its good----BUT

Rating: Null/10 (9 October 1999)

IT's not as good as the first one. This one is convoluted; some of the plot twists arbitrary(just who ordered Micheal Gazzo's attempted garroting? Who killed Frankie Five Angels? etc.) -it kind of plays like a film with a script that was being revised even while it was being shot.
And face it-no Marlon Brando-that is hard to make up for, you know? His presence in the first film was partially what made it such a classic.

Now-don't get me wrong-I like this film a lot. Micheal V. Gazzo is one of my favorites and anything that used his talent to good effect is alright in my book. Loved Lee Strasberg doing the Meyer Lansky bit, terrific performance. Pacino, Cazale, Keaton, etc. are all great. This film has great suspense and some tragic scenes(Fredo goes fishing)-and I liked the parts showing the Senate's investigation of the Mob. All well and good.
Can't say that about the flashbacks, Deniro is alright and the tone is fine, but it Really does slow things down in a big way-I don't think you'd lose all that much if they just had yanked that chunk right outta the film completely. Allegedly Coppola was thinking of doing just that while making this, but didn't. You decide. It doesn't work as well for me.
Overall, a very good movie, ***1/2 outta ****. Def. better than the 3rd...