Sir Stewart Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 This thread is dedicated to The Godfather. If any film I've seen deserves the best film ever title, it's this. People go nuts over The Godfather Part II, and it's a great, great film, but that whole 'maybe better than the original' argument is ridiculous. Maybe that's why I'm one of the few people I've met who likes Part III. Compared to the first, it's nearly on par with most other films in general. I don't mean to knock Part II, I love it. The final scene, the flashback to Michael's Marine announcement/the Don's birthday song, gets richer and more nuanced for me every time. Michael doesn't stand up and join the family singing to its patriarch. He's just joined the military. He's 100% 'fuck this place.' Seeing his future would've blown that kid's mind. My favorite thing in the entire story comes when Michael is directing Enzo outside the hospital. After the thugs have passed, Enzo tries to light his cigarette, comically shaking. Michael helps him. Then, staring at the Zippo, before shutting off the flame, Michael has a moment of clarity. He's steady. Cool, calm, collected. He's just saved his father's life, too. Everything changes after that flick of the lighter. Next thing we see, Michael's convincing his family that he's the one to kill Solazzo and McClusky. Bad. Ass.I decided to start this thread because I find myself thinking of the Corleone saga often, and need somewhere to talk about it. Bump. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 My favorite thing in the entire story comes when Michael is directing Enzo outside the hospital. After the thugs have passed, Enzo tries to light his cigarette, comically shaking. Michael helps him. Then, staring at the Zippo, before shutting off the flame, Michael has a moment of clarity. He's steady. Cool, calm, collected. He's just saved his father's life, too. Everything changes after that flick of the lighter. Next thing we see, Michael's convincing his family that he's the one to kill Solazzo and McClusky. Bad. Ass.A-mazing. I also prefer the first. I do like the DeNiro stuff in II, but I've always felt that the real story was Michael getting to where he was at the end of I. Everything after that was pre-ordained. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted March 16, 2007 Author Share Posted March 16, 2007 the real story was Michael getting to where he was at the end of I. Everything after that was pre-ordained.Good point, I hadn't thought of it that. Something's missing from the second one that I've always chalked up to the lack of Sonny and Vito, but the addition of Hyman Roth alone makes that argument shaky. Maybe it is that "pre-ordained" thing.Another point on Part III: the acting/casting/plot issues are somewhat irrelevant to me because the story is part of the story. When I watch Michael's daughter hopscotching in the hotel hallway as a kid, I think "She gets shot to death." I can't not believe in Part III. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TheMaker Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I have never seen The Godfather. When I tell people this, they usually gasp. I think I've seen close to every other film Pacino and Brando have ever made, which makes it all the more delightful. I'm sort of purposely avoiding it now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sir Stewart Posted March 17, 2007 Author Share Posted March 17, 2007 I have never seen The Godfather. When I tell people this, they usually gasp. I think I've seen close to every other film Pacino and Brando have ever made, which makes it all the more delightful. I'm sort of purposely avoiding it now.You're not missing out on anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
aricandover Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I can't not believe in Part III. plus, with part III, you get the great Joey Zasa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Godfather IVGodfather V Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skyflynn Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I made the mistake(?) of urging our 17 year old daughter Maddie (Mookie), to watch The Godfather with me. I had seen it dozens of times and had wanted her to watch it with me for years but I had learned not to push The Mook. When the film came up in conversation as one of the greatest ever made, she mentioned she wanted to see it. That night, we watched the entire film in silence and when the credits started to roll, she, who was never easily impressed, turned to me and said, "That was amazing." This was stated with the conviction of someone who has just witnessed a miracle. Within the week she had decided to forgo her senior year of high school in the U.S. and finish in Italy. Within the year, she was gone, lost to us a year earlier than we had anticipated, an event we had been trying to prepare for since she was a little girl. That film changed our family history. She's back now and still dreams in Italian. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gogo Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Damn, Maddie's hardcore. I'm sorry I didn't meet her, but I'm also kind of scared of her now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
renic Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 maddie is awesome! that's for sure. i don't like part iii @ all, puza didn't even want it to be made. while i like both films, i really dig the book. i like the details it can give you that the movie can't. i watch them both quite often none the less. "you killed carlo!!!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Beltmann Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Maybe that's why I'm one of the few people I've met who likes Part III. Compared to the first, it's nearly on par with most other films in general.I'm with you. I've always felt that Part III, while not at the level of the first two, was unfairly knocked. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Spawn's dad Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 wasn't that primarily because sofia couldn't act her way out of cardboard box? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Reni Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I am not a fan of any of the Godfather movies.... Give me Goodfellas anyday - now, THAT could very well be the best movie ever made. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
