The Godfather (1972) Movie Review
Synopsis:
After an attempt on his life, Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) is in a critical condition. His youngest son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), plots revenge against those responsible.
Review:
Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather is one of, if not the most influential gangster films ever made.
Its striking visuals and recognizable soundtrack should entertain fans of the crime genre.
Despite this, the film's methodical editing and pacing may be too much for some.
Throughout The Godfather’s extensive runtime, Francis Ford Coppola showcases his vibrant visuals. This is alongside Nino Rota’s iconic score.
These visuals help to capture New York City’s many districts. They also capture Sicily’s rustic architecture and sweeping fields well.
Nino Rota’s melodies are synonymous with The Godfather. This score works well in contrast to the film’s visuals and character interactions.
The Godfather portrays its characters through many capable actors.
These include Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and James Caan.
With any gangster epic, the family dynamic is one of the more focused elements in The Godfather.
Take Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagen and James Caan’s Sonny Corleone as examples.
As part of the Corleone family, Sonny acts on impulse. This puts him at odds with Tom Hagen’s more measured approach.
These are qualities that both actors portray well. As a whole, they are consistent in their performances throughout the film.
As expected, veteran actor Marlon Brando’s presence as Don Vito Corleone is a standout.
Despite this, Marlon's dialogue can be difficult to comprehend at times. Regardless, Marlon’s sheer presence as an actor is evident.
Al Pacino's character of Michael Corleone brought him into the Hollywood spotlight. With Pacino's performance, he even matches Marlon Brando's at times.
Take the scene where Michael meets with New York City crime boss Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri).
Right before Michael executes the crime boss, the camera focuses on Pacino’s fearless, determined expression. One may think these attributes are simple to portray.
Pacino portrays them in a way that captivates the viewer, immersing them in the process.
Conclusion:
To conclude, The Godfather is a film that contains many accomplished acting performances.
It also contains a striking visual style and an iconic soundtrack. Also, The Godfather's actors help to elevate the film-watching experience.
Despite this, some may have difficulty with The Godfather’s methodical style of story pacing and editing.
Marlon Brando has an unmistakable presence as Don Vito Corleone. This is despite his dialogue being difficult to understand in certain scenes.
Al Pacino as Michael Corleone also delivers a more than capable performance.
With his performance, the actor conveys a ruthless, unflinching gangster to good effect.
Robert Duvall’s Tom Hagen and James Caan’s Sonny Corleone are consistent performers. This is evident from both actors' performances throughout the film.
As a whole, The Godfather is an entertaining film. It has consistent performances, an iconic score, and visuals.
These qualities should make The Godfather a film-watching experience you can’t refuse.
Sam’s Action Reaction score:
Characters - 8/10
Story - 7.5/10
Pacing - 7/10
Visuals - 8.5/10
Soundtrack - 8/10
Overall score: 7.8 out of 10
