The bastard child for a reason.

Rating: 5/10 (19 February 2003)

Imagine, if you will your oldest brother becomes Pope... your second oldest brother then cures cancer... and you, the baby, are an accountant.

This is the fate of Godfather III. It follows in the footsteps of what could be two of the greatest films of all time. Add to that; casting, set and script problems, and you have your explanation why very few people acknowledge its existence.
Sophia Coppola belongs behind the camera and not in front of it, we all know that. But you can't just write that off as a small detail. She is supposed to be one of the driving forces in this film, and she is horrible. Imagine I & II with a young Chevy Chase trying to play Sonny ... (shivers!). The spectacular supporting cast of mob characters is missing as well. Replaced with bland filler rolls.
Having just watched III, for the first time in a long time, I also find that this film, unlike the last two, lacks the charm and flavors of its supposed time period, 1979. When you watch I & II you can't just tell the time period, you feel it. It was a character, especially in II where we are jumping back and forth. In III it could take place in the 70's, 80's even the 90's. Coppola never places us in the era. Lord knows the costumes are not circa '79.
Finally the script. It has two great actors in Pacino and Garcia (who should be a huge star), but it lacks key aspects which make I & II great writing and cultural icons. The classic one liners (`leave the gun, take the canolli's' or `I'll make him an offer he can't refuse') are gone. All anyone remember is Pacino's pull me back in line. Also it strays too far from the gangster genre, instead getting buried in random acts of blasphemy and Catholic guilt. It's one thing to walk in with a gun and knock off a few high placed gangsters, but the Vatican is probably a bit more strict on firearms. And can you even really stab someone with plastic glasses.
Over all, Godfather III is a beautifully shot film, which provides and end to Michael's story. And for fans of the first two, it was fun in a way to travel down memory lane. But in the end that is what you are left with... a film trying to reminisce and rekindle the magic of the past, that winds up constantly reminding you that it is not as good, tight or original as its predecessors. Godfather III is the bastard child, and deservedly so.