Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, Chuck Low, Frank DiLeo, Frank Sivero, Tony Darrow, Mike Starr, Frank Vincent

Based on a book by Nicholas Pileggi. A tremendous modern gangster work--perfectly cast, with great music, and exceptionally witty food scenes. Among them, we learn that prison isn't so bad when you can make your own pasta (and slice the garlic paper thin), and being chased by the cops is no excuse for burning the Sunday sauce. A must-see, also for the appearance of the director's mother, who in real life cooked on many of Scorsese's sets. Here, she feeds several of the fellas late one night. And when one character, in between bites, cherishes her large knife in anticipation of the body butchering he's about to perform, the moment encapsulates the raw and the cooked, set before us like a twisted antipasto.

(by Rebecca L. Epstein)