The Godfather

What can I say about the Godfather that hasn’t already been said? Nothing. It’s a film that everyone knows the title of, knows the greatest scenes, knows the greatest lines and is recognized by many as the greatest film ever made. Personally, I don’t feel the film deserves this the title of “greatest ever”, I don’t even think it’s the greatest gangster movie ever. Having said that The Godfather is still a mafia film of unparalleled scope, intensity and complexity. An utterly rich three hour viewing experience that begs for another re-watch to get your head round the subtleties that it offers.

Following The Corleone family; The Godfather offers a unique view into the workings of the mafia, the narrative starts at the wedding of Don Corleone’s daughter, here we are witness to the Don himself, who showcases a subtle brutality in the way he handles “business”. After refusing a deal from another family the Don himself gets shot and has to recover in hospital, his youngest son Michael begins to assume more responsibilities and the Corleone’s grip on their business begins to falter. What’s worse is Micheal’s new responsibilities are having an incredibly negative effect on his soul.

The Godfather at its heart is a story of corruption, of how one man can be twisted into something entirely different due to a few very simple steps, this is how it frightens us. When we see someone intrinsically good and pure, to see that corrupted by that character’s own action is an uncomfortable sight to behold. But the film makes it so believable, Micheal’s descent into a figurative hell is very slowly, very subtly but convincingly done. This is benefited by a great yet under-stated performance from Al Pacino, Pacino needs no introduction and this is one of the performances that he’ll always be remembered for. But if one is to talk about iconic performances in relation  to the Godfather a mention must be made to the titanic and influential show that is Marlon Brando as Don Corleone, at once terrifying yet utterly human Brando delivers the performance of his career. This is definitely saying something considering the amount of memorable work he has done during his life.

The Godfather is so finely constructed, so meticulously thought out that it bares no comparison. It’s no wonder that the film is so admired, it consistently delivers on its promises, yet still manages to surprise with its many plot twists and deft characterizations. And it all feels so real, it may be the film’s greatest achievement that through all the many plot elements we can never escape the feeling that this is really how the mafia operates, that we have been given a window to view reality. Considering this we are made to feel every brutal moment, from every family disagreement to every assassination. The ultimate in quasi-realist cinema.

5/5 A frighteningly real, unescapably human gangster epic.