Fantastic movie. Great detailed storytelling, with Pesci and Deniro at their best. Amazing how after a series of poor movies Deniro came up with such a good performance so late in his career. Must have got galvanized into acting again.
Pacino was really poor imo especially given how well Jack did as Hoffa. I thought the last 30 minutes or so dragged on, but otherwise this is one of his better ones. Dunno how crap like Heat was brought up in the same thread.
I thought the last 30+ minutes was the key in making this a great film with something unique to say as opposed to just another mob picture. The scenes with the priest, the funeral parlor, his nurse (where he displays his charm to make her think he's just like any nice old man she sees making her rounds) and most importantly his scene with one of his daughter's where his pain is obvious even though his words are sparse, are among the most impressive of the entire film. That character is so diametrically opposed to his "house painter" character early in the film, that it's astonishing that it can even be played by the same actor. Totally masterful work by both actor and director. It's what makes the movie extraordinary IMHO.
Agree it's one of DeNiro's best performances in a long career. Why he chooses to do crappy romantic comedies is anyone's guess since he doesn't need the paycheck. It would be nice for DeNiro and Pesci to win Oscar's together in the same film at the end of their careers, especially since Pesci was robbed of his first Supporting Actor Oscar for his amazing performance as Jake LaMotta's younger brother in Raging Bull for which DeNiro won Best Actor. Pesci had to wait 10 more years before he received one for Goodfellas and the Academy may not be inclined to give him another one for yet another supporting mobster role. (His most enduring role however may very well be the classic and great, My Cousin Vinny!) And DeNiro will have stiff competition from Joaquin Phoenix so it may not happen for either.