Film and Literature Corbo Name______Date______

Godfathers and Goodfellas: Are They the Same (Wise)guys?

The Godfather and Goodfellas can both be considered “mafia movies” by the sheer fact that both stories feature some form of organized crime (committed by Italians, no less). However, reducing these films to such a simple characterization is an injustice. Pick a motif or topic and discuss the similarities and differences between each film:

Drugs: What do drugs represent and what are the consequences of becoming involved (or not involved) with them?

Loyalty and ethics: Is there a code of ethics in each film? How do characters adhere or not adhere to it? In his essay on The Godfather, Roger Ebert states, “The story views the Mafia from the inside. That is its secret, its charm, its spell…the only villains are traitors. There is one commandment… ‘Don’t ever take sides against the family.’”

The American Dream: How does the implied definition of “The Dream” differ and how do the goals of the characters differ? The first lines of The Godfather are, “I believe in America.”

Violence: How is violence depicted in each film? To what end is violence employed in the film (by the characters and/or the filmmakers)?

*To add to your write up, no matter what topic you choose: Are these films truly similar, do they tell the same story; do they deserve to be classified together? Explain.

Please be sure to: 9 formulate a thesis which you can prove through an analysis of the film by using specific examples and discussing filmmaking techniques; 9 please make direct reference to at least one of the essays/articles that we’ve read and use correct citations when referencing these texts or other outside sources; 9 submit digitally to the Turnitin.com website. 9 Double-spaced, 12 pt. font, Times New Roman only. 9 Follow the conventions of standard written English. 9 This is not a film review or a plot summary.