Today’s quick review: The Godfather. Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) sits at the head of one of New York’s most powerful crime families. His influence makes him an invaluable friend and a dangerous foe. But after a rival mob boss tries to take Vito out of the picture, his hotheaded son Sonny (James Caan) takes over the family business. The ensuing gang war drags his brother Michael (Al Pacino) into the world of crime he had hoped to leave behind.
The Godfather is a classic crime drama from director Francis Ford Coppola. The Godfather offers a glimpse of life inside the mafia during its heyday and the web of personal favors and family loyalty that held it together. The movie couples stellar acting with potent drama and a knack for turning even its ordinary scenes into something iconic. Through outstanding craftsmanship, The Godfather earns its place at the pinnacle of the crime genre.
The Godfather tells the story of the Corleone family and their struggle to stay at the top of New York’s criminal underworld during the 1940s and 50s. The Godfather does not focus on a single conflict that determines the bounds of the story. Instead it covers a series of interlocking skirmishes with rival families that pushes the Corleones to their limits, gradually forcing the talented but reluctant Michael to take up the family business.
The fragmented nature of the plot gives The Godfather the sense of scope and realism of a biography without the tendency to wander. Tensions within the Corleone family and threats from without mean that, even when the film changes directions, it pivots gracefully and in ways that feel compelling. Its heavy focus on character is the glue that binds the movie together, lending weight to its conflicts and ensuring that its sprawling story stays cohesive.
The characters are brought to life by an all-star cast. Marlon Brando delivers a commanding performance as Vito Corleone, the soft-spoken but ruthless head of the family. James Caan plays Sonny, Vito’s temperamental and fiercely loyal eldest son. Al Pacino contrasts him as Michael, Sonny’s shrewder and more cautious younger brother. Rounding out the main family is Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen, Vito’s adopted son and the main voice of reason.
The Godfather builds on this solid foundation with excellent cinematography and a carefully managed sense of tension. The Godfather takes its time to establish its characters, its setting, and its conflict, with the reward that its twists and reversals carry the appropriate weight. In spite of the film’s three-hour run time, it feels appropriately paced, rich with detail yet capable of climactic action when it is needed.
The Godfather is a must-see for fans of the crime genre and cinema in general. Its superb craftsmanship and iconic moments make it well worth the investment for anyone interested. Exactly how well it resonates will come down to personal taste, but the movie has enough to offer that even those who don’t appreciate everything it does will get something out of it. Skip it if you are looking for a fast, light, or wholesome watch.
For a crime drama of similarly high caliber, try The Godfather: Part II. For a movie that accomplishes a similar feat for the Western genre, try The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. For an absurd spoof of The Godfather and its sequels, try Mafia! or Johnny Dangerously.
9.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.5 to 9.0 for a weighty and expertly told story.