A Story of Loyalty and Family

Rating: 9/10 (18 June 2018)

The Godfather explores criminality, the temptations of wealth, loyalty, and what one is willing to do to protect those they love. There is a theme in the story of life and death, a duality of one thing ending and another beginning. While Michael Corleone, played by Al Pacino, is a successful and capable character within a crime family, he only fills this role to protect those he loves. This film explores the ideas of the complicated villain. Justice, loyalty, and family are of ultimate importance, but there is a criminal twist to these ideals.
The Godfather asks us all: how far will you go to protect your family? And does the ends justify the means? The Corleone's enemies operate the same way as they do, eliminating any notion of good and evil. It's simply "them vs us". In such a vile environment, the only virtue one can have is loyalty.
In the opening of the film, Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, is throwing a wedding for his daughter. During this peaceful and happy family event, dozens of loyal followers come to Vito to pay their respects, and in some cases, request unhappy favors. The first guest shown with Vito elaborates an important point of the film: an Italian immigrant has been wronged and refused justice by a corrupt system. Therefore, the father goes down a dark path and comes to the Godfather for justice. This is an example of the ends justifying the means, the duality of using evil for good. In a way, the father received justice for his daughter, but he's also a murderer for taking the law into his own hands and punishing another beyond what the law would have called for. The opening scene also highlights the contrast of having a happy wedding while at the same time, making arrangements to have people murdered. This theme is reflected throughout the film, with a powerful ending.