Sunday 24 February 2013

The Godfather Analysis

The Godfather
 
 
The Godfather is seen as one of the best films ever made, especially from a technical standpoint, being one of the most quoted and imitated films of all time. it shows as it was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winning for Best Picture, Best Actor (Marlon Brando), and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Godfather was followed by a pair of sequels, showing how well it was liked.

The film follows the story of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his son Michael (Al Pacino) in the 1940's New York. It starts at the wedding of Corleone's daughter, Connie, to which Michael brings his girlfriend, Kay, and explains the family buisness to her. Later in the film the Don gets shot down, after barely surviving the first assasination attempt Michael saves him from another attempt on his life. Micheal then tries to persuaded his older borther Sonny (James Caan) that he should be the one to take revenge on the men responsible. After Michael murders the men responsible he holes himself up in Sicily, while there he loves and marries a local girl, who later dies at the hand of a Corleone enemy in an attempt to kill Michael. All this happenes while back in New York a gang war erupts, and Sonny gets killed. When Michael returns to New York he gets Kay (His ex from the beginning of the film). The Don recovers and makes peace with his enemies. Michael is then the new Don and then goes to launch a campaign to get revenge on the people who once tried wipe out the family.

It has a single narrative voice told through the main character's point of view (Don Coleone). The storyline is sometimes interrupted, (which can sometimes be confusing and hard to follow), to emphasize important events, like the use of parallel storylines taking place showing Sollozzo’s double dealing with Don Corleone and another family right before the an assassination attempt on Don Corleone. The film is slow, deliberate and precise, reminding us of the head of the Corleone family. There’s plenty from vendettas to power struggles to rising through the ranks to become head of a powerful organization. More than anything, this is Michael Corleone’s (Al Pacino) story. It tells how this youngest son of Don Corleone (Marlon Brando) went from a civilian to the head of his mob family – how he cast aside the promise of a “normal” life for the duty and obligation to safeguard his family. Indeed, “family” is a big part of the film – and a big part of why Michael’s motivations seem so genuine (even if his actions are murderous). Of course, family plays a crucial role in this movie, as it does with many cultures and societies. The family theme is established fromt the first scene  at the wedding, as they are where large extended families come together, its also where the "family buisness" is first intoduced. Throughout the film there's the sence of loyalty, for example when Michael saves his father from the rivals assasination attempt. Overall the film shows that it earned it awards through the acting, music, script and directing. 




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