Review of The Godfather (1972) by Shane M — 21 Sep 2014

Note: Full rewrite happening sometime (very behind at the time). "I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse." The 2nd best film and the best book adaptation I've ever seen. Also, it's undoubtedly one of the greatest films ever made.

Based off Mario Puzo's book of the same name, The Godfather follows the Corleone crime family doing their business during 1945 to 1955, where certain events come up, damaging the family. Francis Ford Coppola does an amazing job directing as he knows when and how to depict the scenes, and the script he co-wrote alongside author Mario Puzo is extremely smart, filled with tragic scenes, and loaded with quotable, smart, and articulate dialogue.

The film also shows horrific crimes, characterization, the effect the film's events has on the characters, and stellar acting, especially from Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan. The Godfather also has an amazing score by Nino Rota and Carmine Coppola (additional music) that, unlike most film scores, is not loud and pumping with tension, instead opting for a more soft, dramatic tone that clearly explains the events in the film.

The film's incredibly long length of 2 hours, 55 minutes showcase massive complexion that is actually easy to follow. Unlike most crime films today, The Godfather doesn't need action to keep audiences on their seats, thanks to the quality present in the film.

Amazing cinematography help play out the scenes with much detail and appeal for viewers. Coppola nails everything, including answering questions, staying away from clichÃÃ, (C)s, doing the best he can to appease his audience, and keeping everything even, especially the pace (the addition of action would've ruined this film 100%), which allows us to see how everything is playing out.

The film sets the stage for mob films thanks to grit, graphic violence, and keeping crime the main subject. The most important thing that makes this film a masterpiece is the style that filmmakers can't seem to nail to this day, and might not happen for a long time, or at all.

A must-see for film fanatics, and those who want to see something different from other films.