67. The Godfather; movie review

 

 

THE GODFATHER

Cert 15

175 mins

BBFC advice: Contains strong violence

"I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse."

Fortunately for her, I wasn't suggesting that Mrs W sign a contract or have her brains plastered over it.

I merely wondered whether she fancied watching The Godfather ahead of it returning to the big screen for its 50th anniversary.

Yes, it's half a century since Marlon Brando stuffed cotton wool in his cheeks and Al Pacino had his jaw wired together so they could be their convincing best as Vito and Michael Corleone.

Mrs W is a gangster movie fan but, inexplicably had not previously been taken with Francis Ford Coppola's ground-breaking picture.

She still claims that Goodfellas is better.

That is probably because The Godfather is almost completely devoid of humour. From the moment that Vito's daughter (Talia Shire) is married, darkness descends and never lifts.

However, Francis Ford Coppolas's movie is outstanding because it is credible. The mob had been long established in America and the dons on which Vito Corleone is modelled were all-powerful.

Until they were in disagreement with their peers. 

Essentially, The Godfather is one long arm-wrestle for power, beginning with Vito's hand being kissed by those seeking favours and ending with Michael (Al Pacino) showing how easily being in charge can change a person.

Brando was much lauded for his role winning the best actor Oscar although this rightly grated on Pacino who was only nominated in the supporting actor role despite having more screen time.

He boycotted the Academy Awards ceremony as a protest.

I digress.

The greatest commendation I can give to Coppola's film is that it would pass almost every test of time. Indeed, the only changes which could possibly be made would be technical ones.

The storyline, acting, scenes and costumes impress today as much as they did in 1972.

Reasons to watch: Arguably the greatest gangster movie of all time

Reasons to avoid: High levels of violence

Laughs: One

Jumps: None

Vomit: None

Nudity: Yes

Overall rating: 10/10

Did you know? Francis Ford Coppola (who got the job because of his previous movie, The Rain People) wasn’t the first director Paramount Pictures had in mind for The Godfather. Elia Kazan, Arthur Penn, Richard Brooks, and Costa-Gavras all turned the job down.

The final word. Francis Ford Coppola: "Me and The Godfather are done now. There is more that [screenwriter] Mario Puzo wrote that we never used. But I don’t own The Godfather, Paramount owns The Godfather, and they may well decide to make more films. I feel that I’ve made my trilogy. I have other fish to fry." The Guardian

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