Family Ties

Rating: Null/10 (7 October 2000)

* * * * * (5 out of 5)

The Godfather Part II

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola, 1974

Stunning and utterly compelling sequel.
A side story telling the saga of how the Corleone family came to America is told in conjunction with the continuous saga of new Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). This is done with a puppeteer's focused hand (pun intended) by co-writer/director Coppola and the result is amazing. He seems to somehow intertwine the two stories of the old and new Don effortlessly and deliver grand entertainment.

Deservedly the movie won an Oscar for Best Picture  and for a sequel that's no small feat.
Robert De Niro is exquisite (watch those subtle Brando mannerisms) and under-plays elegantly as the young Vito Corleone, while Robert Duvall is brilliant once more as Tom Hagan  a voice of reason in a dark and sinister mob world.
By and large Al Pacino's film though. Michael Corleone was a great character and a great role for one of the greatest American actors of the 20th century. The new Don has become spiteful and Pacino's performance is harrowingly intense. His anger and pity comes so naturally; it's simply disturbing. Probably Pacino's finest hour.