Some are icons that are still in pop culture today, while others were meant for one-time appearances – only to be remembered for their legend. All have the stuff men love to watch on the big screen.

The criteria for the list is simple. You will find many famous hitmen (and some women) left off this list. As with every list-type post, there is always the obvious omission.

No women hitmen. I can’t think of one real life woman who I would be afraid of face to face. When I think of real life hitmen, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, and anyone from Murder Inc. during the Capone days is front and center. This is definitely a man’s occupation. Nikita and Maggie Hayward (Point Of No Return) would have made the cut, but we are sticking with the men this time out.

Some manliness or redeeming value. These characters have to come with some manliness quotient we can talk about. It can’t just be about killing ALL the time. That would lead to falling short on the third criteria…

The movie can’t suck. Any hitman movie featuring Sylvester Stallone is off this list. He peaked during Rocky and First Blood (the first one). All his hitmen movies pretty much were crap. Also, if the hitman is just wasting people all over the place for no reason whatsoever, then the movie sucks and it also doesn’t meet the forth criteria…

Professionals only. Pro’s kill for cash or some other reason that seems worthwhile in a screwed up kinda way. Therefore, you will not see loose cannons on this list or guys who go around wasting people just to waste them – even though it may look like that at times. No, they always have a reason which makes them pro’s.

The reputation must precede them. This one is important. They need to be feared. When the other patsy’s in the flick hear their name, they pee their pants since they know they are about to get whacked. Luca Brasi would have made this list, but we never saw the guy waste anyone. Everyone knew though, that when Don Corleone sent Luca, you were finished.

On to the list.

15. Bill & The Bride (Kill Bill)

The Bride would have been on this list alone in not for the criteria. Uma Thurman wasted so many people in this movie, they’re still looking for the bodies. Bill, her mentor and father of her child, was so feared in this movie, they needed a special sword to kill him.

Where’s the manliness? Freaking David Carradine as Bill is where’s the manliness. The only thing the Kung Fu master didn’t do is live in this movie. He gets whacked by The Bride, rightfully so, in her quest to kill all those who killed her. She is the best assassin he ever trained and the student ended up taking out the teacher.

14. Jimmy “The Tulip” Tudeski (The Whole Nine Yards)

Bruce Willis, in all his roles, has this quality that puts him just a few seconds away from another brilliant comedic line. This flick is a comedy and hence Willis is at his best. He is feared, loathed, admired, rich, sought after, and downright neighborly as The Tulip. Besides, how cool is it to be nicknamed The Tulip?

Where’s the manliness? Jimmy wants to retire and settle down away from all the nonsense. In the end, instead of killing his wife, he let’s her live since she has fallen in love with Chandler Bing, I mean Oz (Mathew Perry). He also gives his ex-wife and Perry a bunch of cash to live their life in style as Jimmy has fallen in love as well.

13. Michael Sullivan Jr (Road To Perdition)

Any movie with Tom Hanks is manly. This guy is great and one of the best actors of our time to boot. After he’s betrayed by gangster family he works for, Michael completely starts wiping out the people that betrayed him. The family, the Rooney’s, want him dead, so Michael, out of revenge and self-preservation, kills every last person on his list. How did the Rooney’s betray him, they tried killing him and in the process killed his entire family, except for his little boy, Michael Jr. His little boy, by the way, has to see what his Dad does for a living as Michael Sr. goes about his business.

Where’s the Manliness? It becomes clear Michael knows that his line of work sucks. He has to kill people in front of his kid and try to explain why the rest of his family is now dead. He has regret for his actions, but knows he has to do whatever it takes to protect his remaining family. He will stop at nothing. He regrets every second of his profession as he watches his son watch him do his thing.

12. Martin Q. Blank (Gross Point Blank)

Near my hometown, Gross Point, Michigan is the setting for this comedy/drama. The movie is excellent, but not meant to be that believable. John Cusack as Martin Blank is a neurotic hit-man who spends all his time brooding about death, the meaning of life and the pointlessness of existence. He has all kinds of interesting quirks and mannerisms that make his endless stream of witty dialogue that much better. Tons of other big name people in the movie as well.

Where’s the manliness? John Cusack is epic in this film. He finally discovers how much he loves his high school sweetheart and tells her so – while saving her ridiculously stupid father in the process. Minnie Driver is also VERY hot in this flick. Her innocence just drives us men crazy while Blank goes about whacking people out of self preservation and for cash as needed.

