After the testimony of Michael Cohen about his shady dealings for, and relationship with, “President” Trump last week, where he alluded to the Cosa Nostra style structures, behaviours, and communications in the latter’s organisations (pick whichever organisation, past or present), The Guardian published this quiz.
You’re challenged to determine which of 22 statements were either made by Cohen or Henry Hill, main protagonist in Scorsese’s movie Goodfellas.
I scored 21 out of 22, which was somewhat disappointing. Not that I actually knew what Cohen had said, but I was pretty sure I’d recognise each of Henry Hill’s lines in the movie. Ayo.
The movie is based on a book about a real mob character by that name. I love it. One of my favourites. Did I mention it’s directed by Martin Scorsese? Ray Liotta as Henry is simply great, and with Robert de Niro, Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, and Joe Pesci there’s quite a crew.
Liotta/Hill has this punchy line, right at the beginning of the movie, as voice-over spanning the end of the introductory scene, the titles and stuff, and the first frames of the main movie:
As far back as I can remember, I always wanted to be a gangster. – To me, being a gangster was better than being president of the United States.
This was before you could be both, I guess.
Watch it, if you haven’t yet. It’s a classic. Scorsese has this knack of telling a story of rise and fall, close to personalities and their quirks. Casino would be another example.
Goodfellas was available on Netflix, not sure if it still is.