bad acting by Wallach, not Sofia

Rating: 7/10 (10 July 2006)

Yes, I know it was stylish at the time of the film's release to pan Sofia Coppola's performance, but it was Wallach, not Sofia, who almost singlehandedly ruined the film. His mannered, fussy, grotesquely overacted portrayal of an elderly Don stands out among so many fine performances like (to paraphrase Raymond Chandler) a tarantula on a slice of angel food cake.
Sofia Coppola played the role of a sheltered, shy, naive rich girl, & her restraint--perhaps bordering on gawkiness--fits the character perfectly. She uses her beautiful brown eyes to perfect effect in her more emotional moments. And, her talent in general has been more than proved by her creative work on "Lost in Translation".
I read a rumor that Frank Sinatra turned down the role Wallach ended up playing.....what a shame as Frank would have been so much better than Wallach!