The Death of Michael Corleone

Rating: 6/10 (20 December 2005)

After hearing about all the bad reports, I still wanted to see "The Godfather Part III", since the great feeling of having watched Part II still lingered! When I started watching, I felt it was kind of disconnected from its predecessors, as is inevitable because of a gap of over 15 years between Part II and Part III.
The story revolves around an aging Michael Corleone making a deal with the Archbishop and others in the Vatican as a step towards going completely legitimate. But as it turns out, they have plans of their own (along with some other people) to swindle him instead. Michael realizes that the more he tries to get rid of his old ways, the more he seems to be sucked right back in!
This is one review which will have to start with its minuses rather than its pluses!
1. It is appalling to see an old, tired, ill Michael Corleone gone all "soft"! Also, he is no more the brooding, cold, calculating, heartless Michael we've come to know from the later half of Part I and the whole of Part II. Here's a guy who we have always known to not break into a hysterical fit over the death of someone close to him (e.g.'s deaths of Sonny, The Godfather himself and Mama Corleone). He always expressed his grief through his eyes; and always maintained a calm demeanor. Yet, in this movie, he goes completely over the top, insane with grief and screams like hell when his daughter is killed in the end! Not that he is not good in the scene; he is of course, great! But it is rather sad to see a regretful Michael, weeping every now and then! He just seems so weak and helpless.
2. Most of the characters I'd come to love after Part II are missing. One most important character is Tom Hagen! He is sorely missed and I cursed the film-maker for not giving Robert Duvall the salary he wanted and casting him in the role of Hagen again! Instead, Hagen's son makes a small appearance!
3. Andy Garcia has been introduced as Vincent, Sonny's illegitimate son! Personally, I have nothing against Garcia, and he has been good in all his other movies I've seen. But he just didn't seem a good fit here! He tries too hard, is short tempered like his father Sonny, but the whole thing just doesn't work for him! I am surprised he got an Oscar nomination!
4. And about Sofia Coppola as Michael's daughter Mary...the less said the better!
5. This is a sequel that rips some scenes off from the first and second movies.
For example, there is a function in the beginning and Johnny Fontane makes an appearance to sing a song!
Then there is Michael telling Santino's illegitimate son Vincent, "Never let anyone else know what you're thinking" (reminds one of the same thing said to Santino by Don Vito in Part I).
The scene of the killing of Joe Zasa looks like a cheaper imitation of the killing of Don Fanucci from Part II! Both killings take place during a festival.
Then the arrangement of a meeting with the members of other families, "to make peace": again a reminder of the powerful meeting scene where Don Vito makes peace with the heads of the other families, from Part I.
Now the few pluses:
1. Acting from Al Pacino. He is now old, weak and sick, so he doesn't appear to be anything like the Michael we have known from Part II. Still, a great actor that he is, he does justice to what the script demands of him; although I would still have loved to see his ruthless old self! Acting from Talia Shire: she is good as the old Connie who is always by Michael's side.
2. The climax scene at the Opera. This is one scene that is reminiscent of the brilliance of the first two parts. Wonderfully directed!
3. The final scene of the death of Michael Corleone. I have to admit, it was very sad to see him die alone. That is a very powerful scene indeed.
This movie is actually quite watchable and a fairly decent film, if watched as a stand-alone after possibly changing its name! But as a part of The Godfather series, it appears highly pale in comparison to the first two parts, and hence loses points.
If only Coppola would've at least tried to come close to the greatness of Part II...
6.5/10