He Watched It 40-50 Times Before Working With Martin Scorsese

Jon Bernthal confessed that he watched Goodfellas (1990)
40 to 50 times in public theatres during his youth. The acclaimed actor recently
shared how a profound obsession with a classic crime movie fundamentally shaped
his artistic journey. In fact, the extreme level of dedication eventually came full
circle later in his professional career, seemingly having prepared him for the ultimate honor of collaborating directly with his filmmaking hero on a real Hollywood set.

The passionate performer described how his early theatre
habits transformed into an intense masterclass in acting.

Jon Bernthal recalls his deep theatrical obsession with Goodfellas (1990)

Jon Bernthal revealed in The Hollywood Reporter’s Hollywood
Firsts video interview that he watched Goodfellas (1990) 40 to 50
times in theatres during its original release. He explained that he and his
best friend would routinely sit through multiple consecutive showings before
returning the very next day.

“I’m such a huge Scorsese (Martin Scorsese) worshiper. When
Goodfellas came into theaters, my best friend Dougie Thornell and I would go,
sit through another showing, then another showing, and go back the next day,”
he said.

“I’m talking about maybe seeing that movie in theaters 40 or
50 times,” he added. The young actor found himself completely captivated by the
explosive on-screen performance delivered by Joe Pesci.

“I was blown away by the vitality, the life behind it,
the storytelling, and how these groups of people were this beautiful stew of
personalities,” Bernthal stated. He deeply admired the authentic, lived-in
atmosphere that defined the entire production. This intense fascination fuelled
his early dream of participating in elite Hollywood storytelling.

The actor eventually secured the incredible opportunity to
work directly on a project (The Wolf of Wall Street) directed by Martin
Scorsese. Experiencing the meticulous care, immense attention to detail, and
collaborative ensemble building in real life fulfilled a lifelong aspiration.
He described the professional collaboration as the absolute honour of his
lifetime.

“It was the honor
of my lifetime to work with him,” he said during his Hollywood Firsts video interview.

The celebrated production that inspired his career remains a
definitive benchmark for the entire entertainment industry.

Legendary 1990 biographical crime feature Goodfellas

The biographical crime film Goodfellas (1990)
officially debuted in the United States on September 21, 1990. The legendary
project was directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted from the 1985 non-fiction
book Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi. The star-studded ensemble cast featured
exceptional performances from Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, Lorraine
Bracco, and Paul Sorvino, among others. 

The complex narrative chronicles the dramatic 3-decade rise
and eventual fall of real-life mafia associate Henry Hill from 1955 to 1980.
The story begins in Brooklyn, where a young Henry actively idolizes the
powerful Lucchese crime family operating in his neighbourhood. He quickly
climbs the criminal ranks alongside Jimmy Conway, a ruthless hijacker, and
Tommy DeVito, a volatile psychopath.

Their luxurious lifestyle fractures following the massive
Lufthansa heist as extreme paranoia and targeted executions destroy
their inner circle. Henry becomes heavily addicted to trafficking illegal
substances, which directly violates the strict orders of his mob boss, Paulie. By
studying this very film dozens of times in theatres, Jon Bernthal developed a
profound respect for the storytelling that defined his collaboration with
Martin Scorsese.

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