Analysis of the godfather movie

Marlon brando, who plays the godfather as a shrewd, unbreakable old man, actually has the character lead in the movie. Essay analysis of the movie the godfather chuqian lin instructor. See a complete list of the characters in the godfather trilogy and indepth analyses of vito corleone, michael corleone, kay adams, tom hagen, and sonny corleone. So the godfather is about one man, vito, trying to retain that position in order for one of his sons. The story by mario puzo and francis ford coppola is a brilliant conjuring act, inviting us to consider the mafia entirely on its own terms. The negative influence of coppolas the godfather the new. Jan 27, 2020 remembering the godfather movie analysis, the blocking here helps tell the story. Don vito corleone marlon brando emerges as a sympathetic and even admirable character. Few novels have forced themselves into the cultural imagination as brutally as mario puzos the godfather. In the movie, the godfather is more a guardian of both his literal and symbolic godchildrens interests. I use that word to evoke its dependence on the script, and its usefulness in conveying the scripts.

The godfather don vito corleone is the head of the corleone mafia family in new york. The paradox of coppolas pursuit of style is that it was designed for maximum legibility. This outline relates the scenes in the order in which they occur in the movie. The godfather part ii 1974 movie summary and film synopsis. Through vitos point of view of america and its dream. Detailed analysis of characters in mario puzos the godfather. This extended family narrative rests on the shoulders of michael corleone, as he soon must balance a double life the legal side he strategically cultivated with his girlfriend kay diane. Analysis of the godfather mawr gorshin capitalism, communism, film analysis, literature analysis, politics march 26, 2016 july 20, 2019 18 minutes the godfather is a trilogy of films by francis ford coppola, written by him and mario puzo, based on puzos 1969 novel. But brandos performance is a skillful throwaway, even though it earned him an academy award for best actor. Karen smalley ftv122d1 spring 2016 the godfather film editing analysis paper in the movie the godfather directed by francis ford coppola, coppola uses a variety of brilliant and distinctive editing techniques to cleverly capture the story of the corleone family. On march 15, 1972, the godfather was unveiled in theaters in new york city. Unlike most of the analysis found herewhich simply lists the unique individual story appreciationsthis indepth study details the actual encoding for each structural item. The story, spanning from 1945 to 1955, chronicles the corleone family under patriarch vito corleone brando, focusing on the transformation of one of his sons, michael corleone pacino, from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.

They say great movies should have a minimum of three great scenes and zero flaws well, if thats the criteria, the godfather has surpassed it in spades. Description, analysis, and more, so you can understand the ins and outs of the godfather. This video is my humble attempt to analyse which i consider to be the greatest movie. The godfather part ii scene analysis the peopling of new. He operates primarily in terms of this situationtied to a possible future as a the next don, but desiring of something else which he can perhaps have with kaye. Part ii definitely follows the major rule of a sequel.

The movie begins with bonasera, a man seeking a favor, visiting don corleone in the godfathers home office. While the godfather is an aesthetically much more conventional film than the godfather, part ii, it nonetheless can be understood as a combination of european art film and american commercial cinema. As you develop this summary, remember the differences. He explains that he always believed in america, and it treated him welluntil his daughter was beat up by her boyfriend and another man after she refused to have sex with them. T he props that i felt were extremely important the film and gave it its real feel were alcohol and firearms.

Learn all about how the characters in the godfather such as don vito corleone and michael corleone contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. The godfather is the most substantial and satisfying of all the mass entertainment films to come out of hollywood in recent years. Analysis of the godfather while watching the movie the godfather i could not help but notice the numerous props that were used to set the scene and feel of the movie throughout its entirety. This movie stars marlon brando, al pacino, and james cann among many others. The godfather summary supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The movie begins in 1979, with a brief flashback establishing the long and tragic history of criminal activity within, and by, the corleone family.

The combination of a professional stage direction by coppola, magnificent play of talented actors, and amazing scenario has. In the opening scene of the godfather, the godfather is visited by a. The godfather, starring marlan brando, reveals itself to the audience not with loud, crashbanging action, but rather with rich character portrayal and quiet brooding atmosphere. The godfather is an american film series that consists of three crime films directed by francis ford coppola inspired by the novel of the same name by italian american author mario puzo. Nov 14, 2016 released in 1972, francis ford coppolas the godfather has gone on to become on of the most critically acclaimed, highest grossing american films in cinematic history. Identify a featurelength film that fits this genre and provide a basic summary of the movie. The godfather is simply more than just a mafia film in my opinion. Part iii takes place in the year 1979 with don michael corleone turning over a new leaf at the tender age of 60. In august 1945, during the lavish wedding reception of his daughter connie, don vito corleone, head of a large new york crime family and godfather to the italianamerican community, listens to requests for favors, honoring a longstanding sicilian tradition that a father cannot refuse a. Francis ford coppolas gangster movie, the godfather, examines two views of the condemnation of the american dream and america, through the eyes of father and son through many specific aspects of drugs, conflicting views, and balance.