11. Julian Noble (The Matador)

Pierce Brosnan is an excellent hitman. He doesn’t live anywhere, always hanging for a while in the place where he whacks his next victim. He only kills when paid and has all kinds of fun in the place where he does it. Brosnan is so freaking cool, you completely look past his character flaws and root for him every second of the way.

Where’s the manliness? Julian has guilt and regret. He wants out of the business so bad after wasting so many people that he literally breaks down in tears. By the end of the movie, he completely understands the importance of having a friend he can count on – that would do anything for him.

10. T-800 (The Terminator)

The Governator played in other movies that made him famous early on, like Conan The Barbarian, but this movie made him a megastar. His 12 lines in the first movie is all anyone could really take from him, but he needed no more. Arnold was made to play this role as a cyborg from the future brought back to kill John Conner. This movie has made it into our lexicon, our history and is a classic that will be viewed as such for years to come.

Where’s the manliness? It’s Arnold. Arnold is one the manliest guys in our time. He doesn’t care about what you think, he’ll just waste you if you don’t agree. In this movie, he’s the bad guy, but in the sequels, he shows he knows compassion while still kicking ass all along the way.

9. James Bond (Anything with Sean Connery)

The other Bond guys were good (especially Brosnan), but Connery is the original. I think there was another guy before him, but who cares. James Bond is still as popular today as back then. Daniel Craig reinvented the character and makes Bond look cool again after several years of pretty crappy Bond experiences. Connery was as elegant and cool as anyone who ever graced a movie set. He still is.

Where’s the manliness? Bond. James Bond. Name me another guy who could pull off sleeping with anyone he wanted, killing anyone he wanted, and still look as freaking good doing it as Connery did as James Bond.

8. Tony Montana (Scarface)

Before becoming the king of cocaine, Tony had to cut his teeth as a hired killer. He had to show the bosses he was worthwhile of their good graces by being as ruthless as anyone before him. Montana makes this list for two reasons: 1) Al Pacino; 2) the shower scene; and 3) “Say ello to my little friend”.

Where’s the manliness? Over the top manliness gets you nowhere in my book, but Tony Montana pulled it off. He was a slimy punk trying to make a name for himself by being as crude, obnoxious, and unprofessional as he could get. But he pulled it off. Did I mention Al Pacino?

7. Mr. Goodkat (Lucky Number Slevin)

Our only two-timer on this list, Bruce Willis is as cool as it gets. This movie is awesome with all kinds of twists and drama. You never know what is going to happen next and who is really the good guy or bad guy. The only thing you know is Mr. Goodkat is the baddest man alive and if he pays you a visit, it’s over. Willis played another hitman as The Jackal, but criteria #3 says the movie could not suck – so we had to keep this one off the list.

Where’s the manliness? Mr. Goodkat allows his backstabbing pupil, Josh Hartnett, to live at the end. He recognizes his pupil is in love and decides, even though Josh lied to him about her death, he has to let it go. Something that probably cost him his life in a sequel that will never get produced.

6. Vincent (Collateral)

Vincent, Tom Cruise, likes to do several hits in a single night, forcing a taxi driver to shuttle him around; then, at the end of the night, he’ll kill the cabbie and pin the murders on him, making his own killing spree look like it came from someone who simply lost it. The chauffeur, Max (Jamie Foxx), tries to save himself and the remaining names on Vincent’s to-do list.

Where’s the manliness? Vincent loves live Jazz and that is probably enough. Live jazz is a cornerstone to manliness. He also knows the importance of family with his unscheduled visit to Max’s ailing mother.

5. Leon (The Professional)

Leon is a complete loner. He is most skillful and deadly at what he does and his solitude is probably what makes him so professional. His solitude comes to an end, though, when he takes in the neighbor orphaned girl whose family was just wasted by corrupt cops. He reluctantly trains her to be a professional, which is pretty silly but still is OK, all the while knowing he is going to have to deal with the corrupt cops at some point.

Where’s the manliness? His one rule – “No women or children”. This alone keeps him the consummate professional at his job. He also shows amazing compassion by taking in the little girl that was sure to die at the hands of crazy.

4. Keyser Soze (The Usual Suspects)

Kevin Spacey turns in one of the best performances of his career. The most amazing twist we never saw coming in any movie, ever. The plot is believable and the directing really makes this movie an instant classic. The suspects turn gang of thieves all give great performances, but in the end, they were all brought together for the betterment of Keyser Soze. If a guy like this existed, we would never know about him.

