THE GODFATHER

Review: Centred around a New York crime family, in particular, one brother who rises to become head of the family’s criminal empire.
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton
Year: 1972
Genre: Crime and Drama
Conclusion: 5/5
A record breaking film at the time of its release. One of the finest American films ever made. As stated on Rotten Tomatoes this is one of the most wildly imitated, quoted, and lampooned movies of all time. Great ensemble cast but the one that really stands out for me is Al Pacino. Based on a novel by Italian American author Mario Puzo. The cinematographer has done some interesting things with this film like the colour etc. Apparently Marlon Brando did not memorize most of his lines and he read from cue cards during most of the film. One of the most famous movie lines is in this and it is “I’m gotta make him an offer he can’t refuse”. This line is as famous as “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” from the film Gone with the Wind (1939). Marlon Brando was only 47 at the time and some critics felt he was too young for the part. Anthony Perkins auditioned for the role of Sonny Corleone. The reason that this film is a “15” and not an “18” is because the violence isn’t focused too heavily upon, and also with a lack of focus on any injury. According to the BBFC some of the works were cut. To obtain this category cuts were required but the details are not available. At the Academy Awards in 1973 this won 3 Oscars. They were for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Marlon Brando) and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. At the Golden Globe Awards in 1973 this won 5 Awards. They were for Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama (Marlon Brando), Best Director – Motion Picture, Best Screenplay – Motion Picture and Best Original Score – Motion Picture. At the Bafta Awards in 1973 this only won one award and that was for Nino Rota for the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music. One film critic wrote about this film “It is a long (three hours), often exciting and always well-directed film about the struggle for survival of one of the five Mafia ‘families,’ the Corleones, in late 1940’s New York”. In 2012 Film Critic Barry Norman produced a list in the Radio Times of the 100 Greatest Films of All Time and this film was listed.
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1348706585?ref_=ttvi_vi_imdb_4