Tony Stark: The Modern Godfather
By: Ryan Morris
Tags: Movies, Robert Downey Jr, Film, Godfather, Masculinity

Tony Stark: The Modern Godfather

Source: RaytnN on DeviantArt.

I was watching the Godfather the other day. It was only my second viewing of the near half a century-year-old classic and I was struck by a young Al Pacino’s charisma and physical likeness to everyone’s favourite Marvel billionaire. But as I watched more, I realised that the resemblance between the two goes much deeper than skin. Perhaps, RDJ’s Tony Stark is the modern-day Godfather in more ways than one.

You see, 50 years ago The Godfather was at the centre of circles; he was the lens through which everything was filtered, the conductor of every chorus; the master of all puppets. Yet, such a man, forever on everyone’s wish list but never on anyone’s shit list, was very much a character of the times. His same ego, masculinity and mannerisms which won him respect and power would seem outdated and demeaning in today’s woke marketplace; the currency of which seems to be Disney friendly quips and philanthropic genius.

Just imagine the Godfather, Vito or Michael, walking in on a meeting with Thor, Captain America and the Hulk. He’d feel royally out of place: like a lion in a den of dragons, he’d be eaten alive by the snarky, quipping, metrosexual breed of man that’s more welcomed by contemporary’s eye; not that this wouldn’t be an interesting scene to watch, just that The Godfather’s role as the pinnacle of masculinity on the grand stage of cinema is much less relevant.

Instead, enter Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron-Man: The modern anti-dote to the Godfather. Or rather, the modern embodiment of everything the Godfather was, just in a fresher, more appropriate vessel for the cultural standards of today. Think about it, within Stark’s respective world most actions or reactions happen because of him, all the tech the characters use is his, the lines they say and jokes they make all sound like a thinly distinguishable version of his; hell even his death is still sending ripples throughout the Marvel multi-verse just as the Mafia King’s left a permanent imprint on the story world of his era. In fact, the similarity of their position at the top of their respective food chains is matched only by their differences in styles: a sign of the changing times and what the epitome of masculinity is in a world surrounded by technology, social media and CGI infused ultra-realistic adventures on tiny little screens.

What’s happened is that the typical or antithesis of what it means to be masculine in Hollywood has radically altered. In the last half-century, it’s slid away from the stoic, stern and unyielding hyper-masculine stereotypes of John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Al Pacino and Clint Eastwood and embraced the more sensitive, witty yet arrogant pranksters who populate the fence as adventure heroes and off-beat comedians. From that, we’ve received our Tony Stark, Jack Sparrows, any character of Chris Pratt’s and Ryan Reynolds.

Even Logan and the recent James Bond franchise — when it’s had its head screwed on — have veered away from the blunt instrument inherent in their character’s masculinity and tried to bring more emotional resonance to the stories. This isn’t to say the machismo of the ‘80s and ’90s that inspired them has all but gone either. Look no further than the picture popping pectorals of The Rock, Henry Cavill and Chris Hemsworth who have re-appropriated the mantle from its pioneers Stallone and Schwarzenneger. The difference being their characters, perhaps by virtue of their nature or way they're represented, never sit at the centre of the web as Iron Man does; they struggle, suffer and usually run head, fist, bumper or nozzle first into trouble, but aren’t the great spinners of narratives, carving out the landscape for their peers.

Source: Unknown. ‘Is it better to be feared or respected? I say, is it too much to ask for both?’

This is exactly why Tony Stark is the modern-day Godfather of masculinity as he separates himself from the traditional archetype and confirms, and perpetuates, a new style of masculinity in the mainstream. This new shape of a man incorporates the accumulated geekiness that’s been bubbling since the ’80s, the silver tongue of the stylistic black and white era, the rapier wit of modern science and the progressive subtleties that are a product of the times. Using these tools and, of course, the aged old ally wealth and influence, they’re able to carve their way to the top of the mountain of their respective universes and somewhat unintentionally the minds of their audience: which given the global pervasiveness of the media now spans the entirety of culture.

On the surface, The Corleones and Tony Stark couldn’t be more different. One operates in the shadows, the other thrives in the spotlight. But underneath they pull their strings, twist their knives, and before you even know it, what they’ve stolen is as much the hearts of their followers as the bounty of their mission. Whether you’re hung on every inflexion of Corleone or every quip of Stark, your caught in their unassailable, hypnotic gravity and can’t escape, even if you want to. These days, in a room full of stars all eyes are drawn, not to the dark corners but the brightest suns and RDJ certainly fulfils the image at the top of the galactic pedestal.

It speaks wonders not only to how masculinity has changed but also to where it is going. The gunslinger, the mafiaoza, the lone ranger and the hard-boiled detective may all be outdated but are still popular archetypes that will return in the form of the jaded hero in futures to come. Except that package will have taken on the wit, the sensitivity and practicality of its current embodiment and will arrive at something altogether new. Perhaps it will embrace some of the traditionally more feminine personality traits; perhaps its sensitivity will regress as a response to the declining socio-political discourse of our times; or perhaps even incorporate androgynous characteristics that cater to the future’s misplaced sense of masculinity. But maybe we’ll also see something entirely new, a hero whose masculinity breaches borders and becomes more than the sum of its sexual parts.

All I know is Robert Downey Jr has adopted and shaped the mantle of the modern Godfather of masculinity. So much so that RDJ and Tony Stark are practically and conceptually interchangeable by this point. He’s made us an offer we can’t refuse. Or in his words, he is Iron Man. For better or for worse — definitely better — he’s left us with an interesting legacy of what it means to be the king of cool. The Modern Godfather.