The Godfather Review

Murdur. Extortion. Bribery. For some, these are taboo actions, certainly things that no law abiding citizen would consider. For the Corleone family, these things are a matter of course. The Godfather is able to give the viewer a morbid glimpse of the dark life.

The characters
The characters in this movie are phenomenal. Each is acted nearly flawlessly, giving the film a sense of realism. Best of all is the infamous Marlon Brando as the godfather himself who delivers his lines with such chilling intensity that you can't help but look behind your shoulder. Joining in this not so merry band of characters are his three sons, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), Sonny Corleone (James Cain), and Fredo Corleone (John Cazale). Their are also other characters, but they are, in my opinion, of lesser importance, with the possible exception of Kay, Michael's girlfriend (Diane Keaton). However, even these more minor characters are portrayed incredibly well.


Basic Plot Summary

Upon viewing this film, one is quickly enthralled by its sinister beginning-a lively party is going on outside while a man (Bonasera) negotiates with Vito regarding a vengenace killing. We are then quickly exposed to the nature of the Carleone family, that of one of the "five families" in the mafia, and are introduced equally quickly to one of Vito's three sons, Michael Corleone, who at first states he wants nothing to do with the mafia business. The film follows various members and associates of the Corleone family, and gives the viewer a morbid glimpse into the world of the mafia. It also follows the aforementioend son, Michael, from his initial personality of a carefree young man to a cold hearted killer. In one particularly memorable scene, Michael's negotiations to buy out one "Moe Greene" (Alex Rocco), Moe storms out of the room while Mike sits stonily. His brother Fredo becomes enraged, saying
"Mike, you don't come to Las Vegas and talk to a man like Moe Green like that!"

Mike then calmly stares at Fredo, and replies in a chilling monotone

"Fredo, your my older brother, and I love you. But don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again. Ever."

Although this movie is probably not for the squeamish, it tells its dark story with such elegance that is hard to tell anyone not to see this. The quality of the acting was such that it had no problem making the viewer squirm when they are meant to, so to speak.


The one thing that stood out more than anything in this film is the use of lighting, specifically low key lighting. Whenever a shady deal is happening, the room itself seems to dim to reflect the mood. This is especially apparent when the Don (Vito) himself is on screen. With very few exceptions, the Don's face is shown either half or all in shadow, perhaps to reflect his own troubled inner self.
The last thing I wanted to mention about this film is its unbelievable soundtrack. Each song fits perfectly into the scene where it was inserted. As such, the already chilling effects of seeing what is considered "normal mafia business" is amplified even further by its amazing score-the main theme has, as far as I understand, has become famous.