For Henry Hill, the appeal of becoming a mobster is simple.
They werent like anybody else.
They did whatever they wanted, he explains in the famous monologue at the start ofGoodfellas.
They parked in front of hydrants and never got a ticket.
When they played cards all night nobody ever called the cops.
Noticing an unattended pricing gun, Vinnie gives himself a huge markdown on a bunch of steaks.
Hill doesnt realize it, but the life he outlines at the start ofGoodfellasperfectly describes Vinnie inMy Blue Heaven.
And theres one reason for the similarity.
Because Vinnie Antonelli is Henry Hill.
During his years in the mob, Hill participated in everything from arson to fixing basketball games to murder.
Co-writing the script with Pileggi, Scorsese adapted Hills story intoGoodfellas.
But Scorsese wasnt the only filmmaker taking interest inWiseguy.
But when Martin read the script, he realized he wanted to play the Hill role instead.
So Martin switched to Vinnie, andRick Moraniscame on as Barney, and the comedy was made.
And yet, the two movies complement one another.
Indeed, its hard to think of two filmmakers as unalike as Scorsese and Ephron.
And yet, the two have remarkable thematic continuity.
Yes, discussion aroundGoodfellasstill focuses on its sharp direction and shocking violence, and with good reason.
Joe Pescis take as the brutal and fiery Tommy DeVito still terrifies.
That treatment of Hill creates continuity betweenGoodfellasandMy Blue Heaven.
Martin goes as broad as possible in portraying Vinnie.
Of course, Ephron and Ross have the same goal as Scorsese.
