The Godfather Part III

Rating: 3/10 (13 March 2005)

I had spent a few years believing that this third film in the most famous gangster series and trilogy was one of the worst films I'd ever seen, so I had to confirm this with a second viewing, from Oscar and Golden Globe nominated director Francis Ford Coppola (Apocalypse Now, Bram Stoker's Dracula). Basically ageing Don Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) wants to settle family differences, having pretty much retired from the Mafia, putting all crime to rest and seemingly giving up the underworld for good. He is still doing business with close people, but he wants to concentrate more on spending time with his family, daughter Mary (twice Razzie winning Sofia Coppola), and a little bit of time in the Vatican. Obviously Michael still has his enemies who want to finish him for good so he cannot have any power, this includes an assassination attempt with some machine gun fire blasting through a building from a helicopter, killing many but him and Sonny's son Vincent Mancini (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Andy Garcia). At one point at the Vatican we see him finally confess his biggest sin to a holy man, that he has his own brother Fredo killed, and not long after this we see him suffer diabetic stroke putting him in hospital. Recuperated and covered Michael returns to spending time with all around him, family or not, business and non business, and he enjoys the debut of his son Anthony Vito (Franc D'Ambrosio) in the opera. Of course this is where we see the last assassination attempt, a rifle man is hiding in the box ready to fire, but he does not manage to shoot until afterwards on the stairs. Michael is hit with one of the bullets, but the one who actually dies is daughter Mary, and years later he is much older we see Michael die naturally in his chair and collapsing on the floor. Also starring Diane Keaton as Kay Adams Michelson, Rocky's Talia Shire as Connie Corleone Rizzi, Eli Wallach as Don Altobello, The Simpsons' Joe Mantegna as Joey Zasa; I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! star George Hamilton as B.J. Harrison, Bridget Fonda as Grace Hamilton, Raf Vallone as Cardinal Lamberto and John Savage as Father Andrew Hagen. Pacino does get his many good scenes, and may of the supporting members, especially Garcia, do equally well too, there are some reasonably good moments, obviously standing out are the helicopter and opera scenes. The only embarrassment is indeed Coppola's daughter Sofia, who did much better as director of Lost in Translation, she replaced Winona Ryder who left to concentrate on Edward Scissorhands, I don't think it would have made any difference if she hadn't. It is obvious that all the years without a third instalment didn't do any favours as all the best ideas were used up, and it does seem like it was made purely to complete the trilogy, and not even the same feel as the two much superior predecessors, I do still think this follow up is a little dull and boring, but it's not an absolutely terrible crime drama. It was nominated the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing and Best Song for "Promise Me You'll Remember" (also nominated the Golden Globe), and it was nominated the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Drama, Best Original Score for Carmine Coppola and Best Screenplay. Adequate!