Cms 330 goodfellas movie analysis

GOODFELLAS ANALYSIS OF THE FILM’S PORTRAYAL OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION

WILL EMERSON UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MAINE PROFESSOR EBBEN CMS 330 8 DECEMBER 2014

ACT ONE: SCENE ONE: INTRODUCTION

Relevant characters used in this analysis of specific relationships and communication dynamics : James Conway Henry Hill (main) Tommy DeVito

ACT ONE: SCENE TWO: INTRODUCTION

Major plot/premise of the movie: - True-life account of organized crime filmed by director Martin Scorsese - Film begins in an impoverished neighborhood in east New York, Brooklyn - Portrays the rise and fall of Henry Hill, a mobster turned FBI informant - He is a father of two and eventually becomes divorced - Hill ends up experiencing prison and living life in the witness protection program

ACT ONE: SCENE THREE: INTRODUCTION Primary concepts that will be discussed: 1. Self-Perception

2. The Effects of Self-Perception

on Communication

3. Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding

4. How Relationships Change:Beginning Relationships

5.Characteristics of Conversation 6. Supportive Message Skills 7. Interpersonal Influence 8. Persuading Automatic Processors 9. Creating a Collaborative Conflict Conversation 10. Forgiveness: Repairing Relationships Damaged by Conflict

ACT 2: SCENE 1: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Self-perception is “the overall view people have of themselves. It includes your self-concept and self-esteem” (p.50). Self-perception is usually a function of a person’s culture. Henry did not want to be treated as an average Brooklyn worker during the 1960’s and 1970’s; his self-perception and way he thought about himself shaped the way he interacted. He chased an American Dream that was far different than the dream his lower-class parents worked for.

Henry at age 30.

ACT 2: SCENE 1: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Henry returned home one day wearing the suit in this picture and stunned his mother at the door – and she had some idea about where he got this suit and how he paid for it since she noticed where and who he started hanging out with. After Henry’s first pay day doing errands for the local mob, he purchased this suit because he saw himself as a legitimate player in east New York’s mob culture and this scene shows Henry interact with his parents, seeking their respect, showing that he also wants to be a respected family man. He wanted them to perceive/view him in this way.

Henry as a teenager.

Self-Perception

ACT 2: SCENE 2: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Henry began forming his self-perception early in life which is common (as we saw in his suit as a teenager). The effects of self-perception on communication are fascinating to analyze here. Henry demanded respect but he also respected everyone else. He saw himself as a mobster that tried to be fair. One scene shows his childhood friend Tommy DeVito (also in the mob) shoot an innocent drink server in the foot. Henry would never do something like this, and his self-perception shaped the way he communicated. “Research demonstrates that we communicate our self-concept and self-esteem when we interact with others” (page 60). Henry had a rich self-perception and was more likely to share his ideas regarding different scams and ways of earning because he felt competent in these areas as a business-mobster. He was the lead communicator and strategic planner of the infamous Lufthansa heist at J.F.K. airport, successfully stealing $6 million. He engaged in all types of behavior that would lead to successful endeavors (legal or illegal) because it was his self-perception to do so. This influence helped him rise to the top as a gangster.

The Effects of Self-Perception on Communication

ACT 2: SCENE 3: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Guidelines for Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding: 1.  Develop intercultural competence –

Henry was born and raised in New York and was joining a group of people with heavy Italian influence. The more Henry learned about Italian culture, the more he was able to understand the sociolinguistic meaning of the other mobsters’ messages.

The Italian mafia has been a prominent theme in the media for decades, and the scene where Henry is eating dinner with the boss requires him to have a knowledge of Italian culture. Henry is able to learn a lot about Italian cuisine and interaction manners because he grew up in the mobsters pizza place. In this dinner scene, Henry makes several references about Italian culture that make the boss grow fond of him. Developing this intercultural competence helped Henry gain acceptance.

Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding

ACT 2: SCENE 3: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Guidelines for Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding: 2. Practice mindfullness – which is “the process of drawing novel distinctions. If we are mindful when interacting with others, we are focused on the present moment and noticing how we are similar to and different from our conversational partners…We pay close attention to what is happening in the conversation at that moment and work hard to understand both our partners and ourselves” (page 123).

Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding

ACT 2: SCENE 3: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Guidelines for Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding: 3. Recognize, respect, and adapt to the sociolinguistic practices of others. Multiple times in this film the audience gets to witness Henry’s sensitivity to the indirect meaning of verbal messages. The other mobsters often use the Italian dialect in conversation. Tommy DeVito grew up with Henry Hill and is always using major Italian references when he talks business with Henry. The influences the communication with everyone in a crime family, especially the New York family.

Improving Sociolinguistic Understanding

ACT 2: SCENE 4: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Henry has many relationships in the film, some of them help flourish his career and others fizzle out. The predicted outcome value theory helps explain why some of these relationships are sustained and some are not. This theory is the “premise that in our early conversations with potential relationship partners, we gather information to predict whether the benefits of future interactions will outweigh the costs. Mafia culture welcomes the idea that mobsters have a “gumar”, or female companion, even if they are married. Henry had several other sexual relationships during his marriage with Karen Hill, and it was interesting to see how these formed. The two main “gumares” in the film both served beneficial purposes in Henry’s business eyes, especially his affair with Janice Rossi, who Henry buys a condo for and uses to hideout and traffic drugs. Once Henry realizes that a woman has similar views and morals, he will transition and advance the relationship so he can put the advantages to use.

