Review of The Godfather (1972) by Matthew C — 22 Jul 2014

"Marlon Brando at his best, powerful and moving, brings us through darkness and light.".

I might as well update this review having re-watched this movie this past week. What I said before is true but this is also a testament to Coppola's attention to detail in his scripting and direction. He is a master of juxtaposition here. A wedding mixed with a request for murder, a baptism against multiple killings. Coppola brings to the screen the contradictory lives of mobsters, businessmen who have a honor and a loyalty that is worth dying for and killing for. One side is Vito Corleone, the Godfather, a man from the old order and way of life. The other side is Michael, the man who wants nothing to do with the family business but as everything he holds dear is attacked he slowly descends down into the world he defied at first. A winning cast, score, and brilliantly shot, this is the crime film.