Where’s the manliness? When Kujan, the DEA agent, realizes he’s been duped, it’s the most amazing feeling. I get chills just thinking of the brilliance of Spacey as he gets in the car and drives away at the end of the movie. Also, this movie delivers one of the greatest lines in all of film, “the greatest trick the devil ever played was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” Instant manliness.

3. Jason Bourne (The Jason Bourne Trilogy)

These three movies are all about Matt Damon trying to find out who he really is. He gets amnesia after whacking all kinds of people as the greatest of all hitmen. Then goes on a self-preservation reign of terror to find out what he is. Action packed and full of drama, these movies will all be watched by our grandkids someday – all wanting to have those skills.

Where’s the manliness? There isn’t a guy around that doesn’t dream of having Bourne-like skills. He speaks about a dozen languages, knows everything there is to know about electronics, can kill you with his pinky, and has a conscious. What else could a guy ask for?

2. Jules Winnfield and Vincent Vega (Pulp Fiction)

Probably the best of movie of all time. The directing and dialogue in this movie make it what it is. Witty, scary, insane scenes, tense situations, and diversion of timeline are all key aspects to its greatness. The two main characters (besides of course Willis, again) are hitmen. They show incredible humanness all throughout. Jules is trying to become a better person while Vincent is just well-read, intense, and loyal hitman. The predicaments they get themselves into and the characters that add to the drama are priceless.

Where’s the manliness? Jules and Vincent are both intellectuals. Vincent seems to have a penchant for the finer things in life and Jules is a philosopher. They both are consummate professionals and their dialogue with each other is second to none. The opening scene and closing scene are great indications of their intellectual depth along with their willingness to be men by telling the other one get f%#ked.

1. Anton Chigurh (No Country For Old Men)

Either you loved it or hated it. This was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Anton is one of the best characters I’ve ever witnessed. The symbolism and depth of this seemingly simple plot is what makes it so strong. Chigurh is the ruthless hitman painfully trying to recover drug money for his employer. When his employer doesn’t trust him to do his job, he goes and whacks him too. The plot is a simple cat and mouse chase with twists and turns along the way, but it’s the acting and directing that make the simple chase as epic as one ever told.

Where’s the manliness? Chigurh is pure evil. He is emotionless and ruthless, yet he practices his craft with undeniable precision. He seems amused by human nature, but never allows it to get in the way of killing. His dedication to his profession is what makes him so enjoyable. As a way to allow people to escape his wrath, he allows a coin flip to determine their destiny. This is only when he doesn’t have to kill someone. If he does have to kill them, then no coin flip. His ability to show compassion is only left up to chance. This, by itself is not manly, but his character is so freaking cool, he had to be made number 1.

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Baddest, Manliest, Most Feared, On Screen Hitmen Of Our Time

Peggy is essentially turning into a hard ass that the other women are beginning to look up to.  Sterling is back to his old womanizing ways.  And Draper is realizing his new, pretty face is looking much older in an ever-changing industry.

The two moments in Mad Men season premier that stood out were:

#1 – Draper saying, “Success is not about fitting in.  It’s about standing out.”

#2 – Draper responding to Peggy’s statement of “sex sells” by telling her “Sex doesn’t sell.  You are the product.  You feeling something is what sells.”  He then mentioned that the same people who want you to believe that “sex sells” are the same people that think monkeys can do what they do (advertising).  Classic…

Both of these comments hit me square in the forehead.  The idea of sales and marketing as a key driver to success kept playing in my head.  In any event, the show is incredible and the new season didn’t miss a step.

On to the articles…

The Key to Effective Viral Marketing is Emotional Engagement. (@DoshDosh)  Maki is hands down one of the best writers on the internet.  I follow his thoughts all over the net and continue to learn from his postings. This article compliments the Mad Men TV show perfectly.

How To Take Criticism Like Donald Trump. (@lifehack.org)  I love Trump.  He can rub you wrong at times, but you can’t argue with his success.  And he does handle criticism VERY well.  He takes it as good as he gives it – and if he doesn’t like what you have to say, he will just call you a loser and move on without a grudge.

