The Godfather

Rating: 10/10 (13 October 2018)

I was first introduced to The Godfather during the summer of 2017. I had expected an action packed, lighthearted flick, but received something much more unforgettable. Although the plot is somewhat convoluted, the messages of the American Dream and freedom are shown clearly. In the film, The Godfather, the director, Francis Ford Coppola, brings the movie alive and makes the movie memorable through visual aids, symbols, and music.
One of the first things the audience notices about The Godfather is its contrasts between light and dark. The walls of the Godfather's study are often black, with only minimal light shown on the faces and torsos. The light usually comes from a half opened blind. This is the world of the Godfather, Vito Corleone. However, Don Corleone's family is basked in light. They are often depicted outdoors with girls in gorgeous, sometimes gaudy, dresses. The men keep with the tradition of wearing dark suits and tuxedoes, but there is no lasting darkness near their persons. In these outdoor scenes, there is a zest for life in these scenes, heightened by the talks of brilliant futures and brilliant loves. Strangely contrasting to the brightness is the sedate quietness and darkness of the Godfather. In time, the readers will realize that Vito Corleone is the driving force behind the life of his family.
Corleone is also the driving force behind the family's American Dreams. One particularly interesting thing about the Godfather is the size of his circle of friends. Many people come to him for help. Therefore, he is protecting everyone's American Dreams. In fact, this idea is presented most clearly in one of the beginning scenes. Amerigo Bonasera, a minor character, goes to Don Corleone to seek justice for his daughter, who was assaulted. Bonasera claims to believe in the "American process," where justice is always achieved. He fervently tells Corleone that he believes America is a paradise, somewhere all dreams can happen. Bonasera expects the Godfather to help him reach those dreams. Perhaps because of that responsibility, the Godfather is neither good nor evil. He only protects his family and friends. It is true that Don Corleone does many horrible things. However, through these twisted methods, he always benefits the people who ask him for help. People will forever argue about the light and evil in the Godfather, but one thing they could never argue about is his motives.
I was enthralled by the filming techniques applied by the Coppola, the director. Coppola is able to convey emotions, not only through actors and scripts, but also scenery. A part of The Godfather was filmed in the Italian countryside. Therefore, the movie is filled with gorgeous panoramic shots of nature. It gives the movie a sense of wildness and freedom that The Godfather tries to show the audience. It also shows the poverty that the Corleone family escaped from. This makes the wealth that Don Corleone built in America even more impressive. The audience realizes the determination and wits that are needed to move a family into another country.
The music, haunting Italian folk songs, of the movie is also outstanding. The audience is unable to forget the roots of the Corleone family. This is something that Michael Corleone, the second son of Vito Corleone and the main character of the movie, wishes to forget. The farther he moves away from his family and his father, the more desperately the music pulls him back, until he is sent to Italy. In the Corleone Village, Michael is immersed in his family's culture. This is one way music is powerful in The Godfather. As the family of the Godfather is made totally American by their pursuance of the American Dream, the Italian folk songs remind the audience that their roots are really in Italy.
The recurring theme among negative movie reviews of The Godfather is that people had expected more. They had heard from their friends about how great The Godfather is, but the actual movie was overestimated. With this I must disagree. Everyone should keep an open mind when first introduced to a movie. No one should go into a movie with preconceived notions about what the movie is supposed to be like because that is unfair to both the audience and the movie itself. Another point that movies critics often make about The Godfather is that it romanticizes crime. The Godfather also romanticizes the American Dream. This movie is an exaggerated depiction of reality. The Godfather is great for its plot, but it is even more amazing because it is memorable. People will always remember this movie for its filming techniques, themes of the American Dreams, and unforgettable music.