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As the concluding chapter in Coppola's crime family saga, The Godfather: Part III feels just as seamless to the continuation of the story as the first two films. But, unlike Coppola's first and second installments, The Godfather: Part III skips ahead nearly 20 years, and relies on continuity, forcing the audience to allow additional closure to what was arguably a story that ended in 1974.
The Godfather: Part III is undeniably controversial. Sofia Coppola received a lot of hate for her wooden performance - even though I think it is somewhat warranted, she wasn't in the film enough for it to be the outcry that has shadowed over the entire thing - and a lot of people found the plot outlandish - I'm not one of them. I have two less dramatic problems with the film.
Avoiding spoilers, I'll say this. During a scene where very important people come together, things turn rather chaotic. That's the first serious problem I had with the film. Especially when one of the attendees, Albert Volpe, has a bizarre fit about retrieving his "lucky coat." I'm not entirely sure why Coppola went with this - actually, I might have an idea, and if I'm correct, I'll despise this particular scene even more - but whatever his reasons, it just didn't work. This scene wouldn't be that big of a deal if it didn't entirely change the direction of the film.
The other problem I have with the film, and this is the biggest one, is the love interest between Vincent Mancini and Michael's daughter Mary. If you haven't seen The Godfather: Part III, let me assure you this isn't a spoiler, because it's apparent they're interested in one another from the very beginning - which is troubling for a number of reasons, especially when this romance seems to dumb down the movie.
The Godfather: Part III is still a good movie. It's certainly the weakest in the series, yet it still manages to be a worthy continuation of the saga. While at times it seems to be too involved, believe it or not, with the concept of family, the ending of the film is brutal and arguably proves the necessity of some of its most frustrating scenes. The finale is probably one of the trilogy's finest moments. In fact, one of the most chilling revelations in the entire series occurs here, involving "the donkey."
Considered the black sheep of the trilogy, The Godfather: Part III really isn't all that bad. Sure, it's different, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. At times it may feel like a brainless exercise and it can disappoint in some areas. But perhaps this is intentional, with Michael resembling more of a wise old man rather than a cold-blooded killer. Coppola's third film ends the epic story on a reasonably satisfying note, but visibly misses the mark on what the previous two films were all about.
The Godfather: Part III (1990)
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Starring: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Andy Garcia
As the concluding chapter in Coppola's crime family saga, The Godfather: Part III feels just as seamless to the continuation of the story as the first two films. But, unlike Coppola's first and second installments, The Godfather: Part III skips ahead nearly 20 years, and relies on continuity, forcing the audience to allow additional closure to what was arguably a story that ended in 1974.
The Godfather: Part III is undeniably controversial. Sofia Coppola received a lot of hate for her wooden performance - even though I think it is somewhat warranted, she wasn't in the film enough for it to be the outcry that has shadowed over the entire thing - and a lot of people found the plot outlandish - I'm not one of them. I have two less dramatic problems with the film.
Avoiding spoilers, I'll say this. During a scene where very important people come together, things turn rather chaotic. That's the first serious problem I had with the film. Especially when one of the attendees, Albert Volpe, has a bizarre fit about retrieving his "lucky coat." I'm not entirely sure why Coppola went with this - actually, I might have an idea, and if I'm correct, I'll despise this particular scene even more - but whatever his reasons, it just didn't work. This scene wouldn't be that big of a deal if it didn't entirely change the direction of the film.
The other problem I have with the film, and this is the biggest one, is the love interest between Vincent Mancini and Michael's daughter Mary. If you haven't seen The Godfather: Part III, let me assure you this isn't a spoiler, because it's apparent they're interested in one another from the very beginning - which is troubling for a number of reasons, especially when this romance seems to dumb down the movie.
The Godfather: Part III is still a good movie. It's certainly the weakest in the series, yet it still manages to be a worthy continuation of the saga. While at times it seems to be too involved, believe it or not, with the concept of family, the ending of the film is brutal and arguably proves the necessity of some of its most frustrating scenes. The finale is probably one of the trilogy's finest moments. In fact, one of the most chilling revelations in the entire series occurs here, involving "the donkey."
Considered the black sheep of the trilogy, The Godfather: Part III really isn't all that bad. Sure, it's different, but I thoroughly enjoyed the film. At times it may feel like a brainless exercise and it can disappoint in some areas. But perhaps this is intentional, with Michael resembling more of a wise old man rather than a cold-blooded killer. Coppola's third film ends the epic story on a reasonably satisfying note, but visibly misses the mark on what the previous two films were all about.