Review of The Godfather (1972) by Thomas B — 21 Feb 2017

It's funny, if you talk to pretty much anyone around the globe about The Godfather, they know exactly what you're talking about. Whether they've seen it or not, they know exactly what you mean. Some of them will even muster up a quote or two. Such is the worldwide influence of Mario Puzo's The Godfather. The film revolves around the Corleone family, in particular Don Vito Corleone and his sons; Michael, Santino (Sonny) and Fredo and their involvement in a budding mob war. So why is this one piece of cinema so absolutely, world-changingly (yes that's a word... now) good? Let's have a look. .

First of all, the script. Perfectly smearing the line between realistic and stylised, it is THE most quotable gangster movie of all time with lines like "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse," "Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes," etc. But it also gives the characters a depth which hundreds of other films have found hard to replicate. Each line is specially crafted for its character and is filled with rich subtext and double meanings. The realism factor means that lines aren't over stylised and polished to within an inch of their life, which helps to create an atmosphere of a slightly elevated reality. .

The acting. It's not often that a filmmaker is granted the use of an ensemble quite as amazing as this, and they are all incredible. Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone has long since passed into cinema immortality as he mumbles his way through the script perfectly. For the most part he is calm, in control. But when moments of anger or sadness come along, he is explosive. His restraint throughout the film is top notch and it makes the more heightened emotional states that much more incredible. The best example of this is in when he's speaking with Johnny Fontane about his part in a film coming up. I'm surprised the screen doesn't shake every time. Al Pacino's Michael is a standout as well, with his cold, calculating personality and fierce protection of his family, as well as a sort of hidden danger inside of him which rears its head occassinally. There are so many layers to his character that you will not get it the first time around. Pacino is at one of the many peaks in his career in this film and its incredible to watch him do what he does. .

The direction is fantastic as well. Coppola manages to keep the audience engaged over the entire epic 3 hours of run time with brilliant lighting and beautiful honeyed tones as well the darker shadowy moments in which nothing is certain. He captures the harshness in both the daytime and the night equally. Just the fact that he took on such an amazing project is kudos enough, that it worked is even better. .

However, as I mentioned, it is 3 hours long, and often there are slow, very slow, moments. But hang in there and you'll be rewarded with having seen one incredible film. .

Francis Ford Coppola's stylised, almost mystical, representation of the American Mafia is a timeless piece of cinema, the likes of which you'll only see every fifty years. Filled with amazing set piece after amazing set piece, if you haven't seen it yet, DO IT NOW! .

Defining Scene: .

What, are you kidding? The now immortalised horse's head scene. It'll get you everytime.