Forgotten ClassicsThe Godfather Edition

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:39:00 GMT

By Ethan Huggins

Starring: Al Pacino as Michael Corleone Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone James Caan as Sonny Corleone Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen Diane Keaton as Kay Adams Written by: Book by Mario Puzo Screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola Hi there, let me ask you one question: What is the best movie ever made? Some would say The Dark Knight (I agree somewhat, but this is not about that particular movie), some would have a personal choice. Some would say The Notebook. Others would say whatever the latest action-packed adventure is out right now. Mine, however, is The Godfather. It is based on the book of the same name, and the film was released in 1972. I will have more on that later. The film is about the rise of the son of one of the biggest mobsters at the time. It more than that though. As you watch the downfall of his family, all of the personal tragedies that the family endures, you feel sympathy for the entire family. That is one of the wonders of the film. There really is not one main, central character. The whole family is one central character. Michael Corleone, the “protagonist,” of the film is the one you feel the most for. He is the most evil villain of all time, but you never notice it until the very, and I mean very end of the film. The reason you feel for him is his story. He never wanted a part of his family olive oil business. He went to the war. He graduated college. Only one monumental moment changed is way of life. The film’s preproduction phase was infamously long. The producers gave a best selling book the year before to a virtually unknown director at the time, who just got out of film school. They gave him a small budget. He got unknown actors of their days. He wanted Marlon Brando, who was a washed-up has been with his glory day way behind him. After the release in the summer of 1972, everyone loved it, the critics and the fans alike. It made Pacino, Caan, Duvall, and Keaton household names. Every production company knew the name of Francis Ford Coppola. The Academy loved it so much, it was nominated for eleven and won a three. It brought the career of Brando back into the limelight. He won the Best Actor Oscar, even though he did not accept the award. As you can tell, a lot of scrutiny, battles, and all out war happen to make a movie happen. The end result is one of the best film ever produced. If I had to give it a star rating, I would have to give it a ***** out of *****.

The PawPrint

Forgotten ClassicsThe Godfather Edition