Book SummaryMade Men, by Glenn Kenny

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Made Men

The birth, development, and ultimate fruition of the cinematic endeavor known as Goodfellas.

The Film's Genesis

Glenn Kenny's book delves into how Martin Scorsese first encountered "Wiseguy" and his early concept for adapting it into a movie.

Scorsese's interest in the organized crime scene stemmed from his early life in New York's Little Italy. Glenn Kenny possessed a unique perspective that allowed him to recognize the subtle yet significant impact that individuals from the "wiseguy" culture had, even in the absence of blatant forcefulness. The existence of young male characters is portrayed within the Mafia's domain in his movies like "Mean Streets." In 1986, a book reignited Scorsese's fascination with the criminal underworld, prompting him to focus on portraying the reality of organized crime in his narratives. Nicholas Pileggi's "Wiseguy" offers an enthralling and intricately detailed account, presenting the world of mobsters from the perspective of Henry Hill himself. Scorsese, who observed the influence these figures wielded from a young age, quickly recognized the potential for cinematic storytelling within their stories. He was thoroughly captivated by the narrative's delving into the different levels of the criminal world, which was comparable to journeying through the realms of purgatory and hell.

Scorsese's adaptation of Wiseguy sought to portray the environment and its residents with unparalleled authenticity, striving to capture the lifestyle with remarkable accuracy. He viewed the film as an opportunity to portray the brutal reality of the mafia, a stark divergence from the typically glorified portrayals in movies like The Godfather. Scorsese utilized voice-over narration to ensure the story was conveyed with a personal touch from Hill's viewpoint. The author sought to showcase the allure of criminal activity alongside its brutal and morally deteriorating nature, crafting a film that captivated audiences while simultaneously unsettling them.

Practical Tips

• Write a short story or personal essay that fictionalizes a formative part of your upbringing. Focus on a specific event or period that significantly impacted your worldview. This exercise can help you reflect on and articulate the ways your environment has contributed to your identity.
• Start a journal to document instances where you see "wiseguy" traits in everyday life, such as loyalty, respect, and street smarts. This will help you become more aware of these traits and their effects on interpersonal relationships, potentially improving your social navigation skills.
• Engage in role-playing exercises where you and friends take on the personas of young male characters from different cinematic universes, including Scorsese's. This can be a fun way to explore how different settings and backgrounds influence behavior and decision-making. For instance, one person could act as a character from "Mean Streets," while another could be a character from a superhero movie, and through interaction, you can observe how the characters' worlds shape their actions and attitudes.
• Explore your local history to uncover criminal underworld stories that have shaped your community. Dive into local archives, newspapers, and speak with long-time residents to piece together narratives that may not be widely known. This can give you a deeper understanding of the social and historical context of your area, much like a filmmaker might research for a project.
• Start a journal where you document the nuances of your daily interactions and observations. This practice can enhance your attention to detail and your ability to see the bigger picture in your own life, similar to how a well-documented narrative provides depth to a story.
• Create a short film or documentary using your smartphone, capturing a day in the life of a local community member with a unique perspective or background. This exercise will help you practice authenticity in storytelling, as you aim to portray the subject's reality without embellishment, much like Scorsese's approach to filmmaking.
• Create a social media campaign that shares stories and statistics about the real-life effects of organized crime, using hashtags to spread awareness. This can help to educate others and challenge the glamorized narratives that are commonly portrayed in entertainment.
• You can enhance your storytelling by recording a personal narrative in voice-over style to accompany a photo slideshow of a significant event in your life. Start by selecting photos that capture key moments and arrange them in a sequence that tells a story. Then, write a script that reflects your thoughts and feelings during those moments, much like a voice-over in a film. Record your narration and synchronize it with the slideshow. This exercise will help you understand the power of perspective in storytelling and the emotional impact of hearing a story from the narrator's viewpoint.
• Engage in a role-playing exercise with friends where you simulate scenarios involving criminal activities and their repercussions. Assign roles to each participant, with some playing criminals and others playing law enforcement or victims. After the role-play, discuss the feelings and moral dilemmas each person faced. This activity can provide a deeper emotional understanding of the consequences that come with the glamorization of crime.

