The Godfather Review

It is possible to argue that the adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel that was simultaneously an art film and a commercial blockbuster was the beginning of the era of the mega-movie. It is about a similar shift in organized crime, where the sly, but sinister side in Don Vito (Brando) is overshadowed by the more brutal and expedient organization portrayed by the demonized Sonny (Caan) as well as the more calculating Michael (Pacino).

The classic gangster movie is depicted with Richard Conte and Sterling Hayden in small parts, whereas Brando's tin-skinned patriarch is a representation of everything traditional Hollywood that Coppola wanted to. The newer Generation is represented through new, fresh talent who are still revered in their field (Pacino, Robert Duvall, Caan, Diane Keaton). The film has made it into popular culture regardless of whether you've seen it, you've probably heard the words ("Luca Brasi is a sleeper with fishes") and a few parts of it (the head of the horse). However, there's more than just moments that have been etched in the mind.

The setting is a classic, and it's evoked by amber-colored photography and Nino Rota's gorgeously decadent music, The Godfather has dated considerably less than the majority of films of the 1970s. It is a slow-moving film which makes its moments of terror and action interesting due to the slow-moving paths it takes between the two. With the best performances, fashion and substance to enjoy It shows how it's possible to break record box office numbers without being in a state of mindless.