Class Warfare and The Simple Dollar. (@ The Simple Dollar) Trent handles a commenter’s misplaced aggression by explaining the entire theory of his top-shelf website on personal finance.  Then some others folks jumped in (over 150 in the first 48 hours!).  It was clear the commenter missed the mark, but Trent handled it with the professionalism we have come to expect.

Why Boys Fear Physical Education. (@MasculineHeart) William writes a lot of good articles and he found an interesting topic from another article.  He dives into the psychological aspects of a young man and his physical presence.  At a young age, boys are taught, told, encouraged to be physical.  “It is what boys do.”  Well, it’s a little more complicated than that and this article is just the start of a much deeper conversation.  Remember Draper’s comment “Success is about standing out, not fitting in.”  There is a lot of pressure at a young age.

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Return To Manliness Roundup: Mad Men Season Premier Edition

Mad Men Cast

This past Sunday I sat down with my wife and watched several episodes of the Mad Men TV show on AMC. They were running a marathon of the first season in anticipation to next week’s season two premier. (The show airs at 10:00PM on AMC this Sunday)

Just for the record, I can not get enough of this show. If you have not seen Mad Men, it’s riveting. Below is what AMC says about the show on its website:

The Premise: The series revolves around the conflicted world of Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the biggest ad man (and ladies man) in the business, and his colleagues at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. As Don makes the plays in the boardroom and the bedroom, he struggles to stay a step ahead of the rapidly changing times and the young executives nipping at his heels. The series also depicts authentically the roles of men and women in this era while exploring the true human nature beneath the guise of 1960s traditional family values.

You have to prepare yourself before watching one of the Mad Men episodes for its pure, no-holds-bar manliness. I say “manliness” with some level of sarcasm, as once you’ve seen an episode, you have to judge for yourself. Remembering all the while this show is taking place in 1960 during the Presidential Election in which Kennedy wins.

The Irony of Manliness

This show is riveting for several reasons. One of which is that I write about manliness on this site and read several others that do a great job on the subject.

Another is the simple fact that I intend to raise my son with manly characteristics. It will be important he learns right from wrong and what it means to have manliness in today’s society – the theme of this site. It is not always as cut and dry as many believe.

We typically look to the past to find manliness and manly behavior as our guide in how we are supposed to act. We believe that men knew how to be men back then. They treated women with the utmost respect, knew how to take care of their business and the icons of the era are still bigger than life.

However, when a show like Mad Men comes along, as a true characterization of how things were in New York City during that time, we are reminded that not everything back then was as chivalrous, gentlemanlike and virtuistic as we might want to believe.

Women. The men are ruthless womanizers and there is no topic that is taboo. There is only one male character on the show that we haven’t seen his willingness to get laid by ANY means necessary, Bertram Cooper (played by Robert Morse). All others seem to have free reign on their words and actions when it comes to the women of the show. Married or not, it was expected for the Mad Men to cheat on their wives and attempt to get every woman in their vicinity into bed. And, incredibly, they make it look cool.

The other main theme concerning women is the shear level of disdain for them in the workplace by the men. It gives the term “good ole boy network” a whole new meaning when you witness how and when women speak up. It’s an unbelievable display that even Machiavelli himself might be a little embarrassed.

Business. As I mentioned, the women have no place in any business meeting, let alone the critical meetings, unless they are there for entertainment purposes. There are times when a few of the women are brought into the mix, but only for tasks that the men are way above doing or simply want no part.

The one theme I can completely endorse, though, is the ruthless behavior exhibited in their business world. Business is war. You have no friends when it comes to money and business and the show drives this point home time and again.

When the chain of command was broken by Pete Campbell by going around the lead character’s back (Don Draper), Draper immediately fired him – no questions asked. When the word got to the partners, they overruled Draper for the simple fact that his mother was a high level New York socialite and that would be bad for business. Ethics, morality, right and wrong be damned – if its bad for business, it doesn’t fly (which, not always, but has been my experience in the business world most of the time).

Vices. Alcohol and cigarettes are in every scene. I defy anyone to show me a scene in Mad Men that either one or both were not being done by every character in the scene. It’s amazing. Draper is a complete chain smoker and Sterling seems to drinks like my Uncle Bob on a bender – ALL the time.

If this is how it really was during yesteryear, then manliness at the time included having PLENTY of vices. It is not a prop or used slightly by the shows creators. The show makes no attempt to have the vices as a backdrop. These vices ARE the scene in many instances.

