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The Godfather 10 out of 10
Running time: 2:51 MPAA rating: R (Strong violence, language, brief nudity and sexuality.) Peruvian rating: Mayores de 18
Cast:
Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan,
Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Al Lettieri, Sterling
Hayden, John Cazale.
Photography:
Gordon Willis
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Yes, The Godfather is, by far, the greatest motion picture ever made. It's not an easy thing to state, but I have no choice but to confess that this film is absolutely perfect, combining absolutely everything that makes a movie compelling. The performances are top-notch, cinematography is beautiful, the screenplay is intelligent and well-written, the story is interesting and provides with many effective sub-plots and themes, the characters are compelling, believable and well-developed, and the movie itself re-defined a genre so deeply that every gangster or mafia film has been compared to The Godfather ever since. Yes, there are many great pieces of filmmaking, but there are few movies which have achieved such an unimaginable perfection. It might be a hyperbole, but it's just too difficult to imagine this film not existing.
The film tells the story of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando), the Godfather, who is holding court in his study. It's the wedding of his daughter Connie, (Talia Shire) and no Sicilian can refuse a request on that day, which makes many supplicants come, each wanting a different thing: revenge, a husband for their daughter, or a part in a movie. Michael (Al Pacino), Don Vito's youngest son and a World War hero, has come back in with a new girlfriend, (Diane Keaton) and the two older boys, Sonny (James Caan) and Fredo (John Cazale), have attended the event too, along with their "adopted" brother, Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall). With the end of the war, everything's about to change, and Don Vito's power is beginning to disappear. To some, his views on the importance of family, loyalty, and respect are too old-fashioned, and even his heir, Sonny, disagrees with his refusal to get into the drug business. But Don Vito will not accept, even when a powerful drug supplier named Sollozzo (Al Lettieri) arrives with promises of high profits for those who back him.
So why is this movie to masterful? Let's start with the performances. Marlon Brando's Don Vito might be one of the most famous and most imitated characters in film history, and his portrayal of a seemingly old-fashioned Mafia boss is absolutely perfect. The voice, the accent, the penetrating look, the mannerisms, the body language, every aspect of his performance is memorable, and his character will always be remembered. Al Pacino's performance of Michael, while not as amazing as Brando's performance, is nevertheless effective and emotionally compelling, and both the screenplay and Pacino's acting make the character undeniably interesting. Robert Duvall's Tom Hagen is also pretty amazing, and although his presence is not as arresting as Brando's or Pacino's, he's nevertheless noticeable. James Caaan as Sonny and John Cazale as Fredo are also really good, especially Caan whose presence cannot be overlooked.
The Godfather is also successful because of the way it tells many interwoven stories so effectively. Few films can have so many plots and sub-plots without making a mess out of everything. Additionally, every character is important to the story and the screenplay, and nothing is left to chance. Every character, no matter how small his or her appearance might be, is amazingly well-developed and complex, and there's never a feeling that one's watching stereotypes of paper-thin characters doing unbelievable things. The screenplay itself is marvelously well-written, and contains lines which have become modern-day classics, ("I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse") and the movie deals with many complicated and complex themes such as legacy, respect, family responsibility or the corruption of power, and somehow manages to blend them all effectively with its characters and plot, making the film amazingly interesting and arresting, both emotionally and intellectually. This film is one of the most parodied and spoofed not only because it's immensely popular, but because it's become a classic of modern filmmaking, and because it's one of the most creatively successful motion pictures ever made.
Technically, the film's amazing. Francis Ford Coppola's direction is absolutely perfect (I think I'm using the word too much) and the film's pacing is just right; it never becomes boring, not only because of the pacing, but because of all the interesting characters, powerful performances and deep themes it deals with. Photography is also beautiful, and Nino Rota's score has become a classic. The "main theme" is absolutely memorable and masterfully composed, and the soundtrack during the whole of the film is amazingly effective, being restrained where it needs to be, and turning into something more powerful in the right moments.
In the world of filmmaking, there are bad films, good films, great films, masterpieces... and the The Godfather. It's amazing how a team of amazingly talented people were able make such a masterful movie, which has virtually everything a viewer needs to be enthralled: an interesting story, deep and masterfully interwoven themes and storylines, amazing performances, a memorable score, and compelling characters. The film can be enjoyed by both people who just want to be entertained, and by people who want something deeper out of a movie. It's virtually impossible to find something unsatisfactory in this motion picture, and the best thing is, it has the honour of being one of the few movies to have an equally masterful sequel, in the form of The Godfather Part II. I may be a Star Wars geek, but I have no choice but to admit that this film is the most entertaining, compelling and overall masterful piece of filmmaking I have ever seen.
©2007 Sebastián Zavala - GG site