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Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas Hardcover – September 15, 2020

by Glenn Kenny (Author)

658 ratings

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A Library Journal Best Book of the Year

A Sight and Sound Best Film Book Of 2020

For the thirtieth anniversary of its premiere comes the vivid and immersive history behind Martin Scorsese’s signature film Goodfellas, hailed by critics as the greatest mob movie ever made.

When Goodfellas first hit the theatres in 1990, a classic was born. Few could anticipate the unparalleled influence it would have on pop culture, one that would inspire future filmmakers and redefine the gangster picture as we know it today. From the rush of grotesque violence in the opening scene to the iconic hilarity of Joe Pesci’s endlessly quoted “Funny how?” shtick, it’s little wonder the film is widely regarded as a mainstay in contemporary cinema.

In the first ever behind-the-scenes story of Goodfellas, film critic Glenn Kenny chronicles the making and afterlife of the film that introduced America to the real modern gangster—brutal, ruthless, yet darkly appealing, the villain we can’t get enough of. Featuring interviews with the film’s major players, including Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Made Men shines a light on the lives and stories wrapped up in the Goodfellas universe, and why its enduring legacy is still essential to charting the trajectory of American culture thirty years later.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Made Men is obsessive, free-associative and exuberantly geeky. I mean that in a good way; it’s everything a hard-core fan might want." -New York Times Book Review

"It’s everybody’s favorite Mafia movie, and doubtless its many partisans will crack open this book the next time they watch the film.” -Wall Street Journal

“Invaluable.” —Rolling Stone

"A fascinating biography of a wonderful film. A++." -Manhattan Book Review

"Fascinating... oh so worth your time." -Esquire

“This is film writing with enthusiasm and purpose… Kenny traces the genesis, production, themes, and legacy of Goodfellas with the exactitude of a scholar and excitement of a true Martin Scorsese acolyte.” –The Globe and Mail

"With its vivid re-creations of real-world underworld mythology and icons, Made Men makes for fleet, entertaining reading." -The Nation

"No one else has seen this magnificent, agonizing, unmooring movie with such piercing clarity." -Slant

"Riveting and revealing... One book that is sure to be on every film lover’s bookshelves this fall." -The Film Stage

"Meticulously researched and masterfully written... Filmmaking is a collaborative art, and Glenn Kenny leaves no artistic stone unturned when he analyzes the contributions made by dozens of people behind, and in front of, the camera." -WRBL

“Beyond the fresh scholarship it offers, Made Men also happens to be the sort of enjoyable read that any fan of the movie will want to own… it’s one of those books you can’t believe hasn’t been written already. Let’s just be grateful it finally has.” -Sight and Sound

"Reading it is like watching the movie again while sitting next to the smartest person you know." -WBUR

"[Glenn Kenny's] book dives into everything from the business dealings and camera shots to the recipes for the meals Henry cooks and the soundtrack." -Orange County Register

"I’m blown away at the level of detail in Kenny’s writing... If you’re a fan of Goodfellas, or filmmaking in general, I can’t recommend Kenny’s book enough." -The Times Georgian

"We saw Goodfellas the night it opened, in a packed theater, when we were in our early twenties. No doubt it changed the direction of our lives. This is the first book we've read that explains how and why the movie has such a deep and lasting impact. Glenn Kenny is a scholar and a writer, and every bit the literary hit man that Tommy DiSimone was in real life."
—Brian Koppelman and David Levien, Screenwriters (“Rounders, Ocean’s 13”), co-creators of “Billions"

"What an incredibly cool and rewarding piece of work. Smart, funny, perceptive, and replete with fascinating trivia (during the legendary one-take tracking shot in the Copa, Henry and Karen travel in a circle), Made Men effectively rebuilds in prose the greatest gangster film ever made. Anyone who cares at all about the movies needs to read this. Glenn Kenny, salud."—Tom Bissell, author of Creative Types and coauthor of The Disaster Artist

"Insightful, gregarious, and encompassing, Made Men is not just the essential book on the making of Goodfellas, but also a wonderful mini-course in film and filmmaking. What a pleasure it is to go to the movies with Glenn Kenny!" - Owen King, author of Double Feature