Races. At the time, civil rights and equality had not yet taken hold. Martin Luther King was not who he was just yet and his unbelievable “I have a dream” speech did not take place until 1963. So how do you think blacks are depicted on the show? Yup, they got this historical factoid correct as well.

Even though it is not a main theme of the Mad Men series, they address it in subtle ways. They do a good job depicting the era, and at the same time, not putting it front and center.

That being said…

The show is captivating and the world agrees. It bagged 16 Emmy nominations and critical acclaim by pretty much everybody who sees it.

The characters have incredible development, the acting is spot on, and most importantly, it seems to have struck a nerve by men (and women) who watch it.

The nerve struck is really quite interesting to me. Maybe I long to have lived during the time when we didn’t know what could kill us and ignorance was bliss. Or maybe the idea of womanizing and completely getting away with it is appealing to me on some level. I hope not, but I’m not sure.

But what made me even more curious was the way my wife reacted to Mad Men. It really turned her on in so many ways. She told me she appreciated the level of ruthlessness. She admired the way the men carried themselves and were confident in their convictions.

She seemed to be able to overlook the negatives of the era and focus on the manly positives – confidence, simplicity, leadership, courage of convictions, and manliness. The irony of looking back to those times for manliness inspiration is overshadowed by the show’s amazing intrigue. I also think she understands it is only a TV show.  I hope others understand this as well…

What do you think about the Mad Men series? What about the show intrigues you the most?

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Mad Men TV Show: The Irony Of Manliness From Yesteryear

If you are not familiar with the movie, take a peak at this theatrical trailer.  For more information, visit Apocalypto at Wikipedia to find out the plot.

I can’t wait to write on all the different things that come to mind from this movie, but for now, there is just one singular point that struck me as a major theme throughout.  Jaguar Paw, the main character that had his world turn upside down by the barbarian intruders, goes through quite a spectrum of fortitude.

He starts off quite cocky when he really isn’t being tested as a man in his tribe.  Then he goes all the way back to fear and being a boy when his captures take over his life.  When he is faced with death, it is by shear luck that he is spared by the solar eclipse that spooks the savages.

After his life is spared, he then has to endure a game played by his captures that ends in his death – where he has to run away as the warriors are shooting arrows and throwing spears at him.  He narrowly escapes this and in the process whacking the main nemesis’ son (that scene was was VERY cool).  Once this happens, the movie begins to turn and you simply can not help wanting, no needing, Jaguar Paw to live and prevail.  All the while he is trying to get back to his place in the forest so he can save his wife, his son, and his unborn child trapped in a pit.

So, he has some things go his way long enough to recover from the multiple spear wounds and the such only to find himself staring at a waterfall as his hunters are closing in.  Below is a a one minute snippet of the entire scene, but it this little piece captures the important aspect in my opinion.

At this point, he starts to believe that he can win where he never thought he could.  He comes to the realization he can win because he is willing to do what others are not.  And therein lies the most important facet of this movie.  What are you willing to do that your competition, your enemies, your friends, anyone else around you is NOT willing to do.  Also, he believes.

It is the leap of faith that the reason the others are not taking advantage of the situation is that they fear losing something.  Their pride, their standing amongst their peers, their job, whatever.  But once you are able to succeed where others have failed (or others have not even believed they could achieve so they did not even try) then the others will follow.  Just like in this movie where the hunters decided it was OK to jump off the waterfall after him. They did so because Jaguar Paw was able to show them it could be done.

Remember when the all the experts believed the human body could not endure a sub 4 minute mile.  They said it was physically impossible for a human to withstand that kind of pressure on its systems.  For decades (heck, centuries), all believed it could not and would not ever happen.  Then, in 1954, a wiry young chap from England by the name of Roger Bannister broke the elusive barrier.

Since then, well over 3,000 runners have broken the elusive barrier that was to believed never to have been broken – 300+ within the first 5 years of Bannister’s run.  What did all those folks do differently than the thousands that came before them – nothing.  They simply believed they could do it and that was all it took.  Once they believed they could, then those people were not longer fearing the unknown.  They allowed themselves the luxury of someone else answering all the tough questions.

Not too many people remember the 2nd or 3rd guy, but everyone remembers the name Roger Bannister – he was the first.  He knew it could be done and he was willing to do what others before him were not.  That is what can separate the men from the boys.  Not everyone can be a Roger Bannister or Jackie Robinson, but you can ask yourself the question on a daily basis – what am I willing to do to get what I want?  What will I do (and do successfully regardless of the outcome) that will like men pee their pants in fear?

