Great...but not as great

Rating: 8/10 (21 January 2007)

The general consensus about "The Godfather: Part III" is that it is nothing compared to the first two films. I agree with that statement. I do, however, disagree with those who say the film is horrible. The film is quite good, and shares with us some important lessons. While we may want a better end to the saga, we still got a great one. Yes, it is not without its flaws, but they are few.
Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is now in his sixties. Age and wear have lead him to one thing; he knows and wants his corrupt business to become legitimate. He has lost his wife. His son wants nothing of the business, and he rarely sees his children anyway. While Michael is fighting for the legitimacy of his business, others are fighting against it. Vincent (Andy Garcia) is Michael's nephew. He is a very violent person; a person that is the main candidate to replace Michael as the future Don of the family. This is the sad story of one man's fight to redeem what he has taken, or lose it all over again in the process. The film co-stars Dian Keaton as Kay, who remains close to Michael for her children, but nothing more. Sofia Coppola plays Michael and Kay's daughter, Mary.
Al Pacino is nothing short of brilliant in his final role as Michael Corleone. He is emotionally powerful. This was one of his best performances. Diane Keaton gives one of her best performances, as well. She loves Michael, but hates what he does. Andy Garcia does pretty good as Vincent. I'm sure he's done better, but here he's good, so it doesn't matter.
As I said, the film is not without its problems. The film has an opera scene that is both effective and entertaining. However, it lasts too long. It almost seems stressed. I, and others, don't feel that Sofia Coppola was the right fit for Mary. Her performance, well...isn't the best of the movie. This is no reflection on Sofia, who is the talented director and writer of films such as "Lost in Translation." Yes, she is Coppola's daughter, but something isn't working out here. The camera work, while much the same, isn't as dark or attractive.
Back to the film's strengths. This movie is a very successful human story. About how the decisions we make will effect the rest of our life forever. It is a great study. Francis Ford Coppola's talent had not left him, and his directing could still be described as breathtaking. The screenplay by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola is rich and effective.
Overall, the acting is good. The directing is fabulous. The screenplay; well-written. It succeeds in what it tries to do. Therefore, it is a good movie, and worth seeing. It's not perfect, and doesn't even come close to the level of "The Godfather" and "The Godfather: Part II." Those films are masterpieces. This movie is great.