The Godfather

Probably one should watch this to learn how to write and make drama in general or an underworld mafia story. Everyone knows how great of a film it is but I'm gonna try and put my thoughts about it. It was re-released as a part of it's 50 year anniversary and I was lucky to watch it on the giant Prasad's PCX screen in flat aspect ratio which made the movie look larger than life. I had only watched it on a small phone screen before but this experience was a treat to behold. The 4K restoration was spectacular. It's an absolute masterpiece in the way it's screenplay written by Mario Puzzo and Francis Ford Coppola ane the way it is directed by Coppola. The movie keeps you hooked right from the opening scene which starts with a monologue from Bonsera (played by Corsitto) where he is pleading to Vito Corleone (played by Brando) for justice at his own daughter's wedding. You get hooked right from that opening shot and the movie just moves through it's 2 hour 52 minutes runtime as if it's 1 hour. The wedding sequence for the first 20 minutes is so beautifully done establishing all the power dynamics and sucking you right into the world of the 1940s American Mafia and the Corleone family. Every pivotal character in the movie is established in these 20 minutes. The dialogues are just so iconic. The dialogues like " I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse", " A man who doesn't spend enough time with his family is cannot be a real man', " it's not personal, Sonny, it's strictly business" are just folkore in cinematic history today. It all feels conversational like real people talk, it doesn't feel artificial or cinematic, the conversations are natural making the experience intimate. The movie has many mass moments which are so classy and never over the top leading to cheers. It's a masterclass in world building where everything is established so beautifully within minutes without wasting much time. The movie's indulgence into it's world is so healthy and it is just so classy. The family dynamics within the Corleone family and the dynamics between the 5 mafia families is shown without being over explanative or boring which is a greatness of it's writing. The cinematography by Gordon Willis is so freaking beautiful. There are no sudden camera movements but they're static and basic which focus on the characters. The lighting is just perfect. Godfather probably is the best lighting I've seen in a movie ever. The landscapes of Sicily and the classiness of a 1940s and 1950s New York is perfectly captured. Credit goes to the incredible Production design of Dean Tavoularis in capturing the vintage look. Nino Rota's iconic score, which is still the ringtone or the horn of so many autorickshaws here in India, is used perfectly whenever it is required without its overuse. You can guess it's Godfather just by listening to 10 seconds of it's score. The editing by William Reynolds Peter Zinner is so fine. Never is there an unnecessary scene. Every scene flows progressively leading to something. The sound design by Bud Grenzbach, Richard Portman and Christopher Newman is utilised well with so many silences. The costume design by Anna Hill is so classy with everyone looking dapper. The acting performances are just incredible. Marlon Brando as the iconic Vito Corleone the Don of the Corleone family is just masterful. He commands respect and is an absolute class apart on the screen. His screentime is only 50 odd minutes but you can feel his presence throughout the movie. There's power in his character but at the same time he is all but a family man trying to do the best for his family. There's a certain tenderness and humanity to his role especially reflected during the conversation he has with Michael, his son, played by Al Pacino and during his final days where he's seen playing with his grand kids during his final days. He pulls off all the iconic dialogues effortlessly. And the way his character is designed is very interesting as he puts his family first before anything else. You can see the guilt he carries of the circumstances that lead to Michael's entry into the family mafia. As the movie was played without subtitles I found it difficult at places to understand Marlo's muffled dialogue delivery but it wasn't that off putting as it was my re-watch. Al Pacino was made for the role of Michael Corleone, he's just so freakin brilliant as the son who gets dragged into the mafia due to circumstances. Al Pacino oozes suave, class and great swagger whenever he's on screen and he's incredibly handsome. Peak Al Pacino. The transformation of Michael from a military man to the successor of the Corleone family is incredible. The restaurant scene with Michael is so unique being one of my favourite scenes. The whole Sicily portion and the transformation of Michael slowly turning into someone he's not post Silicy is beautifully depicted by Pacino through his demeanor and body language, you can see he's a changed man by the way he talks and walks. Mann that Church Baptism scene in the end where Michael spiritually embodies satan and his descent into darkness has to be the coolest and slickest sequence in film history, just iconic. Another thing that's great about The Godfather is how the supporting roles hold so much gravitas and are memorable. James Caan as Sonny Corleone, the eldest son of Vito is hot headed and fiery in his role Richard Castellano as Peter Clemenza is another classy addition being the loyal and dutiful support to Vito and the guide to the successors Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen has to be my favourite performance after Pacino and Brando. His character has great clarity and confidence and he is one of the main pillars of the family. The characters with less screentime like Luca Brasi, Fredo, Johnny Fontane and Salvatore Corsitto remain memorable to this date. Diane keaton and Simonetta are good in the supporting roles as loves interest of Michael.