One of Scorsese's visual tricks is using freeze frame shots to stop the action at critical points in Henry's life. Examples:

• A beating from Henry's father
• Henry running away after torching some cars
• Henry's face staring down into the trunk at what's left of Billy Batts, saying, "As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster."

The freeze frames let us know what Henry remembers as important times in his life, drawing our attention to them and grounding us even more firmly in his point of view.