quarter23cd Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Analogman Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I am not a fan of any of the Godfather movies.... Give me Goodfellas anyday - now, THAT could very well be the best movie ever made. I didn't know you were so into violence. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brokendowntele Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Good point about the scene with Enzo, "For your father. for your father" the Baker. The point in that scene that I always direct my film students to is when Michael says to Vito in the room, "It's OK Pop, I'm with you now." From that point on he becomes the next Godfather. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 top 5 of fav movies, seen the GF a bazillion times "Whatya gonna do? Nice college boy, eh? Don't wanna get mixed up in the family business? Now you wanna gun down a police captain because he slapped you in the face a little bit, huh? Whataya think this is, the Army, where you shoot 'em a mile away? You gotta get up close like this... badaBING! you blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League suit. C'mere... you're taking this very personal." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Disco Godfather looks the bizness! I am a fan of the third movie too. It was certainly no worse than any other movie made that year and is unfairly maligned when held up to the corruscating brilliance of the previous movies. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
owl Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 ...I'm just a retiied investa... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I was ready to watch The Godfather III yesterday, (a.k.a. the Lame One) but they were showing Goodfellas instead. Not bad.Dogday Afternoon was on as well, though. Pacino and "Fredo" star in this one.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 Dogday Afternoon was on as well, though. Pacino and "Fredo" star in this one....Fredo (John Cazale) is a sad story. Died at 42 from bone cancer. A heck of a talent ... it's truly sad that we didn't get to see more from him. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 yes, great actordidn't know him and Merril were together Despite being diagnosed with bone cancer, Cazale continued to work, his final appearance being with his then fianc Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Somnambulist Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 If you don't have time for all three movies... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mr. Heartbreak Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 "Just when I thought I was out ... they pull me back in." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jules Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Final scene: Reading this doesn't do it justice, but this might be my favorite scene in any movie. The shot at the end when Neri closes the door and Kay is looking back into the office while Rocco and Clemenza kiss Michael's hand. Great ending. CONNIE (yelling from car): Whattaya tryin' to tell me! MAMA (yelling from car): Look -- I'm trying to tell you you're wrong! CONNIE (yelling, while getting out of the car): Aw Mama, please! (then, running into the house crying) Michael! Michael! KAY: What is it? CONNIE: Where is he? -- Michael! [Connie and Kay run out. Connie opens the door to the Don's office. Michael's sitting at his desk with Neri behind him. Kay follows] CONNIE: Michael! You lousy bastard -- you killed my husband! You waited until Papa died so nobody could stop you, and then you killed him. You blamed him for Sonny -- you always did. Everybody did. But you never thought about me -- you never gave a damn about me. Now what am I going to do? KAY: Connie... CONNIE (to Kay, after Kay puts her arms around her): Why do you think he kept Carlo at the mall? All the time he knew he was gonna kill'im. (then, to Michael) And you stood Godfather to our baby -- you lousy cold-hearted bastard. Want to know how many men he had killed with Carlo? Read the papers -- read the papers! (then, after she picks up and slams down a newspaper) That's your husband! That's your husband! [Connie goes toward Michael. Neri holds her back until Michael motions it's okay] MICHAEL (taking Connie's arms as she cries): Come on... CONNIE (struggling out of Michael's arms): No! No! No! MICHAEL (to Neri): Get her upstairs. Get her a doctor. [Neri takes Connie out of the room. Michael sighs, then lights a cigarette] MICHAEL (to Kay): She's hysterical -- hysterical. KAY: Michael, is it true? MICHAEL: Don't ask me about my business, Kay... KAY: Is it true? MICHAEL: Don't ask me about my business... KAY: No. MICHAEL (as he slams his hand on the desk): Enough! (then) Alright. This one time [Michael points his finger] -- this one time I'll let you ask me about my affairs... KAY (whispering): Is it true? -- Is it? MICHAEL (quietly, shaking his head): No. KAY (after a sigh of relief and Michael kisses and hugs her): I guess we both need a drink, huh? [Kay leaves the room to fix Michael a drink. At the same time, Rocco, Clemenza, and Neri enter the office. Clemenza shakes Michael's hand. Kay turns her head to watch them. They embrace Michael, then kiss his hand.] CLEMENZA (kissing Michael's hand): Don Corleone... [Rocco kisses Michael's hand as Neri shuts the door blocking Kay's view] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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