Lessons learned from watching "Goodfellas" for the 30th time (give or take)



"Goodfellas" is one of my all-time favorite movies. Heck, it may be my number one favorite movie. Last night, it made an appearance in its uncut glory on the cable station, Encore. I caught about the last 2/3 of it, and I have to say it's a movie I never tire of seeing. I suppose part, if not most, of its appeal is that the gangster life is a side of life I will NEVER see and, quite frankly, hope to never see. Still, it's extremely fun to live vicariously through a gangster, and imagine what that existence might be like. Mainly, though, "Goodfellas" is just a hell of a great movie with brilliant acting, glorious direction from Martin Scorsese, and some of the best dialogue ever written for film.

Just for kicks, I compiled a few lessons learned from my 30th (give or take) viewing of “Goodfellas”:

1.       Don’t “bust a guy’s balls” asking for money you think is owed you. You will probably end up dead.

2.       If you insist on brazenly cheating on your wife, make sure none of your firearms are left out in the open or otherwise within her easy access.

3.       If you can help it, never sit in in a car’s passenger seat with a guy sitting behind you, particularly if the guy is known to have a penchant for extreme violence.

4.       If your bosses offer to bestow upon you “made man” status, politely decline (if possible)—particularly if you’ve already “whacked” another “made man” without permission.

5.       If you’re a gangster, liberal use of the “f-word” is permitted. Go ahead and use it all you want.

6.       If you and your friends/acquaintances/co-workers suddenly find yourselves the lucky beneficiaries of a multi-million dollar heist, do not immediately spend your share excessively on frivolous items. This could end badly for you.

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