Don’t settle and put it on autopilot.  Do what others are not willing to do!!!

If you have not seen the Apocalypto movie, do yourself a favor and go rent it.  Better yet, just buy it and add it to your collection.  You will want to watch it multiple times and when our sons get older, you will want them to see it and learn the lessons it teaches.

Finally, if you liked this article, please share with friends by Digging it or StumbleIt.

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Apocalypto The Movie Made My Cup Overfillith With Fortitude

(Public Service Announcement:  The title of the video is “I’m F*@%ing Ben Afflack”.  I apologize for the swearing and there are plenty of beeps in the video as well, but since they put SO MUCH effort in putting this together, it was worth a mention.  Don’t like the language, but it’s very funny and a great stress reliever for us adult men.)

This is Jimmy Kimmel and if you know his comedy from The Man Show from years back, you will know this is not for kids.  It was on network television, though, so they it is as clean as the networks can allow.

I did not count the cameo appearances, but I would venture there had to 20 megastars in this video, including Brad Pitt, Harrison Ford, Robin Williams, Macy Gray, Josh Groban, Don Cheadle, Pat Benatar, and many more.  I didn’t laugh this much since the last time I saw Wedding Crashers (for the 27th time)…one of the best movies ever…

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Funniest Viral Video I Have Seen In A Long Time – Maybe Ever!!!

The whole idea of writing on this was inspired by my wife, a first time Godfather watcher, who spent the entire day (a few weeks ago) watching parts one and two. She fell in love with the aura of the story, the entertainment of the characters, and the potential manliness lessons derived from its situations.

The Godfather II was incredible.  It was released in 1974, just two years after the The Godfather I and was every bit as enthralling and intense as the first.  Francis Ford Coppola, who directed the film, decided to cast Robert De Niro as the young Vito Corleone in all the flashbacks to when Vito was cutting his teeth on the streets of New York.

In that first post on The Godfather I, I used memorable quotes to help explain what I got out of the movie to help me with my quest of understanding manliness.

Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) – “My father taught me many things … keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

How masculine is this comment?  Think about it.  You have to be pretty darn comfortable with your ability to handle yourself physically, mentally, and emotionally to keep your enemies closer to you than your friends.  The core of this statement is to simply know who is trying to take what you have (and there is always somebody trying to do that if you are successful), bring them close, and keep a watchful eye on their moves.

As a man with tons of great friends and family, you may believe you don’t have any enemies in this life, but most likely they simply have not shown themselves yet.  If you are successful, made some money along the way, have a great family, whatever – there is someone that is watching that has jealous thoughts and feelings towards you.  Will they ever act on those and try to take you down, maybe not.  But better to be safe.  Protect your family at all costs is the manliness trait that convinces you to always be on the lookout.  If you suspect someone of being an enemy in the future, keep a close on eye on them.  As Mikey would say, “keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.”

Hyman Roth – “I’d give four million just to be able to take a piss without it hurting“.

Hyman Roth – “Good health is the most important thing. More than success, more than money, more than power.”

Both of these quotes from the Jewish Mafia boss Hyman Roth were to Michael Corleone, the main character in the movie epic.  Hyman was a very old man who was around for a very long time.  Many considered him to be the most dangerous of the bosses because of it.

He tried to live a very unassuming life in Florida, far away from the action in New York.  He was growing old, but also truly wanted to live forever.  He made it a point to make these comments to Michael about health on two occasions.  He knew who he was talking to when he did it.  They were not by accident.

Hyman Roth was giving Michael a warning that if he did not comply with the deal they were embarking upon, that his health would be in danger.  He wanted to ensure Michael knew that health was the most important thing and the rest was just business. He never had to threaten Michael, just refer to his own health as the conduit to send the message.

The main lesson I did drag away from these comments was Hyman is right.  Your health is indeed the most important thing in this life.  Those mafia bosses with all their masculinity and macho actions, were all killed at one point because they either got too greedy, crossed the wrong people, or were just too naive and thought they were going to live forever.

Tony Pentangelli – “Your father did business with Hyman Roth; Your father respected Hyman Roth; But your father never trusted Hyman Roth.” (speaking to Michael Corleone)

In all my years of being in business, the one thing that remains constant is that you can trust NO ONE.  Don’t believe me?  You haven’t been around long enough.  Think this is just too pessimistic?  You haven’t been around long enough.

