It's difficult to find a more defining mob movie in the past 25 years than "Goodfellas." One might quickly jump in and say "Casino," which was also a Scorsese-De Niro-Pesci triumvirate success, but did it match the flawless authenticity and striking story of "Goodfellas?" Most would say no.

Although many great works of mob-centric film and TV have come since, including HBO's "The Sopranos," one could argue that "Goodfellas" laid the foundation for all that followed, especially in the sense that '70s and '80s mobsters were portrayed. 

TheTribeca Film Festival this year hosted a 25th anniversary screening at the conclusion of the festival. But the highlight was not just the movie. The film's actors that were present for the screening which included Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino and film writer Nicholas Pileggi, according to Entertainment Weekly.

The crew came on-stage after the 4K restoration of the film was screened, joined by "Daily Show" host Jon Stewart.

According to People, De Niro took the stage and addressed the absence of Joe Pesci.

"Joe Pesci couldn't be here, but he sent this email: 'F***, f***, f***, f****ity f***, f***'," De Niro comically said as introduction to the screening. "I'll translate: 'Dear Bob, sorry I can't be there. Love to all. Best, Joe.'"

The film's director, Martin Scorsese, also could not make the event, but he did have a videotaped message that recalled one particular way the film changed his life.

"Remember that nice Italian restaurant in Tribeca that we used to go to?" Scorsese said in the video-recorded message. "And then when the film came out, the owner of the restaurant said we're not allowed in anymore because we apparently denigrated a certain ethnic group for the picture?"

The group then participated in a panel discussion with Stewart, which included Sorvino.

"It's part of the iconography of American film," Sorvino said. "It's one of the three or four greatest movies ever made, and if you get to do that in your career, you're pretty lucky."

According to Entertainment Weekly, Pileggi made an interesting comment about nearly missing the call from Scorsese after his "Wiseguy" book was released as a bestseller.

"I never thought it was Marty calling," Pileggi said. "I was at New York Magazine at the time, and I'd get these little pink slips that would say, 'Call Martin Scorsese.' I thought it was David Denby, who was the movie critic at New York Magazine, so I didn't respond." But he eventually did get in contact with Scorsese and the film made a triumphant release.