The Godfather (1972)

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Screenplay: Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola (Based on the Mario Puzo novel)
Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Catellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Ricard Conte, Al Lettieri, Diane Keaton, Abe Vigoda, Talie Shire, Gianni Russo & John Cazale

Oscar wins (3): Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando) & Best Adapted Screenplay

As soon as the score of The Godfather began playing and the face of that man appeared before me on the screen, I knew right away that this would be one of my favorite films of all time. Not minding the length of the picture, I truly and genuinly enjoyed the movie from start to finish. Yes, hard to understand at tmies, but their is absolutely no crime drama like this classic masterpiece.

Master actor Marlon Brando wins an Oscar for playing Don Vito Corleone, the head of the organizational crime family the Corleone's in which he does everything and anything for those he consder's as his "god sons". But after a bad deal which involves narcotics goes out of hand, Don Vito is attentively assassinated and his family wants justice.

As his sons go furious with revenge, we focus on the young Michael (Al Pacino), who is different from the rest of the family. Instead of being part of "the family business", he is a decorated war hero with a lovely girlfriend named Kay (Diane Keaton). Here we watch his transformation from good Ivy League student to the next Don, as he gets influenced by his brothers and his father's enemies.

In a way, The Godfather teaches us a lot of lessons. Apart from the basic themes showed in the movie, we are shared the values that the Corleone's posses in the 3 hours that the film runs. We learn that family is above everything and that people change. Maybe for the better, maybe for the worst, but its taught there alright. And we learn these in the most entertaining and beautiful way.

The film may be a cliche, but there is a reason for it. It has reason to be iconic because it really is brilliant. The story is told with perfect dialogue and good direction, and the actor's are in their finest hours. Brando stand out in the lead role. He delivers one of his most subtle performances and it suits him well. His Don Vito posses all the qualities we'd want in a Don, which only improves his relationship and the narrative on how different each and everyone of his sons are to him. He's outstanding.

Pacino, gives a solid performance as Michael. As the film progresses he only gets better and better. In the beginning, Michael is just boring old Michael. But by half way of the film, we begin to root for him in every way possible, whether his actions are good or bad. This is all Pacino. But in a tough Oscar year (*ehem* Joel Grey in "Cabaret *ehem*), I'm not sad to see that Pacino did not win an Oscar for this role. Though however brilliant, he is no Joel Grey.

The score is another thing in this movie. It's timeless, haunting and forever playing in my head! It gives the film a good final touch because music is always very important. It sets the mood of the motion picture and this one is set from the very beginning. Hands down for writing one of the best movie scores of all time.

Finally hands down to director Francis Ford Coppola. He creates a film so intense and so brilliant that I often forget about every little movie out there when I think of The Godfather. The film sells itself too. And don't listen to the cliches! The Godfather is more then a gangster, crime movie. It's a masterpiece about family and change.

Picture: The Godfather, Don Vito Corleone (Oscar winner Marlon Brando) listens intently to a man asking for a "favor".