Superb Film - Horrible History

Rating: Null/10 (4 December 2001)

Marlon Brando gives a performance that ranks among the best ever from any actor in film history - two of the others are his own roles in "Streetcar" and in "Waterfront".
Robert DeNiro is without peer as the young "Don" in 1900 New York.

James Caan excels as the heir-apparent Don.
The many character actors in this film are simply the best ever.
The production values have never been equalled, and Francis Coppola's direction is probably the nearest to perfection as a movie can be.
As a reflection of reality, however, the movie gets a Z minus. The Mafia was never like this, folks. I grew up in an area that had many "wise guys", and they were nothing like their portrayals in this movie. Without exception, they were incredibly dumb, but they had a talent for brutality. The notion that they were great organizers, negotiating like statesmen at their meetings, is completely absurd. What they did do well was beat up people - usually other Italians who simply wanted to make a living. They were, and are, thugs - pure and simple.
The way they treated their women makes the Taliban look like feminists.
So watch the movie, but beware, it's a MOVIE.