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@s.sohan2005
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The Godfather is the quintessential American mafia epic film. It is an epic tale of a man falling from grace and trodding a darker path. It is at the heart of the cynicism of the American dream with the screenplay of Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola. This film is a reinvention of the classic American gangster stock figure as a dysfunctional slow-burn drama.
Francis Ford Coppola's direction is some of the best directions in cinema right from the opening scene. The marriage scene is a great set piece as it sets up and gives important context about important characters and their worldviews and the cinematography gives it a sense of realism. The opening scene is a vicious and cynical statement about organized crime and violence in America.
Marlo Brando as Don Vito Corleone is a stinking cobra who is a well-respected man from the outside but is a bigoted patriarch from the inside who cares deeply about his family and business and is a battle-hardened gangster. Al Pacino gives a stunning performance as Michael Corleone portrays duality in his arc. James Caan as the hot-headed son of Michael Corleone gives a stellar performance as the counterpoint to Al Pacino. Robert Duvall is great as the calm-headed illegitimate son of Don Corleone and his pairing with Al Pacino makes it a well-rounded performance.
Francis Ford Coppola alongside Gordon Willis's cinematography is stunning with great lighting contrasts with experimental usage of darkness to punctuate the tension and tone. It conveys a sense of fear paranoia and dread and is done organically while fitting the narrative of the underbelly world of this film.
This film has an energetic yet slow-burn pace bringing depth to its quality and providing character-rich moments for Don and Vito Corleone and pivotal side characters Sonny and Tom Hagen. This makes us invested in their characters and the choices they make in their respective arcs and builds a narrative tapestry around it.
Overall The Godfather is the pinnacle of cinematic achievement of the likes which will never be replicated in film history.
By @s.sohan2005
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