"The Godfather" by Francis Ford Coppola: a review

One of the major “gangster” films ever, The Godfather produced two sequels in 1974 and 1990. Although a director of many other films, Francis Ford Coppola remains known from the Godfather trilogy. Made from a novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather was released in 1972.

This movie restored the star power of Marlon Brando as the “godfather”, Don Vito Corleone winning him a best actor Oscar. His memorable line, “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse” was voted the second most memorable in cinematic history to the American Film Institute.

Al Pacino played his son Michael; James Caan, his older son, Sonny; and Robert Duvall, his lawyer. The epic tale shows the transition of power from the Don to Michael, who ruthlessly dispatches his enemies. It’s a story about vicious mobsters and their extended personal and gang families.

But somehow, the viewer finds themselves rooting for the Corleones. But we don’t feel too bad about it because usually the ones we are rooting against are bad guys, too.