The Rise And Fall

Rating: 10/10 (22 April 2006)

This is one of the rare cases of a sequel having more to say than its predecessor. This time a full investment is made in a visual world...here we have depth in addition to the width of the coverage: the proper dimensions of an empire.
The Corleone compound lies in unkempt disarray, like Charles Foster Kane's Xanadu, a museum of memories.
'Part II' is another coup for Willis' lighting and Coppola's ability to capture a world in this fashion; this time, everything, even the outdoor scenery, is defined by light and shadow.
Freed (mostly) from the shackles of the novel, Coppola could explore narrative. We seamlessly jump back and forth in time, following two story arcs with opposite conclusions; a third regression in time completes the equation.
This movie marks several turning points -- DeNiro, hot off of "Mean Streets" and "Bang the Drum..." would establish his method for good, squarely on top of Brando's method. And Pacino would establish the template for all of his future thunderings.