“Glenn Kenny’s critical acumen and eye for revealing detail is in effervescent display on every page of Made Men, a book not just for Scorsese fans but for everyone who loves the lore of the movies as much as the films themselves.” —Michelle Dean, author of Sharp

"Impeccably researched, fluently written, and infused with insight, wit and mastery, Made Men is exactly what you want from a making-of-your-favorite-movie book. From mob stories to the nuts-and-bolts business of crafting a masterpiece, it's all here. You'd have to be a real schnook not to read it."—Shawn Levy, author of De Niro: A Life, Rat Pack Confidential, and The Castle on Sunset

“Glenn Kenny’s Made Men is that rare book that’s as mesmerizing as the film it profiles.” -Library Journal, starred review

“Devoted fans will adore this.” –Publishers Weekly

“Film critic and journalist Kenny knocks one out of the park with this thorough, well-documented, sharply written book about the 1990 Martin Scorsese film Goodfellas… A wonderful analysis of, and tribute to, a classic film.” -Booklist

About the Author

Glenn Kenny is a long time film critic based in New York. He has written for publications such as Film Comment, the Village Voice, and Rolling Stones and contributes film reviews to the New York Times and RogerEbert.com. He teaches film at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He is the author of "Robert De Niro: Anatomy of an Actor" and has appeared in films such as Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience" and Ricky D'Angelo's "The Sky Is Clear and Blue Today."

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hanover Square Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 15, 2020
Edition ‏ : ‎ Original
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1335016503
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1335016508
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.16 x 1.21 x 9.24 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #259,644 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #69 in Organized Crime True Accounts
- #287 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
- #652 in Criminology (Books)
Customer Reviews:
658 ratings

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Glenn Kenny

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Glenn Kenny is a freelance film reviewer for various publications and writes supplemental essays for a number of boutique video labels. Books to date:

"A Galaxy Not So Far Away: Writers and Artists on 25 Years of 'Star Wars'" (Holt)

"Anatomy of an Actor: Robert De Niro" (Phaidon/Cahiers du Cinema)

"Made Men: The Story of 'Goodfellas'" (Hanover Square Press)

"The World Is Yours: The Story of 'Scarface'" (Hanover Square Press)

Customer reviews

658 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Customers say

Customers praise the book's depth of research and readability, with one review highlighting its scene-by-scene analysis and interesting notes on scenes and music used. Moreover, they appreciate the author's encyclopedic film knowledge and excellent writing style, while finding the movie quality excellent. However, the narrative quality receives mixed reactions, with one customer describing it as a surprisingly dull account of Goodfellas.

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Detail Readability Insight Encyclopedic knowledge Writing quality Movie quality Narrative quality Interview quality

15 customers mention "Detail"11 positive4 negative

Customers appreciate the book's depth of research, with one customer highlighting its scene-by-scene analysis and another noting its interesting notes on scenes and music used.

"the book also details much of his career and reflects his frenetic persona...." Read more

"...writer, and a true teacher/student of Film, has done diligently meticulous research, and relates the story in a hard to put the book down kind of way..." Read more

"...goes into the history of many of the songs ; information not relevant to the subject matter...." Read more

"...Featuring uncanny levels of detail and candid interviews with virtually everyone involved, including Scorsese, Kenny brings many fresh new..." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"12 positive2 negative

Customers find the book to be a great read and very interesting, with one customer noting it delivers an absorbing experience for fans.

"...(including 'Nick and Nora' -- read the book) and delivers an absorbing read for fans like me, and for anyone interested in the collective alchemy of..." Read more

"...analysis and the chapter about the movie's musical choices were highly entertaining. It was a good book but needed a tighter focus." Read more

"I am such a fan of Goodfellas, and this well-written account was so riveting. I ended up watching the movie in short bursts while reading...." Read more

"This is an interesting book about the making of Martin Scorsese's classic film "Goodfellas"...." Read more

7 customers mention "Insight"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful, with one review noting how it delves into the politics of the film and another highlighting the author's deep knowledge of the subject matter.