I was told once that no matter how good of friends you think you are with someone or well you might respect the other party, when there is money involved, you have no friends and it is ALWAYS war!  I did not believe this until it happened to me.  As soon as you live through it – once, twice, maybe three times, but I hope not – then you will know this to be as true as the sky is blue.

Men who are in business know that emotions should never get in the way of anything.  Actually, many masculine types might even say that it is weak to let emotions get in the way.  If you believe this, then it will not be a hard sell to you that positive emotions are just as deadly as negative ones.  Let you guard down once, the people who were waiting for you to do that will pounce on the opportunity.

Michael Corleone – “Discontent for money is just a trick of the rich to keep the poor without it.“

Funny how this works in our lifetime.  Those who have plenty of money and know what it takes to make more, often show public disdain for it.  They understand it as a tool of their trade, but will try to convince others of its demon-like qualitities.

Here Michael Corleone in his negative, skeptical view on all of mankind at this point in the movie, was simply trying to make the point that it is the rich and powerful that control the message of wealth creation.

What I learned from this statement is that many people want what the rich have, but almost no one is willing to do what it really takes to get it.   The Godfather at this point in the movie hates his life and does not like what he has become, but he also knows that he did what he had to do to make the money and get the power he has.  Convincing everyone else that doing those things are just not worth it in the long run is the greatest trick the rich can ever play on the poor.  It eliminates competition…another core trait of The Godfather mantra.

Michael Corleone – “When Pop had troubles, did he ever think that maybe by trying to be strong, and trying to protect his family, that he could lose it instead?” Then his mother said, “But you can never lose your family. Never.”

Oh, how Mama is always right.  You can never lose your family, but this is a theme often visited here on the Return To Manliness site.  We sometimes get so caught up in what we are trying to do as men – our duty; our job; our friends; our activities – that we must never forget that the family is the whole reason you are doing all those other things.

Vito, Michael’s father, did everything he did for the protection of his family.  He did some things that were horrible and at times, led to the loss of family members.  The Godfather movies have that “Shakespearean tragedy” feel to them.  They were every bit as tragic as Macbeth or King Lear or any of the other classics.

Mama truly believed that you could never lose your family.  This was something that was core to the beliefs of people from yesteryear.  As Michael continued his descent into the abyss, he eventually lost faith in this core tenet as well.  He did so at the very end of the movie when he gave the order to kill his brother.

In summary, my wife and I love the series.  There are all kinds of subplots and little mysteries that you only uncover after watching it a few times.  I encourage those who have not seen it to go rent it.  If you want to spend more time with the lessons learned from this classic American epic, then you may have to purchase the collection.  I know I did.

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The Godfather II: Masculine Mafia Manliness To The Core

Here is the first of three videos of the pilot.

You can watch parts 2 and 3 of this pilot episode at the AMC website.

Some of the things done on this show could be viewed as a little over the top, but I bet a lot of it really happened during that era. Things were different then. The things that happened back then were acceptable in mainstream. Didn’t make them right, but they were accepted as how people acted.

No sense pushing down that history and forgetting about it. The only way we truly learn is from failure and acting like the white waiter did towards the black waiter in this opening scene was just that – failure. Our society failed anyone that got treated like this and we can only hope those days are long gone.

We can do more than hope, though. We can make sure we never forget that how we treat other people is one of the most manly traits you could exhibit.

So on this wonderful day of the 4th of July, remember that saying “all men are created equal” and try your hardest to treat whoever you come in contact with great respect.

Oh yeah, the show is awesome and I encourage everyone to check it out. Remember, it is only entertainment and should be treated as such…

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Watch Pilot Episode Of AMC’s Mad Men For Free

The premise is a little hokey, but Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) is completely ripped in this movie and his character just screams some manliness traits that are impeccable. There are too many to list, but the movie is so freaking good, I have decided to add the main point of Paul’s article to my list of Manliness Traits: The Things That You Own, End Up Owning You.

On the fighting side of this, every man, and I do mean EVERY man, wishes he could partake in something like this. I know there are some out there that would say, “no way!!!”, but when alone, in their own thoughts, this is part of our genetic makeup. It is the warrior instinct that, regardless of how much our society tries to push deep down away from the surface, is in us. I don’t mean the missing teeth and broken bones part. I agree that would suck. But the ability to fight with another guy and let it all out…very intriguing…

Personal Finance Website

Now, the article that WiseBread published is about personal finances. They are a wonderful site dedicated to the way of frugality and simplifying the world of personal finance. They are just one of the many that I subscribe to via RSS and I recommend them.

