12 Incredible Slow Burn Movie Scenes With Killer Pay Offs

1. Goodfellas €“- Funny Guy

We've all been in a situation where we've said something we shouldn't have, insulted someone by accident, or just got involved with the wrong sorts €“ which is why this fantastically tense scene from Martin Scorsese's Goodfellas is so entertaining.

The scene takes place in a crowded restaurant, where Tommy DeVito (Joe Pesci) is entertaining a group of mobsters before Henry Hill (Ray Liotta) compliments him on how funny he is. The atmosphere changes instantly as Tommy pounces on the comment, treating it as a grave insult.

Tommy DeVito: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? Henry Hill: Just... you know, how you tell the story, what? Tommy DeVito: No, no, I don't know, you said it. How do I know? You said I'm funny. How the fluff am I funny, what the fluff is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny!

It's certainly not a dark or particularly moody scene, but the way the initially jovial meeting gradually descends into a potential conflict is a stark reminder of how unpredictable some of these characters are. Thankfully the way the scene ends is memorable for positive reasons, as Henry calls Tommy's bluff, and the entire table erupts with laughter.