"...Kenny's insightful book gives due credit to all the players involved (including 'Nick and Nora' -- read the book) and delivers an absorbing read for..." Read more

"the book also details much of his career and reflects his frenetic persona...." Read more

"...Scorsese, Kenny brings many fresh new dimensions and insights to this oft-seen classic. If you love Goodfellas you’ll want this book of course...." Read more

"Lots of insight and information about not only the actual movie, but the actors, director, crew, etc. before and after Goodfellas...." Read more

5 customers mention "Encyclopedic knowledge"4 positive1 negative

Customers appreciate the book's encyclopedic knowledge, with one customer noting how it explains the entire movie, while another describes it as a true teacher/student of film.

"...Glenn Kenny, a wonderful writer, and a true teacher/student of Film, has done diligently meticulous research, and relates the story in a hard to put..." Read more

"...The behind-the-scenes secrets and Kenny's encyclopedic film knowledge and excellent writing make this a winner...." Read more

"Thoughtful and thorough critique and history of a classic..." Read more

"...Fails to explain technical movie making operations: “So I would generally go do a scratch mix with the mixer and then Marty would come and tweak it”...." Read more

5 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive1 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book.

"This is a great read about a great movie. Glenn Kenny, a wonderful writer, and a true teacher/student of Film, has done diligently meticulous..." Read more

"I am such a fan of Goodfellas, and this well-written account was so riveting. I ended up watching the movie in short bursts while reading...." Read more

"...-the-scenes secrets and Kenny's encyclopedic film knowledge and excellent writing make this a winner...." Read more

"...Worst-ever illustrations in a non-fiction book: numerous images of scribbled script revisions and post-it notes, 5 pictures of director Scorsese, 2..." Read more

4 customers mention "Movie quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers love the movie, with one describing it as a classic film.

"This is a great read about a great movie...." Read more

"...film, author Kenny speaks with knowledge and authority about this classic film...." Read more

"...of my favorite movies, Loved the behind the scenes and the arc of good moviemaking." Read more

"Loved the movie, like the making of the movie from its inception very much." Read more

6 customers mention "Narrative quality"4 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the narrative quality of the book, with one customer finding it dramatic and another describing it as a surprisingly dull account of the movie Goodfellas.

"...marty tells edgy street stories and the author does get a little caught up in the tedious race guilt of the 2020 era." Read more

"...Some of the aftermath stories dragged a bit, but ultimately provided insight into the politics ANF processes of getting a film made." Read more

"...It has many in-depth stories relating to behind the scenes and the actors who were in the film...." Read more

"...is rich with contextual detail and background that really serves the narrative beautifully, One of my favorite reads of the year." Read more

4 customers mention "Interview quality"2 positive2 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the interviews in the book, with one customer appreciating the candid conversations with virtually everyone involved, while another notes the absence of gossip.

"...Featuring uncanny levels of detail and candid interviews with virtually everyone involved, including Scorsese, Kenny brings many fresh new..." Read more

"...No gossip, no interesting details like how much money did the various players, actors, extras earn?..." Read more

"...Best of all: The author's interview with Scorsese himself is fantastic, any film-lover will find their conversation riveting! Loved it!" Read more

"...The first part of the book is so wordy, and so full of conversations between and about other people and movies and situations that you start to..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

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Oaklandish
Glenn Kenny's research, sharp prose and storytelling skill all add up to a 'must read'
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase

My first experience of a Scorsese movie was TAXI DRIVER, playing at a rep house cinema in college. At the same cinema, I sought out MEAN STREETS a few months later. After that, I saw each Scorsese movie in the chronology of release on a big screen. The way Kenny starts his narrative, in Scorsese's Brill Building office in December 1989, really helped me remember the visceral excitement of waiting on Marty's next project, GOODFELLAS, and the precarious fortunes of this remarkable career. Kenny's insightful book gives due credit to all the players involved (including 'Nick and Nora' -- read the book) and delivers an absorbing read for fans like me, and for anyone interested in the collective alchemy of making a cinematic classic.

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7 people found this helpful

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john a
good inside look at marty’s process
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
the book also details much of his career and reflects his frenetic persona. marty tells edgy street stories and the author does get a little caught up in the tedious race guilt of the 2020 era.

