Flawed But Entertaining Conclusion To The "Godfather" Saga

Rating: 7/10 (5 September 2005)

If you become a mob boss, there's no way to get out and stay out. That's the lesson that Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) learns in this third "Godfather" film, which isn't up to the great creative heights of the first two films but is reasonably entertaining in its own right. Michael has tried to go legitimate, attempting to buy a holding company in Europe which is effectively owned by the Vatican, but finds the Catholic church is up to its own neck in corrupt. Meanwhile, Vincent (Andy Garcia), the hotheaded bastard son of Sonny Corleone, shows up, starting a war with hood Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna), which gets Michael sucked back into the "business", along with flirting with his young daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola). And another friend-turned-rival of Michael's, Don Altobello (Eli Wallach) turns up, trying to knock off Michael so he can take over his empire. It all comes together in a trademark "Godfather" montage sequence, but tragedy comes as the result of that, as well.
The movie is very, very flawed in many ways, and it's easy to see why a lot of people think it's crap. One problem is the supporting cast. While most of the actors do a very good job, there are also many problems. Sofia Coppola has been bashed enough and I don't feel the need to add mine to the din of voices attacking her. The other actors aren't so much miscast as given poor material. Mantegna is great to watch but his character is killed off an hour into the film. Wallach is perfectly cast as Altobello but he's eventually done in by poor characterization and bad writing (not to mention getting one hell of a lame death). Same with Helmut Berger as a slimy Swiss banker. George Hamilton is adequate as Michael's new consigliere, but he won't make anyone forget Robert Duvall. And Bridget Fonda is just annoying, though thankfully she's only in all of two scenes.
There are a number of great memorable scenes (the helicopter hit and Michael's confession coming to mind instantly), but the set-pieces of the movie just aren't up to snuff. The assassin characters are introduced way too late in the movie, and the ending montage is overly drawn-out and lame compared to the baptism scene of the first and the Hyman Roth/Pentagelli/Fredo montage of the second. The Roman Catholic plot was interesting (attempting to tie in the death of Pope John Paul I rather awkwardly) but again, poorly done.
But what saves the movie are two things: some great performances by the leads, and a heartbreaking ending. Al Pacino gives one of his two or three best performances here, showing Michael to have suffered greatly from his time as "Godfather" and willing but still unable to go straight. Diane Keaton continues her great work as Kay, with considerably more poignancy here. Talia Shire and Richard Bright have considerably larger parts than in the first two and it's nice to see these two fine actors strut their stuff. Raf Valone is wonderful as the Cardinal who hears Michael's confession and later becomes a reluctant (and ill-fated) Pope. And Andy Garcia steals the show as Vincent, the explosive, hotheaded wannabe Mafia don who causes this whole mess.
But for all of the movie's many flaws, what saves it is the positively heartbreaking ending, when Mary takes a bullet for her father. No matter what may think of Sofia or her character, that scene is heartbreaking, and Al Pacino's muted screams make the scene even more tragic. And the very ending - with a eighty-plus year old Michael Corleone dropping over dead in Sicily - is beautifully and simply done.
"The Godfather Part III" is a very, very flawed movie, but it isn't as bad as its reputation would suggest. If you can get past the somewhat convoluted story and the fact that it isn't in the league of the first two (and Sofia), then you should be able to enjoy this movie. 7/10