I can now completely understand why this is viewed as one of the greatest films of all time. It is unlike any other I have ever seen. From the solid acting creating gripping scenes that keep your eyes glued to the screen, to the lighting making every scene so intense and of course the script which is so deep and so rich, and has such unpredictable twists and turns, this film is a complete work of art.
The cast is spectacular, Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan and Robert Duvall all play their parts perfectly. Brando wears heavy make-up throughout as he plays the role of the don, The Godfather himself, Vito Corleone. Vito is the head of a powerful mafia family in New York, but has aged and needs a successor, he looks towards his sons to take over, Sonny (Caan) and Michael (Pacino). Michael wants nothing to do with the family business, and he's done well so far. Living his life away from organised crime, even becoming a war hero, but as a series of bad events happen to the Corleone family and we start to see the beginnings of a mafia war it grows harder for Michael to stay away.
Al Pacino is absolute captivating in his character of Michael, it is hard to believe that he wasn't already a huge star before filming, in fact he was the complete opposite, a nobody. No one from the studio wanted to cast him, with the likes of Warren Beatty and Jack Nicholson favoured to act the role. Director Coppola forced the studio to hire the unknown Pacino and this was one of the best decisions in the making of 'The Godfather', as it would have been a different film without him and it's hard to imagine anyone else acting it so perfectly.
This film is a magnificent insight into organised crime, it shows you in detail the ins and outs of the Corleone family business. It is surprising that this film ever actually got made with the amount of problems there were along the way. One being that real mafia heads were against the release of 'The Godfather' as they didn't want details of organised crime to get out in the open, they sent threats to get the film stopped, they even went as far as to shoot at the producers cars.
Other issues the film came across were selecting the director and the cast. There were many debates about who should star in the leading roles, Brando had a bad reputation and Pacino was hardly known in the industry, both were seen as risks to the picture, but evidently the risks paid of, with Brando winning Best Actor in a Leading Role at the Oscars and Al Pacino being controversially nominated alongside co-stars Caan and Duvall from Best Actor in a Supporting Role (everyone knows that he was a leading character not supporting).
Francis Ford Coppola didn't actually like the book and was hesitant to direct the film, the only reason he accepted was because he needed the money, which funnily enough is the exact same reason Mario Puzo wrote the book to begin with, he was broke. These two together created not just a screenplay but a masterpiece, an Oscar winning masterpiece, which will live on forever through history as one of the greatest. They are the true stars of this film, they pushed for the casting of Brando and Pacino and they created a script which these actors could make their own, it is almost at times like you are watching a documentary of the organised crime business and that these people on screen are truly the Corleone family.
Last but certainly not least I must talk about Nino Rota's score. This is a score that fits the motion picture so perfectly, it is very subtle yet manages to capture every aspect of the story and characters emotions. If you hear the music alone you can tell it is the part of something special. It embodies Italy and the Italian people in this film who are trying to make a living the only way they seem to know how.
I cannot believe I waited so long to watch this classic. Since watching 'The Godfather' I haven't been able to get it out of my head, and I am certain I never will. This is a film that stays with you forever, and stands out as the movie to beat, the movie that all others aim towards in a sense of beauty and critical acclaim. If you are like me and are a film buff who has never seen 'The Godfather' then what are you waiting for, go and watch it as soon as possible, as it does not disappoint. If you are a movie lover then you have to respect this one for how perfectly flawless it seems to be.
I now have to see if 'The Godfather: Part II' also lives up the praise it has received through the years.
I give 'The Godfather' a high 9 out of 10, and recommend it to anyone who wishes to become completely in awe of a motion picture.
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