An American classic (The Godfather I (DVD))

Member Name: shaneo632

Product:	The Godfather I (DVD)
Date:	11/09/09 (3 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Everything

Disadvantages: Slow moving

note: also appears on The Student Room and Flixster

Frequently hailed as one of the best films of all time, The Godfather is a searing crime drama adapted from Mario Puzo's 1969 novel of the same name. This film, directed by legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, is a masterclass of the crime genre, and wrestlers with Martin Scorsese's masterful Goodfellas as the title of the greatest crime film ever made.

The film depicts the Corleone family, a crime family, helmed by Don Corleone (Marlon Brando), who has four grown kids, Michael (Al Pacino), Sonny (James Caan), Fredo (John Cazale), and Connie (Talia Shire). He also has a helping hand from lawyer and counsellor Tom Hagen (Robert Duvall). The film opens on the day of the Don's wedding, and leaps from there to explore issues of family, national identity, and intertwines this with murder, and a thrilling revenge plot.

Although Brando's performance is perhaps the most iconci, the film ultimately belongs to Al Pacino, whose performance as a son who must go into exile for avenging the attempted murder of his father is altogether tragic, intense, and dark. His plot is by far the most involving and tense of a film absolutely packed with astounding narrative, so it's quite the compliment!

As a work of narrative fiction, this is a stellar adaptation of Puzo's novel - it has a wealth of depth and has plenty of nuance. There's a lot going on at any one time but with a long runtime, it takes its time and doesn't rush through things at a breakneck pace. It's also full of iconic imagery that has inspired virtually every crime film since, from Goodfellas to the great HBO show The Sopranos.

An expertly-crafted adaptation of Mario Puzo's novel, with daring performances and unforgettable imagery. This is a true classic not only of American cinema but of all of film. Amazing.

Summary: A superb, near flawless film