A Mafioso Masterpiece!

Rating: Null/10 (21 March 2002)

The Godfather makes you an offer you can't refuse. The offer is that if you give up 3 hours of your life, you can see one of the greatest, and most thought provoking films of all time! Why? A number of reasons actually...
1) The characters are multi-dimensional. Don Vito Corleone is without a doubt an evil person. He commits murders in cold blood, and sends especially brutal men (Luca Brasi) to do them. But, you wouldn't think so from he manner. He is a kind man, a dignified man, and a religious man who will do whatever he has to for both his families. He almost makes you forget (or want to forget) what his business is.
2) It's obvious that a lot of research was done into this subject. In the 1950's and 60's, there was a mobster named Carlo Gambino who appeared to be a very gentle being, but became one of the most power mob bosses ever! Sound a bit like Corleone? Bugsy Siegel built a gambling paradise called Las Vegas and his name became synonymous with casinos. Moe Greene anyone? Frank Sinatra was an old washed up lounge singer who got a part in "From Here to Eternity" through rumored mob connections. Johnny Fontane and "Ol' Blue Eyes" have something in common.
3) It's true to the book! After film adaptations that feel the need to change this part of the story, or that part of the story, or even the ending, it's nice to see a movie that actually brings a story into reality. Sure they change this and that, and leave out numerous characters (Jules Segal, Nino Valenti, Jerry Wagner and Kevin Moonan... the two punks who maimed the undertaker's daughter, old consigliere Genco Abbandando {but he does appear in the 2nd one}, Wax Baines the pimp, etc.), and they had to take out certain things to keep the movie from being 5 hours (Like a stomach churning story about Luca Brasi's child.), but most of the story and dialogue was pretty much quoted from the book.
I would recommend that you read the book first then see the movie(s), you won't regret either.