In the article, Paul says the following:

In Fight Club, Tyler Durden took lack of ownership to the extreme. He didn’t work, he lived in a house that had been abandoned, he had no job and he bought nothing than food and clothing. For most of us, that’s not really an option.

But what we can do is make a determination between wants and needs. Most of us need a car, but no one needs a $70k BMW. That’s a want, and unless you throw down cash, that BMW will own a part of you for roughly 3 to 7 years.

You need a place to live. But do you need a 6-bedroom, 4-car garage, media center home in 5000 square feet of luxury living? That, once again, is a want. And unless you’re Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, you won’t be bringing that kind of cold, hard cash to the table. For most of us, that decision is a 15 to 30 year commitment. And in that time, the house is owning you.

He attempts to point out the very familiar and timely distinction between wants and needs. When you think about it, this is the cornerstone of our consumer society. We have moved away from identifying these two in their respective ways and the line between them has not only blurred – it has merged into one category.

In summary, the renaissance men that bled manliness from their pores always new the difference. Men who have drifted too far into the abyss of comforting their every want with “something” and then wrapping that up in an excuse labeled as a need, should go watch Fight Club tonight.

I was thinking of clever ways to end my review of this article and I kept coming back to what Paul wrote:

Thanks Chuck Palahniuk and David Fincher for a great, great film. (Available to buy at Amazon if you just HAVE to have it…or rent it free from your library.)

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The Financial Wisdom Of Fight Club

I was working in the other room for most of the day, and every 10 minutes or so she would scream my name and I would have to run to see what she was going nuts about. There are countless lessons to be learned from this epic American masterpiece, and I thought what a great idea for a post (or at least two).

Today, let’s just focus on a few winners from The Godfather Part I:

Al Pacino/Marlon Brando: “I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse.”

This is arguably the most notable of the quotes from the movie. It is a classic piece of American lexicon. It all started with Al Pacino (Michael Corleone) telling his future bride to be about the time when his father had to make someone an offer they could not refuse. He tells Kay (Diane Keaton) that “Luca Brasi, held a gun to his head, and my father assured him, that either his brain or his signature would be on the contract.” How is that for an offer?

Look, does this make any sense for any sane person? No. But the lesson learned here is to find the hot buttons and only at the most opportune moment, go ahead and push them to get to what you need. This fits under another core Manliness Trait: Nothing is ever given. If you want something, you have to take it.

Al Pacino: “My father is no different than any powerful man, any man with power, like a President or Senator.”

To this, Kay says rebuts (she was very new to the whole mob thing at this point in the movie): Do you know how naive you sound, Michael? Presidents and senators don’t have men killed!

To which Michael says: Oh. Who’s being naive, Kay?

Really, this one point is very telling. I know we would all like to believe this has never happened, and maybe it doesn’t happen any more like what it implies in the movie, but it still holds true. Powerful men (and women) send the message to have folks killed all the time. Most of the time it does not happen the way the Corleone’s handled it, but nevertheless, it happens in one way or another.

Al Pacino: “Fredo, you’re my older brother and I love you, but don’t ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.”

This one is a classic. It foreshadows the fate of the lovable Fredo who went all Brutus on his brother Michael. The lesson here is also a core Manliness Trait: Protect Your Family At All Costs. Don’t underestimate this lesson. I have found throughout my life that even some of my best friends don’t have invested in me what my own family does. Even if they did, you never take sides with anyone over your wife or your family. This piece of advice could have probably saved half the marriages that end in divorce.

In summary, there are so many more to get to, I will have to do another post on this. I will do The Godfather II tomorrow and maybe address my personal thoughts on the entire series in a third post. These are two movies that are legendary manly movies. Michael Corleone, regardless of terrible of a person he was, he exhibited many manly characteristics that most men, I believe, wish they could follow in their lives.

I know that after watching the first two movies, my wife was clear what she wanted to see more in her man and other men she interacts with. I think there are plenty of good things to come out of these movies. If you have not seen them yet, get out there are rent them.

Finally, check out this video. This is the original trailer of the movie when it first came out in 1972.

What are you favorite manly lessons learned from The Godfather?

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The Godfather: A First-Timer Reflects And Wants More