The envelope that Costigan gave to Madolyn that she wrote his name on and put into her desk drawer gave Sullivan up. It identified Sullivan as the rat and instructed Madolyn to go to Sergeant Dignam with the information if anything were to happen to Costigan. Dignam avenged the deaths of Captain Oliver Queenan and Billy Costigan, thats why he executed him.

Thank you. I obviously missed something. So why did Sullivan shoot Costello?

Sullivan shot Costello to make sure no one knew he was a rat. He was enjoying his life and didnt want to constantly be afraid Costello might get arrested and he would get sold out.

Of course. That makes sense. I hadn't thought of that. I'll need to rewatch the movie. I'm presuming that the reason that Sgt. Dignam was such a jerk to Costigan and constantly trying to break him down was just an act rather than disliking him for his family ties to the Irish mafia or b/c he was from Southie but acted different.

Are you guys serious? It couldn't have been more plain to see.

Lol. Of course Dignam was putting on an act. However I would argue that he was trying to get into Costgan's head as a test.

@IrishRogue said:

Lol. Of course Dignam was putting on an act. However I would argue that he was trying to get into Costgan's head as a test.

Definitely and Costigan passed with flying colors I would have shut him up. Dignam's character was hilarious so was Baldwin's.

@IrishRogue said:

Lol. Of course Dignam was putting on an act. However I would argue that he was trying to get into Costgan's head as a test.

I think Dignam was putting on an act too. Some say, "Don't argue with fools in public. From afar, people can't tell who's who." Dignam and Costigan weren't in public, but I think Billy took the easy route with him for his own good, regardless.

"Did Queenan and Dignam know..."

That they were in an inferior remake of the original?

Do you always believe that the remake is inferior to the original, bratface

I prefer Scorsese's version.

@Satch_the_man said:

Do you always believe that the remake is inferior to the original, bratface

I prefer Scorsese's version.

No, I just preferred the original in this instance. I'm not a fan of Scorsese's 'gangster' films, I like 'gangster/crime' films just not his. My favorite Scorsese films are 'Age of Innocence', "Kundun', & 'Hugo'.

You don't like Goodfellas? Heresy. What are some of your favorite gangster/crime films ?

Here are just a few. To answer your question, I didn't like Goodfellas, I'm not really sure why I just didn't.

The Godfather (all 3, although 3 could have been better?)

Infernal Affairs (all 3)

Once Upon a Time in America

Mesrine: Killer Instinct (haven't seen part 2 yet)

A Better Tomorrow (Hong Kong & Korean versions)

Most of John Woo's films

Miller's Crossing

Gomorrah (nothing glamorous about the life in this film)

A Prophet (nothing glamorous about the life in this film)

Layer Cake

Gangster No. 1

The Man From Nowhere (Korean)

Oh. Sounds good.