A rich epic based on great performances - a little too lush but still a great tale of the corrupting nature of power

Rating: Null/10 (13 April 2004)

Michael Corleone continues his rise within organised crime in 1950's America, by expanding his family's empire across hotels and casinos. When an attempt on his life fails Michael proceeds with his dealings in Cuba with Hyman Roth, a deal that will not be as straightforward as it appears. Meanwhile we are told the story of a young Vito's move to American and his rise from the ghetto up into the world of organised crime.
I don't know what I can actually add to the sheer weight of praise that has been heaped onto this film - it is as accomplished a film as everyone says and is rightly one of the few examples of a sequel improving and building on a film. The plot follows two separate strands, the continuing rise of Michael that is as much detrimental to his family as it is beneficial to his pocket; the other thread being Vito's arrival in America as a child and his rise up within the Italian ghettos. The two stories are not as intertwined as I had remembered - they are very separate and the film can go for quite a while before it switches over. In a way this works better as it allows both stories to go ahead without fragmenting either too much.
This film, as with many gangster films, has been accused of glamorising the life of crime and those involved in it, however, if anything Godfather II does this even less than the original did. The film shows the moral collapse of Michael in the same way as the first showed his power. In fairness it does contrast the rise of the two dons - showing how Vito manages to keep his family together. Despite this I would still argue that Michael's path is far from glamorous.
The two narratives are both excellent but for different reasons. Vito's rise is very interesting and provides solid back story to the first film and we can clearly see the change in Vito from a quiet young man to the influential powerbroker that he became - we also sadly see the rise in his demons and his viciousness. Meanwhile Michael's tread sees more powerful deals and double crosses as he continues to gain more power. This was overly complicated for me the first time I saw it but, with reviewing it I have gotten more from it each time - more understanding and more enjoyment. The twin stories are both engaging and the three hour plus running time passes effortlessly - this is a saga and it never feels like the running time was anything more than what was necessary.
The cast are fantastic. Naturally the kudos go to the two leads, and they deserve it. Pacino has a less showy role than in the first film as he has already done his falling - here we only see further proof of the corrupting nature of his power. De Niro steals the film this time with a measured performance that parallels Michael's change in the first film - it is a performance that lacks a certain amount of personality but shows us the traits that the film is interested in. As before the support cast are great, Duvall is reliable as ever, while the most improved role goes to Cazale, who's Fredo becomes more important to the story and almost becomes a biblical character. Quality comes in waves with Shire, Strasberg, Spradlin, Kirby and many others with solid performances. Keaton is good but she is not given as much time as I would have liked, even if her scenes are important and powerful.
Overall this is a great film that is based on a classy pair of stories that bring the subtexts with them and a collection of characters that are well developed by a script and some great actors. It may be a little too lavish and plush for my own personal tastes, but it is a rich story. To a certain degree the production values and sheer class of this film could be accused of glamorisation, but generally those who say this have managed to totally miss the fact that this is a cautionary tale that shows the corruption of power.