The opening sequence of Goodfellas uses several techniques to set the tone and provide context for the film. It begins with a flash-forward scene to build tension and give a sense of the characters' demise. The title frames have a fast-paced feel resembling a speeding car to portray the film's forward motion. Using a lack of soundtrack makes the scene feel more realistic. The white bold title text against a black background symbolizes the dangerous and perilous nature of the gangster genre. One character commits a shadowy murder that reflects the film's heading, using color and expressions to represent rage and vulnerability.

1. Title Analysis –Goodfellas
At the beginning of Goodfellas, it reveals a flash-forward of a later part of the film. This is
noteworthy to the genre as a whole as it includes a strong narrative; this helps the audience to get
an understanding of what the characters may be involved in later on. This both builds up the tension
and anticipation required for this genre (which is an ingenious use of the Barthes – Enigma Code).
This type of beginning is significant as Scorsese is indicating that after this murder, a series of events
unfold that leads to the demise of the three main characters. As well as this technique, the crafty
use of the title frames supports the narrative in order for the audience to seize more connotations
from the inaugural sequence.
The titles commence with a frame letting the audience know which
production company this movie belongs to. During this sequence,
there is not a soundtrack playing, just diegetic sound effects of a cars
pouring past, and the transaction between these titles bear a
resemblance to a car speeding. Also, this could connote the fastforwardness in which this opening sequence wants to portray about
the film. One of the foremost effective genre conventions that
Scorsese wants to touch on here is the possession of a valuable
automobile – and the audience are soon exposed to one as the titles
fade out. Due to the absence of a soundtrack, this effect helps it feel
more realistic – as if the audience are not watching a movie but a
real-life occurrence (which as one of the titles show, this film is
based on a true story). Usually there would be a string instrument in
conjunction to the titles; but the lack of this connotes the
seriousness of this situation and a gangster’s life overall. It’s as if the
words of each title frame are trying to escape – which symbolises the
entire genre as perilous and dangerous. The typography used in
these title frames include a white bold font, which is inserted onto a
dull but direct black background. These colours totally oppose each
other (as part of the Binary Oppositions Theory), but has great
significance to the film (and genre) by subliminally sending a warning
to the audience that this is an emblematic Gangster orientated film
with a ‘rise and fall’ structure. Correspondingly, the colour black
could connote authority, whereas the effect of the bold white text
may have been provided to stand out and be noticeable; which
relates to a ‘stereotypical’ gangster character.One of the characters
(Tommy) carries out a brutal murder – and this is mainly cast in
shadows as he kills the helpless man. There is no clarity, implying
that he may not be thinking straight but we get to see his emotion
through his facial expressions and speech. He is moving restlessly
and erratic in his stabbing and this reflects on the title frame which
shows the film heading. The colour red is used to represent rageand
vulnerability, which the audience has gained an understanding of
this through the Cultivation Theory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8pQJOeTkFs