RIP Henry Hill

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Who is Henry Hill? If you saw the film Goodfellas you have seen a story about Henry Hill. He died last Tuesday.

I have always thought that of all the organized crime movies made that Goodfellas was the best. It is watchable over and over. It is on right now on Encore as I type.

Anyway, I heard an interview on the NPR show Fresh Air last night. And it solidified for me why the Henry Hill -- Goodfellas story was a very interesting criminal history.

Henry Hill, the mobster-turned-informant portrayed by Ray Liotta in the film Goodfellas, died Tuesday at age 69. Hill's colorful life — he lived in Cincinnati; Omaha; Butte, Mont.; Independence, Ky.; and Topanga, Calif., among other places — was documented in crime reporter Nicholas Pileggi's 1986 book Wiseguy and then in Martin Scorsese's film Goodfellas, which was based on Pileggi's book.

In 1986, Pileggi joined Fresh Air's Terry Gross for an in-depth conversation about Hill, who was a member of the Luchese organized-crime family before deciding to become an informant. His subsequent testimony led to dozens of convictions and forced Hill to enter the witness protection program.

Hill's criminal record while in witness protection led to his expulsion from the program in the early 1990s. In recent years, he lived openly in Topanga, Calif. with his fiancée Lisa Caserta.

Check out the radio interview if you have a chance. Yeah, it is long, but it will draw you in quickly http://www.npr.org/2012/06/15/155093...days-were-over

[Another side]

Rest in peace? He was a murderer, liar, dope-addict, robber, burglar, wife-beater and in the end turned on his friends and family rather than stand up and take his lumps.

The man had no redeeming social value whatsoever. He was a stone-cold gangster and a despicable human being. Piss on him. Let him rot.

But, yeah, it was a great movie.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

I understand where you are coming from A.S.. He was all those things you describe.

Maybe I shouldn't have used the RIP designation to title the thread. I didn't really consider it when posting. It was shorthand on my part to call attention to the passing of a person many of us are familiar with. Good or bad his story was interesting.

Whether or not he rests in peace isn't up to us it?

[Lazlo Toth]

I read the book years before the movie came out and thought it was better than the movie, though I thought the movie was good, fellas. Or perhaps I'm just being a wise guy.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

I may have to find a copy of the book now.

[Tripe Face]

Goodfellas is well, good... but hardly the greatest movie about the mob.

The only debate there is whether Godfather I or II is on top of that list.

[Kace]

Watched Goodfellas last night on TV. I'm still more of a Casino guy, but I like Goodfellas.

[Mr. Pratfall]

Either you are closing your eyes to a situation you do not wish to acknowledge, or you do not recognize the CALIBER OF DISASTER indicated by the presence of a pool table in your community.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Originally Posted by Tripe Face

Goodfellas is well, good... but hardly the greatest movie about the mob.

The only debate there is whether Godfather I or II is on top of that list.

The Godfather films were top notch and I like them very much. But, they are told in a way that romanticizes the people in the mob. They are placed upon a pedestal.

Wiseguy was written by a journalist and told in a more objective fashion. Goodfellas pretty faithfully transferred that tone to the screen. I've heard an interview with a former mobster and he said the most accurate film he has seen was Goodfelles. These were not very smart thugs who were engaged in brutal criminal acts.

And on the recommendation of Lazlo I ordered the book last night. It is my Father's Day present to myself.

[Tripe Face]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

The Godfather films were top notch and I like them very much. But, they are told in a way that romanticizes the people in the mob. They are placed upon a pedestal.

Wiseguy was written by a journalist and told in a more objective fashion. Goodfellas pretty faithfully transferred that tone to the screen. I've heard an interview with a former mobster and he said the most accurate film he has seen was Goodfelles. These were not very smart thugs who were engaged in brutal criminal acts.

And on the recommendation of Lazlo I ordered the book last night. It is my Father's Day present to myself.

I don't watch movies for their accurate portrayal of a lifestyle, I watched to be entertained. On that front Goodfellas loses.

[s'news]

I enjoyed the movie.

[Lazlo Toth]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

The Godfather films were top notch and I like them very much. But, they are told in a way that romanticizes the people in the mob. They are placed upon a pedestal.

Wiseguy was written by a journalist and told in a more objective fashion. Goodfellas pretty faithfully transferred that tone to the screen. I've heard an interview with a former mobster and he said the most accurate film he has seen was Goodfelles. These were not very smart thugs who were engaged in brutal criminal acts.

And on the recommendation of Lazlo I ordered the book last night. It is my Father's Day present to myself.

I hope you enjoy it. It's been quite a while since I read it. I think it came as a freebie to a station where I was working.

[Ralphie the buffalo]

Originally Posted by Tripe Face

I don't watch movies for their accurate portrayal of a lifestyle, I watched to be entertained. On that front Goodfellas loses.

Channeling Pro: "That is your opinion. I disagree"

And furthermore Scorsese is a better director than Coppola. Scorsese has had constantly good work since 1974, including regular Oscar nominations along the way. Coppola has fallen into mediocrity since the mid 80's. I'm sure he grows good grapes and makes decent wine though.

What do you think about that?

[Kace]

"He makes the best films! He makes the best films!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQKS4_Y7QCI

[TVMattNYC]

Originally Posted by Ralphie the buffalo

The Godfather films were top notch and I like them very much. But, they are told in a way that romanticizes the people in the mob. They are placed upon a pedestal.

Wiseguy was written by a journalist and told in a more objective fashion. Goodfellas pretty faithfully transferred that tone to the screen. I've heard an interview with a former mobster and he said the most accurate film he has seen was Goodfelles. These were not very smart thugs who were engaged in brutal criminal acts.

Well put.

[Jane Craig]

The first two Godfather films were amazing and hold up brilliantly. The third had a few translcendant moments and Andy Garcia, punctuated with some supreme awfulness (hi, Sofia). Goodfellas is also very good but seems to me more of a "guy" movie and in some ways quite a different type of story.

Gotta agree with Ralphie on Francis vs. Marty overall but both have had their triumphs and clunkers.

[Roy Hobbs]

Originally Posted by Another side

Rest in peace? He was a murderer, liar, dope-addict, robber, burglar, wife-beater and in the end turned on his friends and family rather than stand up and take his lumps.

The man had no redeeming social value whatsoever. He was a stone-cold gangster and a despicable human being. Piss on him. Let him rot.

Well at least he didn't end up living the rest of his life like a schnuck.