Review of The Godfather Part II (1974) by Trailesque — 13 Jan 2018
One of the genius moves in the Godfather series is the mixing of recent history into a fictional gangster flick. It is this flawless blending that gives it weight to match its presence. If there is a better story about how power corrupts I can't think of it.
We see the young don dealing with a plot on his life, and then setting out to destroy his enemies while becoming a monster in the process. At the end he is left alone, pondering the good man that he almost became.
Parallel to this are superbly realized segments focusing on the young Vito Corleone coming to America as a kid and beginning to make his mark among the tenement buildings of New York's Little Italy. DeNiro is fantastic and lays down a prequel to Brando's classic performance.
One flaw: young Vito murders the local mafia boss without much provocation - the Godfather was supposed to be deadly, but just. There was a scene that got cut where Vito stumbles across him sexually abusing a boy.
Like the first Godfather it juxtaposes thuggish brutality with the Italian reverence for family and Catholic tradition. A great film.
This review of The Godfather Part II (1974) was written by Trailesque on 13 Jan 2018.
The Godfather Part II has generally received very positive reviews.
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