The Godfather
Jan. 22nd, 2008 11:27 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talkstowolvesYesterday, I watched The Godfather for the first time.
I can't believe that I'd never seen this film before. It's absolutely brilliant: remarkable acting, amazingly well-paced for its length, and intoxicating in its characterization both of individuals and collectives.
Really, I just enjoyed myself immensely watching this film. Until things started going poorly for the Corleone family, and then I sat in nervous anticipation. And then, at the end, I was transfixed by inevitability and sorrow.
Having been subjected to Godfather impersonations since I was a wee one, thanks to the Godfather being such a pop icon, I was concerned that Marlon Brando's performance as Don Corleone would be over-the-top. Luckily, that was a function of caricature and not a manifestation of the base attributes. Brando was brilliant.
Also, and I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I went through the whole movie wondering about Michael, the youngest son. "What a handsome devil!" I kept thinking to myself. "I wonder who that is playing him?" And "What a familiar nose!" You can bet my face met my palm when I realized it was Al Pacino.
I don't really have time to write a deeper review, but there you have it. I'm eager to watch the next one when I have a chunk of time.
I can't believe that I'd never seen this film before. It's absolutely brilliant: remarkable acting, amazingly well-paced for its length, and intoxicating in its characterization both of individuals and collectives.
Really, I just enjoyed myself immensely watching this film. Until things started going poorly for the Corleone family, and then I sat in nervous anticipation. And then, at the end, I was transfixed by inevitability and sorrow.
Having been subjected to Godfather impersonations since I was a wee one, thanks to the Godfather being such a pop icon, I was concerned that Marlon Brando's performance as Don Corleone would be over-the-top. Luckily, that was a function of caricature and not a manifestation of the base attributes. Brando was brilliant.
Also, and I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I went through the whole movie wondering about Michael, the youngest son. "What a handsome devil!" I kept thinking to myself. "I wonder who that is playing him?" And "What a familiar nose!" You can bet my face met my palm when I realized it was Al Pacino.
I don't really have time to write a deeper review, but there you have it. I'm eager to watch the next one when I have a chunk of time.