Gangster film for Joe Pesci's performance. Others, however, strayed into stereotypes and the gratuitous use of Italian ethnicity in minor characters who happened to be criminals. This created a backlash in the Italian American community. The films of the 1990s produced several critically acclaimed mob films, many of which were loosely based on real crimes and their perpetrators. Many of these films featured long-time actors well known for their roles as mobsters such as Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Chazz Palminteri. "Goodfellas", directed by Martin Scorsese, starred Ray Liotta as real-life associate of the Lucchese crime family Henry Hill.
Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro Director-actor duo Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro have frequently collaborated throughout their careers, making a grand total of nine feature films together since 1973, along with one short film. Most of the pair's films were in the crime genre. Some of the pair's films are often ranked among the greatest films of all time. In 1967, Scorsese made his first feature-length film, the black and white "I Call First", which was later retitled "Who's That Knocking at My Door", with fledgling actor Harvey Keitel. The film was intended to be the first of