Martin Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi joined forces to transform the life events of Henry Hill into a script for the screen.

The collaboration between Scorsese and Pileggi was instrumental in adapting "Wiseguy" into the screenplay for "Goodfellas," focusing on honing and condensing Hill's extensive narrative into a structured cinematic storyline. The approach involved identifying key instances and figures that embodied the film's core messages and objectives. They unanimously decided to omit information regarding Hill's military service, focusing...

Made Men Summary The movie's distinctive ambiance and style were shaped by creative and technical elements.

The film's manipulation of time and perspective

The narrative's fragmented, intimate saga is intricately assembled by intertwining flashbacks with narrated commentary.

The writer skillfully blends individual tales and episodes from various times to create a narrative that, although fragmented, is profoundly intimate and reflects the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the criminal underworld, as well as its unreliable main protagonist. Henry Hill's story is conveyed through the narrative voice of Ray Liotta, offering insight into his mental state, clarifying his driving forces, and reflecting on the events as they occur. The narrative approach employed by Scorsese facilitates a fluid transition across the different phases of Hill's life, creating an atmosphere of immediacy, urgency, and at times, an impending sense of dread.

The flashbacks do much more than just serve as visual aids; they deepen our understanding of the characters and their complex relationships, reinforce the thematic explorations, and highlight the story's contrasts laced with irony. Karen's increasing realization of Henry's infidelity is set against the brutal killing of Spider, underscoring the...

Made Men Summary Delving into the real occurrences and their lasting effects as depicted in the film, as well as their connection to Henry Hill's story.

The transformation and subsequent erosion of societal norms linked to the New York-based Italian American mafia.

Goodfellas explores individual criminal acts while also scrutinizing the development and influence of organized crime within communities of Italian Americans in New York. Kenny skillfully portrays the alluring appeal and concealed perils of the "wiseguys" environment, highlighting its deep roots in communities formed by social and economic marginalization. Scorsese provides a perspective that is both insightful and personal, shaped by his upbringing in a setting where loyalty and camaraderie were just as critical as the inherent betrayal and violence that underpinned it.

At the beginning of the movie, Henry's narration reveals that a secret authority, akin to an underground government, offered protection and maintained ethical standards in neighborhoods where the broader community neglected and undervalued individuals of Italian heritage. The film candidly depicts the damaging impact of this social structure, particularly by showcasing the characters' progressive moral decay, uncertainty, and ultimate collapse.

The book examines the contrast between the...

Made Men Summary Martin Scorsese's body of work has been profoundly impacted by Goodfellas, which has also molded the development of the gangster film genre.

The initial response to Goodfellas was mixed.

The film ignited discussions among viewers, with some perceiving it as an exaltation of mob life while others saw its portrayal of crime as a scrutinizing look at that lifestyle.

Goodfellas was met with widespread critical acclaim when it debuted, yet it also ignited considerable debate. Glenn Kenny notes that the movie depicts the consequences of a life committed to crime, but there is concern among some viewers that it could unintentionally glamorize the lifestyle of organized crime, despite its inherent brutality and seeming absence of moral consequences. Debate persists in modern society on whether it exalts a harmful lifestyle or serves as a warning.

Julie Salamon, who wrote critiques for The Wall Street Journal, noted that some scenes in Goodfellas could be perceived as exciting or tempting. Henry and Karen's effortless navigation into the Copacabana, coupled with their skill in hijacking trucks. But these scenes, Kenny argues, are depicted with an ironic undertone, and any thrill they might elicit is consistently overshadowed by an impending feeling of fear, a feeling that intensifies because of the unique way...