The critically-acclaimed film has been dubbed the Brazilian Goodfellas because of its gritty intensity and violence.
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The heist, later featured in the film GoodFellas, was among the largest in American history.
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"A lot of the people in 'Goodfellas' are not on the upper levels, so they're not tragic, " Scorsese said.
John McCain (who survived a North Vietnamese POW camp) is linked with Martin Scorsese, director of Gangs of New York, Goodfellas and Raging Bull.
There have been plenty of offshoots of the "Goodfellas" franchise, including other books and documentaries about Hill, who died after suffering problems with his heart in 2012.
Henry Hill, the gangster who was the inspiration for the 1990 film "Goodfellas, " opted out of the witness protection program, as did mob turncoat Sammy "the Bull" Gravano.
It's like walking into a scene from Goodfellas - the crowd seated at candlelit tables, suited-up waiting staff distributing Old Fashioneds, the band on stage playing whipsmart swing and jazz.
Mr Lip, born Frank Anthony Vallelonga, made his film debut as a wedding guest in The Godfather and later appeared in successful gangster titles Goodfellas, Raging Bull and Donnie Brasco.
In the 2011 book "Conversations with Scorsese" by Richard Schickel, the legendary filmmaker talked about his affection for the characters in "Goodfellas, " many of whom were just like people he knew growing up.
"Joe Pesci always said I'd end up with my feet in cement - I don't think this is what he had in mind, " the actor joked, referring to his co-star in the mob movie Goodfellas.
Pete Daly, of distributors Pathe, says Essex Boys is a film noir, with elements of Goodfellas, but in this case instead of the gangsters moving out from New York City to suburban New Jersey, the villains have relocated from the East End to its Essex hinterland.
The app also makes more than 30, 000 titles from Prime Instant Video available to Prime members such as hit TV shows like American Horror Story, Downton Abbey and Fringe, as well as popular movies such as Hugo, Thor and Goodfellas, to stream instantly on their iPhone or iPod touch at no additional cost.
ENGADGET: Amazon Instant Video streaming app now available for iPhone and iPod touch
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