88. Godfather Part 2; movie review
GODFATHER PART 2
Cert 15
202 mins
BBFC advice: Contains strong violence
At a time where movie series are ten a penny, it was such a pleasure to revisit the greatest trilogy of all time.
The development of Michael Corleone's character by Al Pacino is an acting masterclass in itself.
Anyway, my view of The Godfather II hasn't changed since my review in 2014 although this time I watched it on our 65-inch TV at home rather than on a laptop on a coach in India!
What could I possibly add to what has already been written about The Godfather Part II?
I guess that not many critics will have watched it on a laptop on a coach between Jaipur and Delhi but that didn't spoil my enjoyment one jot.
Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo created a masterpiece when they worked together on the trilogy.
Number two is certainly up there with its predecessor with Al Pacino giving a hell of a performance as the ruthless new head of the Corleones.
He takes over at a time when politicians and big business are vying with the family for power.
This means that Michael (Pacino) needs some deft turns in order to see off his rivals while both staying alive and avoiding prosecution.
Betrayal is a key element of The Godfather Part II with Michael's brother Fredo (John Cazale), Jewish double dealer Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) and New York mobster Frankie Petangeli (Michael V. Gazzo) all coming under scrutiny.
In the meantime, Michael's relationships with his wife (Diane Keaton) and lawyer (Robert Duvall) become more fractured.
Alongside the meaty plot, set in 1958, The Godfather Part 2 includes a parallel storyline, which charts the departure from Sicily of Michael's father and his rise to power in New York.
Robert De Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of the young Vito, a role which required him to speak Italian for the duration of the movie.
The Godfather Part 2 is back at cinemas next week and if you haven't had a chance to see it before, take this opportunity.
I hadn't watched it for many years and was delighted to be reminded just how good it is.
Aside of six Oscar wins, it also had five other nominations, including ones for Pacino, Gazzo, Strasberg and Talia Shire who was one of the faces of 1970s cinema, featuring here as Michael's sister Connie but also as Adrian, the wife of Rocky.
I guess that not many critics will have watched it on a laptop on a coach between Jaipur and Delhi but that didn't spoil my enjoyment one jot.
Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo created a masterpiece when they worked together on the trilogy.
Number two is certainly up there with its predecessor with Al Pacino giving a hell of a performance as the ruthless new head of the Corleones.
He takes over at a time when politicians and big business are vying with the family for power.
This means that Michael (Pacino) needs some deft turns in order to see off his rivals while both staying alive and avoiding prosecution.
Betrayal is a key element of The Godfather Part II with Michael's brother Fredo (John Cazale), Jewish double dealer Hyman Roth (Lee Strasberg) and New York mobster Frankie Petangeli (Michael V. Gazzo) all coming under scrutiny.
In the meantime, Michael's relationships with his wife (Diane Keaton) and lawyer (Robert Duvall) become more fractured.
Alongside the meaty plot, set in 1958, The Godfather Part 2 includes a parallel storyline, which charts the departure from Sicily of Michael's father and his rise to power in New York.
Robert De Niro won an Oscar for his portrayal of the young Vito, a role which required him to speak Italian for the duration of the movie.
The Godfather Part 2 is back at cinemas next week and if you haven't had a chance to see it before, take this opportunity.
I hadn't watched it for many years and was delighted to be reminded just how good it is.
Aside of six Oscar wins, it also had five other nominations, including ones for Pacino, Gazzo, Strasberg and Talia Shire who was one of the faces of 1970s cinema, featuring here as Michael's sister Connie but also as Adrian, the wife of Rocky.
Reasons to watch: Epic gangster movie
Reasons to avoid: Brutal violence
Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating 10/10
Did you know? Part II almost didn't happen at all. Beleaguered by the first film's shoot, writer/director Francis Ford Coppola was not interested in diving back into the studio-led chaos with sparring partner and uber-producer Robert Evans. Fortunately, Paramount changed Coppola's mind and gave him the artistic freedom to create an enduring classic about organised crime, family loyalty, and the American Dream.
The final word. Francis Ford Coppola: "I had always wanted to write a screenplay that told the story of a father and a son at the same age. They were both in their thirties and I would integrate the two stories ... In order not to merely make Godfather I over again, I gave Godfather II this double structure by extending the story in both the past and in the present."
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