In a flashback, the corleone family is seated at the dinner table ready to celebrate vitos birthday. He sells off all the casinos, and then hands the family business over to a younger mobster named joey zasa joe mantegna in an attempt to go legit as a honest businessman. The films follow the trials of the italian american mafia corleone family whose patriarch, vito corleone, rises to be a major figure in american organized crime. The godfather summary in a dark room, amerigo bonasera, a sicilianborn undertaker, describes his plight. But one of the most overlooked aspects of the film is how well the blocking and staging are. Support was provided by cals art of writing and digital humanities programs. The godfather, adapted from mario puzos novel of the same name, is much more than just a fictional account of a nonexistent crime syndicate. The godfather study guide contains a biography of director francis ford coppola, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. T he godfather is rightfully one of the greatest films ever made. The very mode of analysis invoked by a seriesin which the parsing of character and study of intention take precedenceis the one for which the godfather seems to have been created, and. The godfather film music analysis by liam fitzgerald on prezi. Spanning two generations, a library of supporting characters, and multiple countries, this 3.

The opening shot is of michael corleone, now godfather, having his ring finger kissed. Perhaps the clearest theme in the godfather film, which is better depicted in godfather ii, is the process by which a hardworking and lawabiding vito corleone, gains power and money, and. In the godfather part ii, we learn the early life of vito corleonefrom a boy born in sicily to one of the most respected mafia dons of new york interwoven in the film is micheal corleones rise as he attempts to expand his business empire into las vegas, florida, and prerevolution cu. Analysis of the movie the godfather 1463 words 6 pages francis ford coppola works within a lot of different genres, but still manages to capture the essence of one genre. Specifically, it will focus on its cinematography, lighting techniques, editing style, sound, camera techniques, and acting. Hopefully, this will further improve our understanding of the movie and help appreciate its unique filming techniques. This video is my humble attempt to analyse which i consider to be the greatest movie ever made. Puzo is a good storyteller, but no great shakes as a writer. Even if you watched this scene without the dialogue, you could tell sonnys in control initially while michael seems like an afterthought.

Later, many famous directors had taken advantage of this new trend and released many great movies with this genre, such as director howard hawkes with his famous film scarface in 1932 and director raoul walsh with the movie white heat in 1949. Heres where youll find analysis of the film as a whole, from themes and symbols to key facts. Mar 20, 2016 the final scenes of the godfather part ii are quite interesting, especially in the camera techniques used. With him are his oldest son, sonny, and his adopted son and family lawyer, tom hagen. The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son. Is it a powerful story, brilliant direction, and strong acting performances.

This unorthodox technique made it hard for me to follow the movie, as i am more attuned to the traditional formulaic hollywood style of filmmaking. Cornerstone press officethe random house group summary. Al pacino, james caan, diane keaton, talia shire and robert duvall join marlon brando, who gives an unforgettable, careerreviving performance as don vito corleone. The blocking works, and it makes whats to come even more impactful. Thats why we sympathize with characters who are essentially evil. Oct 10, 2009 while watching the movie the godfather i could not help but notice the numerous props that were used to set the scene and feel of the movie throughout its entirety. Read a plot overview of the entire film or a scene by scene summary and analysis. A presentation analysing the famous excerpt love theme from the oscaraward winning movie trilogy, the godfather. Bonaseras daughter is disfigured as a result of a brutal attack by her boyfriend and his friends. Anatomy of a film is a digital project that emerged from the seventies, a 45person undergraduate lecture course taught by scott saul at uc berkeley in spring 2018. The mafia doesnt operate as a democracy, but a monarchy, with all the intrigues and rebellions that this involves. The baptism scene out of all the gangster films i have seen, one particular scene sticks out in my memory. The godfather shows how an orphaned sicilian immigrant rises to the top of organized crime in america and how his son, who at first shuns his fathers world, comes to embrace his fathers way. The success of the godfather as a novel was largely due to a series of unforgettable scenes.