How relationships change: Beginning relationships

ACT 2: SCENE 5: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Characteristics of Conversation 1.  Conversations are interactive, involve turn-taking, and

alternating between speaking and listening. 2.  Conversations are extemporaneous with messages uttered

in the spur of the moment without lengthy preparing. 3.  Conversations are locally managed, which is the way that

conversational partners produce and monitor every aspect of the conversational give-and-take. This includes topic changes.

4.  Conversations are sequentially organized. They have identifiable beginnings, middles, and ends, similar to other forms of communication. This sequence unfolds naturally from locally managed talk.

ACT 2: SCENE 5: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Characteristics of conversation are important to relate to this film because the art of conversation carries huge importance to the way these crime families interact. It is about respect each other’s family. When Henry and his boss meet with the New Jersey crime family, they always speak by taking proper turns and manage the conversation so it runs smoothly.

ACT 2: SCENE 6: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Supportive Message Skills Clarifying supportive intentions are important to establish when providing constructive emotional support. The mobsters surprisingly experience emotional turmoil quite often, considering the killing nature of their industry. Mob “hits” are always resulting in the deaths of crime family members. Clarifying supportive intentions means “openly stating one’s goal in supportive interaction is to help the person in need of support” (page 268). Letting people know that your motive is to help can be very reassuring in times like these. When Henry’s friend Tommy DeVito gets “whacked”, we see James “Jimmy” Conway offer support to Henry by making it clear that he is there to help while giving Henry space to deal with at as he feels is necessary.

ACT 2: SCENE 7: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Interpersonal Influence The act of changing the attitudes or behaviors of others is known as interpersonal influence. This concept relates to this crime family because of how effective the boss’ interpersonal influence be. Henry’s boss knows that interpersonal influence is at the foundation of him and Henry’s relationship, which is portrayed when he communicates with Henry about the family decision to stop muling drugs down to Pittsburgh. Whenever we communicate we intentionally or unintentionally influence each other. When the boss tells Henry something, he is influencing Henry to act a certain way or make a certain decision. Sharing advice and giving permission is a result of these types of influence.

ACT 2: SCENE 8: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Persuading Automatic Processors Chapter 11 tells us that most of us have been “programmed” to be helpful. “Research has shown that people are more likely to comply with your request if you use the phrase ‘I need a favor” (page 331). Henry’s boss is always stating that he “needs a favor” and his soldiers are always influenced to say yes, because you are supposed to do anything that your boss asks of you at the solider level. Henry’s boss (Conway) asks a soldier to dig a hole and dump a body in it (a job no one likes doing) and the soldier automatically says yes because he knows it is his job to be helpful. It is still interesting to see the boss to still use the phrase that he “needs a favor”.

ACT 2: SCENE 9: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Creating a Collaborative Conflict Conversation This is an excellent way to resolve interpersonal conflict, making it easier to mediate any conflict. Guidelines include: 1.  Mentally rehearse what you will safe before confronting the

other person. Whenever Henry and his boss meet with the other families, they hold a meeting to discuss their place to resolve the conflict.

2.  Recognize and state ownership of the conflict. It is important to acknowledge the factual information surrounding any conflict by communicating with the other parties.

3.  Describe the conflict in terms of behavior, consequences, and feelings. Any conflicts between the families are resolved by communicating who was hurt and how it will be fixed.

ACT 2: SCENE 9: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS

Creating a Collaborative Conflict Conversation (continued) 4. Do not blame or ascribe motives. The goal is to resolve the issue without escalating it. 5. Keep it short. Effect turn-taking will help make this possible. Whenever Henry and his boss meet with the other families, they keep it short so they can get on with their busy days. It helps them get to the point. 6. Be sure the other person understands your position. 7. Phrase your preferred solution to focus on common ground. The ideal resolution to any conflict will require compromise.

ACT 2: SCENE 10: ANALYSIS OF CONCEPTS Forgiveness: Repairing Relationships Damaged by Conflict In order for the mafia to operate like they always have, the families must always forgive each other and repair relationships so that things will run smooth. “Forgiveness is a communication process that allows you and your partner to overcome the damage done to your relationship because of transgression” (page 379).

Seven steps: 1.  Confession 2.  Venting 3.  Understanding 4.  Apologize 5.  Forgive 6.  Set Conditions 7.  Monitor

ACT 3: SCENE 1: EVALUATION

This film (mostly Henry) related to some of my communicative styles in a variety of ways. I perceive myself to be knowledgeable about baseball and the car business because it is where I have the most experience. Henry is quick to offer up advice when it comes to illegal business opportunities similar to the way I do when discussing baseball or the automobile industry. It provides a type of confidence that motives me.

ACT 3: SCENE 2: EVALUATION I think I would struggle in the relationships depicted in this film; the mob life just doesn’t suit me. I think I would enjoy the lavish lifestyle, but the illegal means of gaining that lifestyle would hugely conflict with my idea of earning a living. I think this film offers some strong, realistic portrayals of interpersonal communication. The mafia operates as a family so it is true that their communication is respectful and authentic, for the most part, like a family’s.