The Godfather: A Fresh Classic
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
“I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse.”
Don Vito Corleone
The Godfather has sustained many proclamations throughout the years about the genius that it is, and I had not understood why until viewing it. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972, this film has a runtime of 2 hours and 55 minutes and makes every use of it. The film had been turned into an on-screen adaptation following the success of Mario Puzo’s book released in 1969. The storyline follows a notorious mafia family and their struggle to maintain power during a transitional period between the seasoned patriarch Don Vito Corleone and his reluctant son Michael Corleone.
Now, this film has so many subtle elements that come together to make it such a classic. Never mind that the revolutionary Marlon Brando starred as Don Vito Corleone; but Al Pacino depicts a subtlety to Michael Corleone like I have yet to see in acting. Between their dynamic alone, the film was elevated a few notches. Pacino portrayed Michael’s temperament as calculated, quiet, and unassuming, which made his character arc so complex. From the beginning of the film, he wished to remain separate from this dangerous world; his family, especially his father, wanted the same for him. Perhaps, Don knew what his son was capable of and how he was capable of being fully immersed in this dark business. As it wraps, the audience begins to understand Don Corleone’s reaction when he finds out about Michael’s eventual involvement in the family business. The supporting characters included James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, and Diane Keaton, just to name a few, held their weight and convinced us that they were all partakers of this dark underworld.
The cinematography, film score, and masterful direction were critical components to the plot as it aided in creating a world for these on-screen personalities to thrive. The characters were so well-developed that it began to feel like a documentary about real people than fictional characters. Their verisimilitude to life increased believability and heightened the emotional weight of the film. Eventually, you even find yourself rooting for the good ‘bad guys’ even though all of them were considered bad guys. The pacing moved along purposefully to establish sympathy toward the characters’ plight and the gripping moments in between the ‘slow points’ which would keep the audience entertained. Relating to gore, nudity, and profanity, it all seemed to be used in moderation which is surprising in a movie about crime. Moreover, the minor use of profanity probably aided in its success because its inspired dialogue proved to be an important aspect in characterization.
For a film created an estimated 5 decades ago, The Godfather still feels fresh. A mélange of things made this film so successful and if I were to go through them all, my review would be much longer than it is. This is truly a classic in every sense of the word.
The Island Cinephile 
