Wow (Good Wow)!

Rating: 10/10 (20 January 2008)

I really don't know how else to summarize the review of such a perfect movie.
"The Godfather" is undoubtedly my favorite legitimate, serious attempt at film-making. Francis Ford Coppola's brilliant direction enhances performances from such top-quality actors as Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, and more.
It is a violent, tense masterpiece, a movie in the small pantheon with "Alexander" and "Lawrence of Arabia" (as well as the remainder of its own trilogy) that can hold your attention for three or more hours and never skew boring. If you're still unsure, pay attention to the squibs. Or the brilliantly natural production design. Or Gordon Willis's imaginative cinematography.
Still not convinced? Just listen to this: it's much better than the book. "The Godfather," while very brutal, is probably the greatest American cinematic masterpiece. And if you won't believe this reviewer, believe the people who exalted this film to a 9.1, making it the IMDb's highest-rated film. It is one of few movies on the Top 250 that deserves such a position.