When the debate of “what is the best movie of all time” comes up anywhere, many of the works of cinema brought up would include Citizen Kane, Gone with The Wind, and Casablanca. However, for my money, one of the greatest films ever made would be the one about which I am going to speak. I am of course referring to the classic from 1972 that won three Oscars and four Golden Globes; the Godfather. This movie is truly one of the best, and it deserves all the praise it gets.
If you don’t know what this movie is about, your must be deprived, but I’ll fill you in. It takes place in the 1940’s, during the true rein of gangster tyranny. Don Vito Corleone (played by Marlon Brando) is the Godfather, the leader and head of the Corleone family. Two of his sons, one adopted and played by Robert Duvall and the other played by James Caan, work under him in his gangster deals. His other son, Michael (played by Al Pacino), doesn’t really want anything to do with the family business. Eventually, however, Michael is forced into the business, and made the new Godfather.
It’s true. It is one of the greatest movies ever made. I’m dead serious. It may be my favorite movie of all time. I usually start my review by saying what I don’t like about the movie, but with Godfather, it’s almost impossible. I have one, single, solitary issue; the occasional problems with pace. This movie is very long, about three hours, and sometimes, you really do feel it. Like The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, it does drag at times, and takes a little effort to stay roped in. It can also occasionally be a little hard to follow, as the movie does have a lot of characters whose names can be tough to keep track of.
Other than that, there are no problems with this movie. The acting is some of the best of all time. Robert Duvall, James Caan, Al Pacino, and Marlon Brando are now solidified as some of the best actors all time because if this movie. They portray the characters amazingly; the subtle Michael, angry Sonny and deceptive Godfather are everlasting characters. The story is driven and brilliant, roping you in most of the time (see above) with its great writing and direction. The editing is also awesome, and it keeps you in suspense the entire time. This movie also has something that most movies today don’t, TONS of atmosphere. The wedding scene at the beginning alone lasts over a half an hour, slowly developing the characters and the relationships between them. Other additions to the great atmosphere are the lighting and the music. This lets you know that you are in a gangster movie, with trumpet filled jazz and dark lighting. It seems to serenade the eyes and always keep you watching.
So, after all my praise, is it truly one of the best ever? Yes, it is honestly one of the (if not THE) best movies ever made. The stylish cinematography, great story, developed characters, dark atmosphere, superb dialogue, and more constantly keep you intrigued and hooked. It perfectly portrays the kind of violence that went on in the United States at that time, and makes you really wonder if the events portrayed in this movie happened. I give it a perfect 5 out of 5.
Written by Alexander Martin
Cast: Marlon Brando- Don Vito Corleone Al Pacino- Michael Corleone James Caan- Sonny Corleone Robert Duvall- Tom Hagen Sterling Hayden- Captain McCluskey
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Rated R
Runtime: 175 min
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