1972--The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola

1972--The Godfather—Francis Ford Coppola

Nominated: Cabaret, Deliverance, The Emigrants, Sounder

Should have won: Deliverance

Be sure to see: Frenzy, Last House on the Left, Night of the Lepus, Tombs of the Blind Dead

“Fredo, you're my older brother and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever.”--Michael Corleone

     I don't think there will be a more tricky film to review than The Godfather. Its fan base and following is so loyal I would think anything other than a “this is a top three movie ever made” review would cause an uproar. The fact is, I think the movie is great. It is very solid and has memorable performances, characters, dialogue, and sequences. But calling it the best, or even the top five best, movies ever made is a stretch for me. To be honest, I don't even think it is the best movie of 1972. But I did like it. A lot. It is just...well...calm down, people, not that good. I enjoyed it but it didn't involve me and make me sympathize with the characters the way Deliverance (my choice for best picture of the year) did. The family consists of mafia, drug dealing, murderous bad guys. I bet if someone did a poll of movies where you root for the bad guy, this one would be at the top of the list, along with The Devil's Rejects perhaps. Not that that is a bad thing.

     I'm sure you know the story but if not Don Corleone is the head of a mafia family; a family where everyone calls him Godfather. The family has a rivalry with other mafia families over drugs and a hit is taken out on Corleone. He survives but the family takes revenge. Leading up to this storyline we see many points on the family's strength. People come to Corleone for help, one rehearsing before doing so out of so much fear of talking to the man. And in one of the most famous scenes, the Corleones send Tom Hagen (the iconic Robert Duvall; not a family member but he speaks for the family) to convince a movie producer to give a man a part in his next picture. When the producer doesn't comply, he wakes up the next morning with a little surprise. It is probably my favorite scene because it sets a tone on how this family operates. When the outraged producer tells Tom his opinion, Tom keeps his cool. Is even polite. I liked this a lot more than if Tom had returned with a threat. Actions speak louder than words.

     A hit is taken out on Corleone that doesn't succeed and the family takes it very seriously. You wouldn't want to get on the wrong side with anyone in this family. One brother is Michael who seems to want out of the family business and has issues with the police chief. A meeting is set up between the two which climaxes with one of the best death scenes I've ever seen. Michael goes into exile overseas. In Sicily, Michael meets a woman and intends to marry her (in the movie tradition of couples getting married virtually days after meeting each other) and asks her father for permission. I didn't understand why he was talking to him in English with an Italian translator when he knows Italian himself. Why not just speak Italian? But considering this movie is so flawless, I suppose I missed a point. 

     Meanwhile, Sonny, another brother in the family, (James Caan in his best role) has it in for his sister's boyfriend who keeps beating her. What a moron this guy is, the boyfriend I mean. I believe I'd mind my Ps and Qs if I were involved with anyone in this family. Though Marlon Brando's performance as the title character is the most iconic I found Caan to pretty much own the movie.

    The movie has countless memorable lines, is loaded with colorful characters and has numerous iconic scenes. It has great death scenes, one of which I believe is lifted straight from the climax of Bonnie and Clyde (a movie I would rank above this one, by the way) though I've never heard anyone else make the comparison. I've seen it four times, once in the theater, and I like it a lot. I just don't get the love for it. It wasn't my favorite of the year, that goes to Deliverance. It isn't even my favorite mobster movie; many people say Goodfellas or The Godfather or even The Godfather 2 are the best, but I recommend James Cagney's White Heat. Look, if you walk away from here saying “He didn't like The Godfather” you would be wrong. It just wasn't my thing. I'm reminded of that “Family Guy” episode where Peter says he doesn't care for the movie because it insists upon itself. Yeah, I don't know what that means either but I'm sure he has a good point. Not to mention I don't understand how a deeply religious family can break the most important commandment so easily. Technically and performance-wise, the movie is a ten. But overall I just don't get the hype.