Every bit as good as the first two

Rating: Null/10 (23 August 1999)

Okay, I know this will be an unpopular opinion, but here goes. First off, there are in fact, two flaws that hurt the film: casting of Sofia Coppola and the missing Robert Duvall. If you can look past these things, you will discover this movie is a masterpiece. For so many years, I would watch Part II and lament that Michael killed Fredo, that he lost his wife, and allowed the power to consume him. Part III addresses all of that. It is Michael's story again that one needs to watch and forget the things going on around him. I also liked the way the movie continued to borrow from reality with the Vatican plot. The movie is about guilt and redemption. Michael's confession, the meeting of all the mafiosos, the final scene on the steps, and the horribly tragic epilogue are all easily as memorable as anything in the others. Perhaps because it wasn't as much as a period film as the first two and so much time passed between II and III that it didn't feel like a "real" Godfather movie to some. I say the music, direction and themes of the movie are right in there. After all, Puzo and Coppola wrote this one as well. The scenes with Diane Keaton are sad and full of regret. Andy Garcia is excellent and a worthy addition to the characters. I was moved by this one more than the others. Part I is entertaining in a cartoonish way, Part II takes about 10 viewings to get everything, but Part III settled down and addressed Michael and his real feelings of loss. Forget the obvious flaws and look a little deeper. The irony is delicious.