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I'm finally doing this... About 6 months ago, I just put my Top 100, and was suggested to do one at a time, for discussion, etc. etc.. I spent quite a bit of time - tried doing a Top 100, but I just couldn't, and thought I would have to revisit a few.
I'll try to leave each selection up for at least 24 hours for discussion..
#50 - The Godfather: Part II
It's the best sequel ever made. Besides the screenplay for the 1950's (as well as Cuba's Revolution), the flashbacks scenes are in Mario Puzo's original book. What a transformation by Al Pacino, DeNiro is great as well. John Cazale is also great, great acting all over. I had this ranked a little further down, but The Godfather was my favorite movie in my teens for quite a while, so a few nostalgic points.
The first film represented American capitalism in many ways, along with immigration and how one adapts. In Part II, we see what happens after you have all the money and power in the world, but no love, not even within his own family. What he can't fix politically, he kills.
The most attachment to him is fear. His mother dies, his sister becomes estranged from him and only comes to him when she needs money. Puzo didn't want Michael to kill Fredo, but Coppola did, so they compromise and wait until his mother dies. His wife leaves Michael because of the danger. There's no price worth the fear, let alone possible death.
There are lots of great lines, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" as the spirit of the original Don Corleone is still here, even after death. I especially loved with Tom Hagen (Duvall) says that Hyman Roth's health is so fragile, and Michael responds with the great, "He's been dying of the same heart attack for 15 years" - it's especially refreshing to me because of the truth, black humor, but I felt the same way. Every time someone would ask Hyman, he'd complain about his health in a pitied fashion.
The only time I saw Michael smile was when he sees Fredo (banana daquiri). He's cold as ever, and finds himself at the end all alone. Speaking of cold, I have chills just thinking about his loneliness at the end. Even though he's become so unlikeable, you do feel a bit for him, at least I did.
I'll try to leave each selection up for at least 24 hours for discussion..
#50 - The Godfather: Part II
It's the best sequel ever made. Besides the screenplay for the 1950's (as well as Cuba's Revolution), the flashbacks scenes are in Mario Puzo's original book. What a transformation by Al Pacino, DeNiro is great as well. John Cazale is also great, great acting all over. I had this ranked a little further down, but The Godfather was my favorite movie in my teens for quite a while, so a few nostalgic points.
The first film represented American capitalism in many ways, along with immigration and how one adapts. In Part II, we see what happens after you have all the money and power in the world, but no love, not even within his own family. What he can't fix politically, he kills.
The most attachment to him is fear. His mother dies, his sister becomes estranged from him and only comes to him when she needs money. Puzo didn't want Michael to kill Fredo, but Coppola did, so they compromise and wait until his mother dies. His wife leaves Michael because of the danger. There's no price worth the fear, let alone possible death.
There are lots of great lines, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer" as the spirit of the original Don Corleone is still here, even after death. I especially loved with Tom Hagen (Duvall) says that Hyman Roth's health is so fragile, and Michael responds with the great, "He's been dying of the same heart attack for 15 years" - it's especially refreshing to me because of the truth, black humor, but I felt the same way. Every time someone would ask Hyman, he'd complain about his health in a pitied fashion.
The only time I saw Michael smile was when he sees Fredo (banana daquiri). He's cold as ever, and finds himself at the end all alone. Speaking of cold, I have chills just thinking about his loneliness at the end. Even though he's become so unlikeable, you do feel a bit for him, at least I did.
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