An Underrated Film (Review May Contain Spoilers)

Rating: 8/10 (28 November 2011)

I recently saw The Godfather Trilogy back-to-back for the umpteenth time in years. Mostly everyone agrees that parts I and II are a couple of the best films ever made, but part III always gets dumped on. Why? With the exception of Robert Duvall's absence (watching it, you get the sense that something is missing, it's Duvall), Sofia Coppola's acting (she is a far better director) and George Hamilton looking like he took a wrong turn and got lost going to the tanning salon (what the eff was he doing in this film?), this is actually a great film that happens to be an emotional conclusion to the Godfather epic.
The Godfather films are about Michael Corleone. They show us the evolution of his character, and by part III Michael is full of regret for all of the sins he has committed over the years that were covered in parts I and II. With Al Pacino's excellent performance, you feel sorry for him as he suffers over what he did to his brother Fredo, then how he desperately tries to salvage anything he can with Kay, and watching him trying to rebuild a relationship with his son, who wants no part of the family business.
The critics crapped on The Godfather Part III and everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. Watch it with the other two films. It's not in the same league as the first two, but it's a great film nevertheless.