RIP Ray Liotta

"This unabridged version of Goodfellas contains strong language and extremely violent scenes." The reason i remember these words 28 years later is because I taped the film and watched it about 20 times.

Words that were like manna from heaven for a 15 year old film fan about to be introduced to the films of Martin Scorsese courtesy of RTE1 and their Easter Monday 9.30 pm film slot. 

It blew our minds.

Joe Pesci from My Cousin Vinny and Lethal Weapon 2. Robert De Niro from Midnight Run and The Godfather Part 2. But who was this guy playing Henry Hill? Ray Liotta?? With the fuck you demeanour and the kill you in a second eyes. Jesus he was brilliant. That clip clop walk across the road to pistol whip the schmuck who touched Karen. The fear in his eyes and then the relief spilling over during the "How am I funny?"speech. Coked up and paranoid as fuck in his final day as a gangster. How had I never seen him before and where could I see more? Turns out I had seen him in Field Of Dreams but his take on Shoeless Joe Jackson was a million miles from his Henry Hill.

But looking back on it now the intensity was there alright. That stare. Piercing, used to brilliant effect in Unlawful Entry, Something Wild, Narc, No Escape, Copland. He should have been a megastar off the back of Goodfellas but it never really happened. But his career was a lot more interesting than anyone pumping out blockbusters. Poor unfortunate Markie in Killing Them Softly. Getting to eat his own brain in Hannibal. Being the dictionary definition of venal in The Place Beyond The Pines. Brilliantly portraying one side of the law in The Iceman and the other in Observe And Report and always pinning you to the seat while he did it with ease.

And now he's gone. Passed in his sleep at 67. No age at all. Never reached the egg noodles and ketchup stage. Never once lived his life as a schnook.