Product Description

One of a hand-picked selection of some of the most popular and cult-worthy titles on Faber and Faber's extensive list of film scripts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #401161 in Books
• Published on: 2000-02-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 142 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Welcome to the world of New York organised crime; of heists, extortion, family, gambling, molls and casual violence. This is the book that inspired the film, written by Nicholas Pileggi in 1985 and originally entitled Wiseguy. Martin Scorsese read it, contacted Pileggi who apparently "had been waiting for this phone call all my life", and between them they wrote the screenplay for the hugely popular 1990 movie. The resulting blend of snappy dialogue, snappier editing and superb ensemble acting tended to overshadow Scorsese's dubious ambivalence towards violence, but the audience was blown away more spectacularly than one of Tommy De Vito's victims.

Pileggi's book was written with Henry Hill, whose life it describes. The narrative switches between Pileggi, Hill, and Hill's wife Karen, all delivered with the smooth action of a well-polished Magnum. It proves utterly compelling, breathlessly serving up an action-fuelled life of criminal excess with Henry starting as an aspirant 12-year-old errand runner ("To be a wiseguy was better than being president of the United States. To be a wiseguy was to own the world"), and progressing to such a status within the Mob that when he is finally nailed he turns Federal witness to implicate his former cronies, a move that represents his only chance to save his family's necks. The irony for Hill is that his fictionalised life story has been seen by millions, but he cannot tell anyone without jeopardising his new identity, which means he gets "to live the rest of my life as a shnook". As a source the book runs very close to the film, and someone who know the film will find it hard not to picture Scorseses's stylised realisation as they read, while those who don't will discover a grittily related, authentically grim amorality tale of a life shot through with brutality and survivalist scheming that stands on its own without the Big Screen treatment. Surprisingly bleak. --David Vincent

Customer Reviews

Still fantastic
Since reading Goodfellas, I decided to read several other true 'wiseguys' stories, finding some equally great books. The best of which are Casino, by Nicholas Pileggi (which as you all know was made into the film starring Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone). That Nicholas Pileggi must have met some real charcters during his book writing career ! The other is Blow - How a small-town boy made $100 million with the Medellin Cartel and lost it all, by Bruce Porter (also made into a film starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz) If you liked Goodfellas, you'll love these 2 books. But I have to say Goodfellas remains the best.

If you like Wiseguys, you gotta read...........
Equally as good as Wiseguys is Nicholas Pileggi's 'Casino' (the book that came before the film) Also, try Bruce Porter's 'Blow - How a small town boy made $100 million with the Medellin Cartel and lost it all' (another book that has recently been made into a film starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz)

A fantastic look into the life of an everyday wiseguy
Being a huge fan of the film, I was very excited when I eventually found the book on Amazon. Its a fantastically written book and fills in most of the holes the film leaves out. Right from page one, I couldn't put it down, even though I new most of the events that happen in the book, from watching the film many times. I think in this case it definitely helps if you have seen the film, as I found it easier to imagine the places, faces and situations whilst reading the book, particlarly Jimmy (Robert De Niro) and Tommy (Joe Pesci) and of course Henry ( Ray Liotta). The book, in places is written as if Henry is narrating ( just like the film), and its not long before you find yourself reading just like he talks in the film. Like a real wiseguy !! A definite must have for any fan of the film.