“As far back as I could remember, I always wanted to be a gangster,” the famous first line from Goodfellas (which is a part of Warner Bros.’ Holiday Gift Guide), narrated by Henry Hill (Ray Liotta), takes us back to his starry-eyed fascination with well-dressed wiseguys who conducted their business up and down his block when he was just a kid. Over the course of the movie, his idealized version slowly wears away, though, tarnished by the day-to-day realities, the mistrust, and paranoia that comes from a life spent looking over your shoulder. Here’s a look at those lines that really ram this point home. The ones you recite to yourself when the world makes you feel like everyone is out to get you.
“Never rat on your friends, and always keep your mouth shut.” – Jimmy
Not long after Henry’s first arrest for selling stolen cigarettes, his mentor, Jimmy Conway (Robert De Niro), imparts on him these words of wisdom — what he calls the two most important things in life. While there’s a tinge of honor to the words themselves, over time, Henry realizes that they come from the self-interest of others, not some noble, dignified idealism.
“See, your murderers come with smiles, they come as your friends, the people who’ve cared for you all of your life.” – Henry
It’s a theme that plays out again and again during the movie — as the early scenes that are filled with stylish characters with cool sounding nicknames gradually fade away and no one sees it coming.
“But I’m worried. I mean, I’m hearin’ all kinds of f*ckin’ bad things. I mean, he’s treating me like I’m a f*ckin’ half-a-fag or somethin’. I’m gonna wind up a lammist. I gotta go on the f*ckin’ lam in order to get away from this guy? This ain’t right, Paulie.” – Sonny
Looking for some protection from Tommy, Sonny, the lowly restaurant owner, comes to Paulie for help. In the throws of desperation, still bandaged from Tommy’s last attack, Sonny offers to make Paulie a partner. For better or worse, it’s the only way he can keep Tommy off his back, and try and stay alive in the process.
“I got enough to worry about getting whacked on the street. I gotta come home for this?!” – Henry
Once all the glitz and glamour of VIP treatment at the Copacabana wears off, the whole “Friday night for the wives, Saturday night for the girlfriends” lifestyle can start to take its toll. And Henry’s wife, Karen (Lorraine Bracco), having proven herself the type who’s never afraid to speak her mind, doesn’t hesitate to pull a gun on her cheating husband. All Henry sees, however, is just another gun in his face.
“Helicopters? C’mere. I’ll show you helicopters.” – Pittsburgh dealer
When you’re as strung out as Henry and you’re trying to drop off the guns Jimmy didn’t want, pick up a delivery from your Pittsburgh guys, pack your smuggler’s shipment (not to mention picking up her lucky hat), all while stirring the sauce to make sure it doesn’t stick to the pot, telling everyone you’ve been chased by helicopters all day may come off as a little suspicious.
“You think Morrie tells his wife everything?” – Jimmy
Morrie, the hapless, big-mouthed wig salesman, just never knew when to stop talking. It’s that kind of thing that makes Jimmy exercise his… extreme caution.
“Murder was the only way that everybody stayed in line. You got out of line, you got whacked. Everybody knew the rules.” – Henry
Sorta, but not really. Does that stop Jimmy? No. The ugly truth that lives just under the surface is that, by being in the wrong place, saying the wrong thing, or just by the wrong association, you’re part of a crew until someone says you’re not, proving it’s not exactly paranoia if they’re really out to get you, and coming with smiles on their faces…
Hope you enjoyed our look back at Goodfellas. Our friends at Warner Bros. asked us to remind readers that the Goodfellas 25th Anniversary Blu-ray is available for purchase here.
