In an interview with movie critic Mark Cousins, Scorsese explained the reason for Pesci shooting at the camera at the end of the film, "well that's a reference right to the end of The Great Train Robbery, that's the way that ends, that film, and basically the plot of this picture is very similar to The Great Train ...

What does the end of Goodfellas mean?

The film closes with a few title cards what became of Hill, Paul Cicero (Vario) and Jimmy Conway (Burke). Henry's marriage to Karen ended in separation with her getting custody of their children, and Cicero and Conway will practically spend the rest of their lives in prison. Cicero died in 1988.

Who was Tommy shooting at the end of Goodfellas?

The character of Tommy DeVito is based on the real-life gangster Tommy DeSimone, also known as "Two-Gun Tommy" or "Tommy D." While Goodfellas depicts Tommy being shot in the face for killing Made Man Billy Batts, resulting in a closed-casket funeral, the real story of Tommy DeSimone's death is much more mysterious.

What happened to Jimmy at the end of Goodfellas?

The movie ends with title cards explaining that Paulie died in the late 1980s in Forth Worth Federal Prison and that Jimmy was serving a 20-years-to-life sentence in New York and would be paroled in 2004.

Why did Alfie let Tommy shoot him?

Alfie revealed that he was suffering from skin cancer, which he attributed to the poisonous gas used in the Great War; Alfie had intended for Tommy to discover his betrayal, track him down, and kill him so Alfie could die on his own terms, rather than the Mafia.

Goodfellas Ending Explained | Why Is Tommy Shooting At The Camera?

Why did Tommy shoot Michael in the eye?

When the bomb goes off, Michael is irked to discover that his job wasn't completed after all, and someone like Tommy doesn't die quite that easily. After one final speech-off, Tommy shoots him in the eye, ending Polly's prophecy that there'll be a war, and one of them will die.

Why did Jimmy cry when Tommy died?

Unfortunately, the ceremony was a set-up where Tommy was murdered to compensate for the unauthorized murder of Billy Batts several years previously. This made Jimmy cry and destroy a telephone booth in frustration. Henry lamented that in order to kill a made man, you're required to have permission from his boss.

Who betrayed Tommy in Goodfellas?

It's widely believed, then, that it was Paul Vario who told the Gambino crew about Tommy and Billy Batts' murder, and while Karen's affair with Paul and the attempted rape are not mentioned in Goodfellas, that could have been a reason for Henry to rat on Tommy.

Why did Jimmy want to whack Henry?

Jimmy was also likely afraid that Henry, who'd gone to jail for his ongoing drug operation, would sell him out as being a part of the operation. Murdering Karen and Henry would ensure the Feds would never find out about his part in the whole affair.

Why did Joe Pesci shoot at the end of Goodfellas?

In an interview with movie critic Mark Cousins, Scorsese explained the reason for Pesci shooting at the camera at the end of the film, "well that's a reference right to the end of The Great Train Robbery, that's the way that ends, that film, and basically the plot of this picture is very similar to The Great Train ...

What movie does Joe Pesci get whacked in?

Joe Pesci's portrayal of Tommy remains a career-defining role, as his performance is both intimidating and sympathetic. The Tommy Goodfellas scene when the character gets whacked is still one of the most iconic moments in the movie.

Did Tommy know he was getting whacked?

Tommy is made to believe that he is going to become a "made man," but after he sees that the room where his celebration was supposed to take place is empty, he realizes he's getting whacked instead.

What is the overall message of Goodfellas?

Honour, masculinity, and the importance of family are all themes integral to Goodfellas. A central question is to what extent you should sacrifice your freedom or your integrity for your group identity, in this case, the Mafia's code of honor?

Who was the snitch in Goodfellas?

Henry Hill Jr.

Hill testified against his former Mafia associates, resulting in 50 convictions, including those of caporegime (captain) Paul Vario and fellow associate James Burke on multiple charges.

Did Paulie have Tommy killed in Goodfellas?

Henry explains Tommy's murder was in retribution for the murder of Billy Batts, but there's one important detail in Tommy's execution: the man who pulled the trigger was Tuddy Cicero, Paulie's brother.

Who was the traitor in Goodfellas?

Who betrayed Tommy in Goodfellas? In the film it's left open to speculation, but in real life Paul Vario almost certainly betrayed Tommy DeSimone to John Gotti. Gotti almost certainly tortured Tommy for days, himself, before personally murdering him.

Why did Henry Hill leave witness protection?

To clear things up, Hill was arrested in Seattle in 1987 for cocaine trafficking. While the movie states that he was still protected under federal law until 1980 or so, the fact is that Hill and his family were kicked out of the Witness Protection Program in 1987 for his drug arrest in Seattle (via NBC News).

Who was the rat in Goodfellas?

Henry Hill, seen here in 1997, was played by Ray Liotta in 'Goodfellas. ' PUBLISHED: December 3, 2009 at 11:13 p.m. | UPDATED: January 11, 2019 at 8:39 a.m. Notorious Mob rat rat Henry Hill says his former lawyer isn't such a bad fella.

Who is the villain in Goodfellas?

Type of Villain

Thomas "Tommy" DeVito is the secondary antagonist of the 1990 crime drama film Goodfellas. He is a cruel associate of the Lucchese crime family and arguably the most feared member of the crew led by Jimmy Conway.

How did they find out Tommy killed Batts?

Paul had an affair with Karen Hill while Henry was in jail, and she told Paul that Tommy tried to rape her. Paul then told the Gambino crew that Tommy was involved in the murder of Batts, and so they planned Tommy's murder.

Why did Alfie shoot Tommy?

Alfie reveals he knew Tommy would track him down for his actions, and that he has cancer and wishes to die on his own terms. After Alfie unholsters and fires at Tommy, he is shot in the face and falls to the ground.

Why did Michael start hating Tommy?

After Polly is murdered by the IRA, Michael is devastated, reasoning that Tommy's ambition and schemes lead to her death. He swears revenge on Tommy at all costs. By 1933 Michael is completely estranged from the Shelby family and has moved to the US where he now has a son with Gina name Laurence.

Is Alfie Solomons dead?

Solomons was shot by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) at the climax of season four, leaving fans to assume he was dead. The character returned, however, in the last episode of season five.