events Board will brutally realistic battle scenes ever unknown) impact on the rest of be showing the film Wednesday filmed. Hundreds of Civil War the war. at 7:30 and 10 P.M. in LH II. reenactors were hired to make the In fact, several of the events in Directed by Ed Zwick, Glory tells film look as authentic as possible. the film are unknown because they the story of one of the first black It was a little surprising that were fabricated in order to regiments to fight in the Civil War. Zwick, who's previous credits enhance the story (the film's main Matthew Broderick stars as included About Last Night and criticism, which probably kept it Robert Gould Shaw, the young creating TV's thirtysomething, out of Best Picture contention). officer in charge of the regiment. could handle such a complex and But the basics remain the same: It was Shaw's letters home to his large-scale war epic. But Zwick Robert Gould Shaw, an unproven family (which are on display at the pulled it off beautifully. battle commander, led an all- Harvard University Library) upon In addition to Washington's black regiment in a bloody assault which the movie is partly based. acting award, Glory received two on Fort Wagner. These former Glory also stars Morgan Free- other Oscars for Best Cinemato- slaves fought bravely and died as man, Cary Elwes and Denzel graphy and Best Achievement in fighting men. Robert DeNiro and Ray Liotta star in Martin Scorsese's gangster film, GoodFellas. Tuesday, October 2,1990 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. UMBC's CAREER FAIR '90 University Center Ballroom Sponsored by: Career Development and Placement Center ALL STUDENTS - ALL MAJORS WELCOME! Bring Copies of your resume Meet with employers to discuss information about organizations Discuss professioonal employment opportunities Appropriate attire is encouraged to meet with employers For further information contact: £ttfe< CD&P, MP 203, 455 - 2216 .