The godfather film analysis essay the godfather ii is an american crime film that depicts the early life and criminal career of vito corleone in the 1920s, while in 1958, his son, michael tries to expand the family crime syndicate while trying to protect the family business. Today for our film analysis of the godfather, were examining a pivotal scene in the character development of michael corleone. Michael, vitos youngest son and a decorated ww ii marine is also present at the wedding. Or is it the interweaving of these key elements, plus something more. Im unsure whether to call it a genre or not, but it certainly is one of the basic stories told throughout time, rebirth.

Michael is a young war hero who is uninterested in the life of crime offered him by his family. The godfather trilogy was released in 1992, in which the films are fundamentally in chronological order. At first sight, the godfather seems like a crime picture or a gangster movie. The godfather book jacket of the novel the godfather by author mario puzo 192099. Leadership lessons from the godfather psychology today. Michael corleone al pacino is now approaching 60 and feels tremendous guilt for indulging in his ruthless ambition many years ago. And we should remember that in its day it was the most successful film there had. He protects them by going around the law, demanding their eternal loyalty. Have an open mind and see this film if you get the chance. He has come to the godfather, don vito corleone, to enact justice where the law has failed.

This movie has everything from great action scenes to world famous actors. Al pacino, with a brilliantly developed performance as michael, is the lead. The godfather the movie the godfather, made in 1974, details the corleone crime family in manhattan during the mid 1930s. Not only is the film untainted by any poor scenes, the number of sensational ones are nearly countless. Its creative cinematography, haunting score, and unforgettable performances by such actors as marlon brando and al pacino made the multigenerational saga an enduring cultural touchstone. The film cuts to an earlier scene, where vito and michael are on the train. A look inside was a 73minute documentary released in 1991. Francis ford coppolas the godfather was written and rewritten in the editing room by a total of six editors, only two of whom, william reynolds and peter zinner, were credited. The negative influence of coppolas the godfather the. Through vitos point of view of america and its dream are law, order, stability, family, and security. The movie the godfather ii nor does the film seem concerned about character development. The don, vito corleone, played by marlon brando, leads his organization against a relentless narcotics push by a rival family, the sollozzos. This is also the day that michael corleones family discovers that he left college and enlisted in the marines.

Aug 22, 2016 the best leaders develop leadership capacity in others. The godfather in 800 to 1200 words explain genre theory and, using chapter 4 of the text as a reference, thoroughly describe the conventions and attributes of your selected genre. Michael seems to be uninterested in being a part of the family business. When a mob war breaks out and don vito is seriously wounded, it falls to son michael pacino, previously. Michael corleone is now a legitimate business man with his old criminal enterprises under joey zasas control. The godfather, american gangster epic film, released in 1972, that was adapted from the 1969 bestselling novel by mario puzo and has been regarded as a masterpiece since its release. The francis ford coppola film would go on to win three oscars at the 45th academy awards, including best picture. Apr 17, 2017 i hear a lot of my moviegoer of my age and younger, dismissing the godfather as a long and boring film. All they have to do is agree to return the favorby means illegal or legal.

During a backyard wedding reception for his daughter, connie, and his new soninlaw, carlo rizzi, don vito corleone, a mafia boss known as the godfather, conducts business in his office. The following analysis reveals a comprehensive look at the storyform for the godfather. The godfather is told entirely within a closed world. I hear a lot of my moviegoer of my age and younger, dismissing the godfather as a long and boring film. Notice that the camera opens, in the dark, under the foreboding tune of nino rotas timeless score to reveal a pair of sinister pupils set inside the deeply recessed eye sockets of a frightening, skeletonlike face. In the film, the godfather, the baptism scene is without a doubt one of the best scenes in all gangster films.

At the very least, the film is characterised by a very careful aesthetic style. The other examines vitos early years in sicily and new york. Hopefully, this will further improve our understanding of the movie and help appreciate its. The goal of this essay to do an aesthetic analysis of the godfather movie. Analysis of the movie the godfather 1299 words cram. Dec 29, 2018 godfather part iii, the death of michael corleone. The movie gives almost everything in the novel except the gynecological repair job. Much of the latter portion of the godfather movie depicts the development of michael corleone from an outsider in the family. Despite the fact that a movie is only a way to depict a humans life, and it cannot show all of its tints and hues, the final scene of the godfather manages to create an illusion of living trough the film, and living with the film. It is a story about a complex family, fathers and sons, human nature, and the thirst for power and respect. The american film institute afi has the godfather listed at number two in 2008 as one of the greatest films in american culture today. Directed by jeff warner, the film featured some behind the scenes content from all three films, interviews with the actors, and screen tests. Francis ford coppolas the godfather epitomizes a classic movie.