Godfather

[ivyfic]

I have now watched The Godfather. I was surprised to find that all of the famous stuff happens in the first half hour, so I basically had no idea what the rest of the plot was.

I feel, now that I've seen it once, I would need to watch it all the way through again to begin to understand it. It has a fuckton of characters, to the point where stuff was happening at the end that I'm sure was supposed to be momentous but I honestly had no idea who any of those people were. I went and read the synopsis on wikipedia to find out. Also, now that I know the conclusion, I'm sure there are subtleties in the acting that I would pick up on in a rewatch.

But I don't really want to watch it again. It is ponderously long. And it is boy howdy violent. Not on a scale with Goodfellas, but this is still a mafia movie. The scene that bothered me the most, though, was Carlo beating his pregnant wife. Which happened, for the most part, off screen. I don't know what it says about me that watching someone getting garroted or gunned down I can handle, but hearing a woman screaming as she's beaten I cannot. But there you are.

Mostly I'd want to go back and really pay attention to Michael (who I didn't even recognize was Al Pacino), to try to peg where he makes certain decisions. Pacino really is brilliant in this role--giving Michael a cold unflappability that makes you wince when people underestimate him. This is a man completely in control, and very dangerous. More dangerous because he won't lose his temper--he'll hold onto his anger for years if necessary until it's time. And because he believes everything he does is absolutely necessary, and he's right, in a way.

Can someone explain to me, though, why his cheek is bruised for the entire time in Sicily? I think I'm missing something...


Being the Star Wars fan that I am, I have long known of George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola's friendship. Having never seen a Coppola film, I always figured the two were about on par. One created Star Wars, the other Godfather. But now that I've seen it...as much as I love Star Wars and I doubt I can even rewatch Godfather...Godfather is kind of genius. Star Wars is not. Lucas wins for technical achievement and building an empire around special effects and merchandising, but...Coppola actually made a complex and subtle (and ponderously long) film.

I think I will rent Godfather Part II now, though I truly know nothing at all about what happens in that film and I'm a little nervous. So, uh, if there are any big shocking surprises I need to brace myself for...feel free to spoil me in the comments.

Comments

[emeraldus.livejournal.com]

The cheek bruising comes from when his father was in the hospital and he had a confrontation with the cops down in front of the hospital, notably the same police chief he ends up shooting in the restaurant later on.

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

Yes, but months pass. Possibly years. Why is it still bruised?

[drlense.livejournal.com]

He's not just bruised- his entire cheekbone was shattered by McClusky and since he went right to Sicily he never had it fixed. It's better explained in the novel- where he keeps the injury (it causes his nose to run constantly, which is why he always has that hankerchief) and doesn't get it fixed until after Kay agrees to marry him.

Godfather II is, if anything, even more genius than Godfather is- the themes of that movie are even more complex- I'm looking forward to what you think of that one!

[ivy03.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be something like that, but I wasn't sure... (I did notice the constant use of the handkerchief.) It's kind of nice in a piece of fiction for someone to get punched in the face and it be a serious injury that bothers him for years.

I see that whole section as Michael learning to take what he wants, to adjust to the mantel of power he claimed by being the one to step up and avenge his father. I mean, it really is brilliant, but I think I need a break before rewatching.

...anything I should know about Part II in advance?

[drlense.livejournal.com]

I can't spoil you for Part 2. It's "luke I am your father" type stuff- I wouldn't feel right spilling the beans about it- because I feel that with some of it, knowing it will ruin the journey the movie takes you on. I realize that probably sounds ridiculous and pretentious, but I feel very strongly about Part II.

I will say that Part I is Mario Puzo's story- it's very much exactly the plot of the novel, with a few things left out. But he ends the novel more finitely than the movie ends- there's an epilogue and everything. Part II is therefore almost completely Coppola's story, and while Part I kind of never gets over the seediness and pulpy quality of the original book, Part II is grander and has such a huge scope- it's operatic, in a way.

[airspaniel.livejournal.com]

Part II is possibly the only time you will hear me say that I loved the sequel more than the original. drlense is right, it's operatic.

[natashasolten.livejournal.com]

Of all three Godfather movies, I thought Godfather 2 was the best. It blew me away. So I will recommend it.