Perfect Cinema

Rating: Null/10 (27 October 1998)

I approached The Godfather Part II expecting a tantalizing movie experience like that I received from its predecessor. I expected a romantic, epic intrusion into La Cosa Nostra. Instead, I was immersed in a world of ultimate sadness, yearning for catharsis. The audience is tortured as a first-person observer of the decline of the once great Michael Corleone. Coppola, via an excellent screenplay, brilliantly portrays how a life of crime, murder, and self-pity take its toll on even the most formidable of souls. As Michael falls further and further from grace, eventually committing the consummate sin in killing his own brother, we can feel little sorrow for Don Corleone. The Godfather Part II is a brilliant examination of the human dilemma, making the audience face with brutal realization the effects of a seemingly fancy-free world encountered in The Godfather. Perhaps what sets this movie apart into the pantheon of classical lore is its contrast of Michael disintegrating the family with Vito's building its foundation of trust, honor, and respect. Coppola so perfectly intertwines two staggering stories that the movie becomes absolutely irresistable. Kudos go to Mario Puzo and Coppola for their exquisite writing, Coppola for his outstanding direction, and especially to Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. With the strength of two amazingly gifted performers, we allow ourselves to be swept away in an orgastic viewing experience. I consider this the best piece of American cinema to ever grace the silver screen.