In 1990, Ray Liotta starred in the iconic gangster film GoodFellas, directed by Martin Scorsese and alongside Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. The movie, based on the real-life story of the Mafia through the eyes of Henry Hill, became the defining role of Liotta’s career. Despite a similarly impressive cast, however, audiences didn’t notice his compelling performance in a 1997 thriller.
Ray Liotta appeared in many memorable films during his career, including classics like GoodFellas, Identity, and Field of Dreams. Despite often being overlooked, he was a remarkably talented actor, and his performances always stood out. Many crime film fans recognize and appreciate the powerful presence he brought to his roles. Seven years after GoodFellas, he teamed up with Sylvester Stallone and Harvey Keitel for a thrilling, yet often forgotten, film from the 1990s.
How GoodFellas Changed the Crime Genre
The 1980s weren’t known for great crime movies. Fantasy, sci-fi, and adventure films—like Indiana Jones, Star Wars, and Back to the Future—were much more popular. Even well-made films like Manhunter didn’t get much attention. Toward the end of the decade, movies like Die Hard and The Untouchables brought crime films back into the spotlight. This set the stage for Martin Scorsese to create Goodfellas, considered the best gangster movie since The Godfather Part II.
In GoodFellas, Ray Liotta plays Henry Hill, a young man of Irish and Italian heritage who gets involved with the Mafia. He quickly falls in with powerful figures like Paulie Cicero and forms a close bond with Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito. As they grow older, the trio becomes both valuable and troublesome to the crime family, largely because of Tommy’s volatile personality. After committing serious crimes, including murder, and facing increased scrutiny from the Lufthansa Heist, distrust begins to spread. Henry struggles to reconcile his life as a gangster with his responsibilities as a husband and father, and ultimately decides to betray his criminal associates.
Ultimately, the movie serves as a cautionary tale about the allure of a criminal life, showcasing a seemingly glamorous world before revealing its destructive consequences. Whether or not Henry Hill betrayed his associates, the film powerfully demonstrates that a life of crime inevitably leads to death, imprisonment, or a constant fear of being caught. Despite this, James Liotta delivers a compelling performance, allowing the audience to sympathize with his character without wanting to emulate him, and making it clear that his story is not one to admire.
Released in 1990, this film played a key role in launching the 90s’ fascination with crime dramas, gangster movies, and thrillers. Many films from that decade, including True Romance, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and Casino, featured actors from Goodfellas, demonstrating the film’s lasting impact. It also led to a notable reunion between Ray Liotta and Robert De Niro, who later starred together in James Mangold’s Cop Land.
Cop Land Puts a Different Spin on Organized Crime
The film Cop Land is set in Garrison, New Jersey, a quiet town where corrupt New York City police officers go to escape investigations. Sheriff Freddy Heflin, who is hard of hearing, oversees the town and greatly respects the NYPD, so he often overlooks their questionable behavior. These officers are led by Ray Donlan, who seems like a respectable family man but is secretly connected to the Mafia.
The story starts with a tragic incident: Murray Babitch, a young officer and Donlan’s nephew, fatally shoots several Black drivers, believing they were firing at him. When police arrive and find no weapon, Donlan plants one at the scene, creating conflict with the honest officers and paramedics. Amid the confusion, Donlan helps his nephew escape and falsely claims he saw him jump off a bridge. With the city believing Babitch is dead, Donlan smuggles him into Garrison, where Freddy quickly recognizes him. An Internal Affairs detective, Moe Tilden, then approaches Freddy, suspecting connections between the Garrison residents and organized crime, and hoping Freddy can provide information.
Ray and his crew quickly realize they can’t maintain their deception and decide to kill Babitch. But he escapes, and also runs from Freddy. Understanding the true threat Donlan represents, the sheriff sets out to expose the dishonest officers. He asks his close friend Figgsy for assistance, but Figgsy abandons him, leaving the sheriff to handle things on his own. Meanwhile, Freddy, who has trouble hearing, is at the center of a gripping and famous police standoff as he attempts to rescue Babitch.
Ultimately, Cop Land is a film that makes you think about justice, what it means to be idealistic, and the importance of doing your duty, as seen through the characters of Heflin and Figgsy. The sheriff struggles with the fact that his positive view of the NYPD gets in the way of doing what’s right, while Figgis has become cynical after years with the department. One wants to protect the reputation of the police, while the other has given up on that idea and is only looking out for himself. The film concludes with Freddy realizing something most cop movies don’t: for police officers, peace and quiet isn’t something to be avoided, but something to be cherished.
Ray Liotta Shines as Cop Land’s Most Tragic Character
In the film Cop Land, Ray Liotta delivers a compelling performance as Gary “Figgsy” Figgis, a former police officer haunted by the murder of his partner. The murder was covered up to prevent the partner from testifying, and Figgsy is consumed by guilt for staying silent. This leads to a cocaine addiction and a growing distance from his friends. Knowing he’s a risk to the corrupt officers and won’t be safe in Garrison for long, Figgsy spends the movie battling his own conscience. Though Sylvester Stallone is the main character, Liotta’s performance is captivating and truly shines, showcasing his considerable acting talent.
Figgsy and Henry Hill are strikingly similar – both men exist on opposing sides of the law and are forced to make difficult choices about where their loyalties lie. Hill traded the exciting, profitable life of a mobster for a dull, lonely existence in suburbia, living under a new name. Figgsy, a crooked police officer, faced the repercussions of his actions and had to decide between staying loyal to Freddy or escaping his situation. The film shows Figgsy repeatedly making bad decisions, which only makes him more desperate, frustrated, and determined to leave Garrison.
Featuring Robert De Niro as Moe Tilden, the film brought together many of the decade’s top crime actors, including Harvey Keitel, Robert Patrick, John Spencer, and Frank Vincent. Considering The Sopranos premiered shortly after, the movie has held up remarkably well, becoming more than just another standard police film and solidifying its place in ’90s Hollywood.
Cop Land Is Still Essential Viewing Today
With ongoing discussions about police misconduct and corruption, the 1990s film Cop Land feels especially relevant today. Though it appears to be a police story, it’s actually a Mafia film exposing how deeply organized crime can infiltrate law enforcement. It’s a stark and unsettling reminder of how corruption can thrive within the very system meant to combat it. Sylvester Stallone delivers one of his finest performances as Freddy Heflin, a man struggling to uphold his ideals and pursue justice, even when faced with difficult choices.
Nearly three decades after it first came out, the film remains a powerful example of the talent of its creators. Before directing Training Day, James Mangold crafted what many consider the quintessential police corruption movie, and strong performances from Sylvester Stallone and Ray Liotta helped make Cop Land a standout.
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2026-02-08 21:10