Tarnishes the Series

Rating: Null/10 (9 September 1999)

This movie was acceptable over-all, but nowhere near the class of the first two, and somewhat tarnishes the series as a whole. The problem is mainly with casting. Obviously, Coppola casting his daughter was a huge mistake. Not only isn't she good, but she is less than amateurish. A good high-school actor could have played the part better. For that matter, I though George Hamilton was wrong for his part. I think his reputation is too light-weight for a serious movie like this. Even Joe Mantegna was too hammy for his part, and made the movie seem cartoonish. Having said that, I liked the intrigue concerning the Vatican. Mixing the evil of the Mafia with the Church creates an eerie setting. Overall, an engrossing movie that falls short.