The Conclusion of the Story of Michael Corleone

Rating: 10/10 (3 September 2017)

"The Godfather Part III" tells the epilogue of the story of Don Michael Corleone as he moves his criminal empire into legitimate business operations with an international real estate company known as Internazionale Immobiliare together with the involvement of the Catholic Church and its business enterprise known as the Vatican Bank. Al Pacino returns for the third film to reprise his role as Michael together with Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, and Andy García as Vincent Mancini,who is going to replace Michael as the new Don, together with Eli Wallach, Joe Mantegna, George Hamilton, Bridget Fonda, and Sofia Coppola.Francis Ford Coppola returns as director and the co- screenwriter of the film that was based on the story of Pope John Paul I,who became pope for only 33 days,and the Papal Bank scandal that occurred in the 1980's, together with novel's author Mario Puzo.
No question that it provides us an interesting story of how Don Michael Corleone moves away from the mob with his involvement in legitimate business operations as well as the corruption in the Catholic Church after we have seen a reluctant son assume leadership of the Corleone crime family in the after his father - Don Vito Corleone - died in first film and how he expanded his criminal empire that ultimately cost his family and become more of a ruthless person in the second film.
We are also treated to great performances from the cast particularly Al Pacino,Diane Keaton,Talia Shire,Eli Wallach and Andy Garcia,who received an Oscar nomination.Too bad that many saw the poor performance of the director's daughter Sophia Coppola,who obviously isn't at par with the talent of the rest of the cast members.That somehow hurt the film a lot and somehow Sofia's terrible acting overshadowed the great acting performances of the cast.
Another thing working against it is the fact that the viewer should have seen the first two films to have better appreciation of the third film.It is definitely not a stand-alone film for it is a continuation of the first two films.
Other elements working against it are the familiar plots used in the first two films do exist in the third film like upsetting the mob order and succession of the mob leadership from Michael to his nephew,Vincent. Also,the film misses Robert Duvall as Michael's lawyer Tom Hagen,who could have been a strong presence for Michael in the decisions that he makes.Finally,we also see interesting character developments that lack explanations like Michael's sister Connie,who develops from being a weak woman into becoming a member of the mob that is involved in killing; and that of Michael,who became benevolent after attaining a high degree of ruthlessness after the second film.I felt that these character developments should have been made and explained in the third film instead of just happening in the story.
But in spite of these things I have mentioned,I still see it as a great film despite not being a classic unlike the first two films.It was still a nice conclusion to the story of Michael Corleone.