One of the more prevalent themes in Goodfellas is the idea of outsider vs. The mafia was always considered to be a very tight group, and the gangsters" mob family was just as important as their own family. Occasionally, there were outsiders who tried to get in on the mafia's business or even socialize with them. Director Martin Scorsese makes this clear by introducing two characters, Bruce and Morris, who were not part of the gang. In two particular scenes, Scorcese uses mise en scene and cinematography to develop the theme of outsiders vs. insiders.
Cinematography helps to develop the theme of outsider vs. insider in the scene in which Henry and Karen are at the beach resort. It begins when a check comes in from off screen space, and Henry's hand immediately follows with a crisp stack of fifty and hundred dollar bills. Scorsese cuts quickly from the check to Henry's hand with the stack of bills. The camera is zoomed in on the money, and there is a white background which makes the green bills stand out more. This shows Henry's affluent nature and that he is indeed on the "inside." Scorsese relates Henry's apparent wealth to the mafia's lifestyle. .
Later in the scene when Henry is sitting down on the left and Karen is on the right, Bruce enters the scene between them. Karen introduces the two to each other, but Henry shakes Bruce's hand without any emotion. Henry even remains seated and barely looks at Bruce. After Bruce leaves, Henry then asks Karen if she knows him. Scorsese uses a shot-reverse shot here, in which we see Henry asking Karen a question, Karen replying, and then one last shot of Henry looking agitated and staring down Bruce. The last shot is a long shot of Bruce by the stairs, turning around to smile at Karen. It is ambiguous whether Henry sees this or not. This shot foreshadows an upcoming situation or problem about Henry and Karen's growing relationship - later in the film, Henry beats up Bruce after he apparently touched Karen.