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J. Mulligan
Definitive
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This is a great read about a great movie. Glenn Kenny, a wonderful writer, and a true teacher/student of Film, has done diligently meticulous research, and relates the story in a hard to put the book down kind of way. Featuring interviews with Scorsese and DeNiro, as well as other people involved on both sides of the camera, reading it is like catching up with an old friend.

If you've seen the movie more than once, twice, ten times, you will appreciate the well written attention to detail, and will be ready to rewatch it after reading Made Men. Want to know why "Funny how?" got into the movie? Want to know why Scorsese insisted on ending the rightfully famous Copa tracking shot with the waiter and raised table? Where the Tampa zoo scene was filmed? This is the book for you.

And now, I turn my back on you.

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21 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer
Good but Unfocused
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The title of "Made Men" is a touch misleading. It's not just the story of "Goodfellas," it's the story of Martin Scorsese's career up to 2020. It rambles quite frequently, and whoever was in charge of copy-editing needs to be fired yesterday. (One "Goodfellas" review that should have been dated 1990 was instead listed as 1999.) However, the scene-by-scene analysis and the chapter about the movie's musical choices were highly entertaining. It was a good book but needed a tighter focus.

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2 people found this helpful

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Ron G.
If you love cinema you’ll love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
No director is more passionate about cinema than Martin Scorsese and he’s found a kindred spirit here in author Glenn Kenny. This is more than a book about the making of one of the most beloved and imitated films in Hollywood history (although there’s enough of that to satisfy even the most hardened Goodfellas fan). It’s a loving tribute to the artists, the ideas, the personalities, the music, the “business” and everything else that goes into making a work of art within the boundaries of a commercial industry. Featuring uncanny levels of detail and candid interviews with virtually everyone involved, including Scorsese, Kenny brings many fresh new dimensions and insights to this oft-seen classic. If you love Goodfellas you’ll want this book of course. But like the movie, the book transcends its subject material and ends up with something greater than the story. Highly recommended!

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13 people found this helpful

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Armand Rosamilia
How Am I Funny?
Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Lots of insight and information about not only the actual movie, but the actors, director, crew, etc. before and after Goodfellas. How it all affected their careers, their relationships and their lives. Some good behind the scenes tidbits throughout.

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One person found this helpful

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John Foley
A Comprehensive Description of The Making of the Movie
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The includes a great deal of information and discussion, concerning its director, Martin Scorsese, and references to his previous films.

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Stuart Rosen
Thoughtful and thorough critique and history of a classic
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Way more than an obligatory, perfunctory history of the film, author Kenny speaks with knowledge and authority about this classic film. The heart of this book is a scene-by-scene analysis, through which we learn about the actors (stars and bit players), Scorsese’s MVPs, Michael Bauhaus and Thelma Schoonmaker, and the director himself. So much I didn’t know about a movie I thought I knew everything about. Kenny speaks with the insightful ness of a cinephile and the enthusiasm of a fan.

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3 people found this helpful

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E Griffin
A swaggering, exhaustive and detailed account
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 5, 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A history of the making and reception of Martin Scorsese’s 1990 film, itself based on Nicholas Pileggi’s book Wiseguy. A swaggering, exhaustive and detailed account of the movie, with new interviews accompanying archive material. A great book for anyone who’s a fan of the film and/or its director, and tons of fun in its own right. Recommended.

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A. Mcintosh
Doesn't do what it says on the tin. A real let-down if I'm honest....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 11, 2021
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
This is an infuriating read for fans expecting anything new. Nothing here you couldn't glean yourself from DVD commentaries, previous writings or YouTube. I really wanted it to be good, but it's padded out beyond all reason. Frequently takes unnecessary tangents into areas beyond all relevance to the matter at hand. My advice? Save your money.

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Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas Hardcover – September 15, 2020

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5.0 out of 5 stars A swaggering, exhaustive and detailed account

1.0 out of 5 stars Doesn't do what it says on the tin. A real let-down if I'm honest....

A swaggering, exhaustive and detailed account

Doesn't do what it says on the tin. A real let-down if I'm honest....