Nov 21, 2004 11:00 PM
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(Updated Nov 21, 2004 11:00 PM)
The Godfather
I first saw this movie three years back and have watched it several times over. Every time I watch it, I find something new. It is a movie that borders on perfection.
The Plot and Story
Vito Corleone (played by a gentleman called Marlon Brando) is the head of an immigrant Italian family which deals in gambling businesses. His son Michael (Al Pacino) is far removed from his family business. A man of ideals and true to his words, Don Vito refuses an offer from a Turkish drug-lord. The drug-lord turns out to have connections with another influential (and criminal) Tatagli family and attempts to kill him. Michael with his sharp brain and quick thinking, saves his father's life at the hospital and Vito survives.
While Vito undergoes treatment, Michael plots and implements the murder of the drug-lord and a corrupt Police head. Santino (Vito's eldest son played by James Conn) gets killed. Vito refuses to commit any act of vengeance and calls a meeting of the five families who have controlled organized crime in the US.
He demands truce with Tatagli and agrees to provide cover for their drug-business. After some time, Vito dies a natural death but not before alerting Michael about the traitors. Michael, then, implements a mass-murder of the traitors including his brother-in-law and the movie ends with Tom (Vito's right-hand man and adopted son) very indicatively calling Michael ''Don Michael Corleone''.
The Performances
There are many other exquisitely carved out characters in the movie like Barzini, Sale, Jhonny, Luka Braschi (Lenny Montana), Tony (Robert Duvall), Kay (Diane Keaton) but Al Pacino and Marlon Brando remain the heart and soul of the movie. Brando implements a chilling portrayal of a Don and his performance shows why he is considered to be one of the best actors of all time.
He was 51 at the time but not once during the movie will you notice this as he displays the clumsy demeanors of an above-60 Don with ease. His eyes speak more than his lips. Al Pacino as the warm-hearted-fellow turned quick-thinking and unforgiving don is absolutely mind-blowing. His performance is quite simply one of the best you'll ever see.
The Godfather - The Grand-daddy of all movies
The cold-blooded and stunning murders, the 'horse-head in the bed' scene, Pacino's ''Don't tell me you are innocent. It is an insult to my intelligence.'', Brando's discourse at the meeting, Braschi getting shot in the eye through his glasses, the expression on the police officer's face after receiving two bullets from Michael's Colt... everything about this movie is nothing but absolute perfection.
Francis Ford Coppola left no stone unturned to display the state of organized crime in the NY of 40s. The attention to detail is mind boggling and you will not find a single particle that seems out of place in a 40s setting during the entire 3+ hour depiction of the book. Eyes talk and there are several indicative references in the movie which keep you on the tenterhooks. The screenplay is binding, the performances mesmeric, the plot flawless and the direction truly spell-binding.
If you have watched the movie, you will mostly concur with the review. If you haven't, what on earth have you been doing?
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