A true test of times

Rating: Null/10 (14 January 2003)

Francis Ford Coppola was once asked why "The Godfather" had been placed amongst the greats of American Cinema. His answer: longevity.

Longevity in the cinematic world is a piece of work that stands the test of time. A film is amongst the greats when it doesn't conform to the current pop culture or the specifics of issues. The Godfather is not only an example of "some mafia movie," but rather an example of an excellent storyline adaptation, great actors accomodating to their roles, and simplicity in shots that show how pictures are worth 1,000 words. (Take into the consideration of the film coming into the scene during 1972, which is such a minuscule moment in camera development and shot technology compared to the everyday advancement of computer graphics.)
Francis Ford Coppola works well with Mario Puzzo to turn such a great novel to such an excellent movie. The only backstep is that the novel gets more indepth with the character of Johnny Fontane. However, the focus is still on "family values" in general, and displays the actions of a mafia. Al Pacino (although undermined by film producers to play the role of Michael) is excellent with his gestures and voice confidence as the film proceeds. The lighting is also an admirable display of how simple shots can be more wholesome and effective.
The Godfather is a great film that truly denotes a stand through the test of times.