Featured Movies
Partners
Godfather: Part III, TheWith parts I & II of The Godfather saga widely considered classics, The Godfather Part III was always going to arrive with a weight around its well-tailored neck. Considering the first two films to be hard acts to follow is an understatement: how do you better a dazzling pair of masterpieces? The short answer is that unless you're Peter Jackson or Sergio Leone, pulling out a trump card the third time around is near impossible. Thankfully, Coppola at least manages to come close with this concluding chapter in the Godfather saga.
Arriving in 1990 (16 years after Part II), the film's gestation had its fair share of problems. The project was offered to a variety of directors other than Coppola, around a dozen scripts were penned and, at one stage, the film was slated to be directed by Sylvester Stallone who was also set to star. Lucky for us, Sly shuffled off to punch out the umpteenth Rocky sequel and the original creative team of Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola stepped in to see the troubled project through to completion.
The Godfather Part III sees Al Pacino return to the role that made him famous some 18 years earlier, and his performance as family head Michael Corleone is as potent as it was all those years ago. Once sharp and ruthless, the Corleone seen in this film is a shadow of his former glories: haunted by his evil deeds and ill health, the Don makes a final bid to buy forgiveness and bring legitimacy to his life's work by forging a shady bond with corrupt members of the Vatican.
As with the other films in the series, it's family that acts at the focus. The ailing Michael attempts to reunite his fractured horde as well as deal with the fact his beloved daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola, who previously acted as Michael's infant nephew in the first film) is being romanced by hot-headed half-nephew Vincent (Andy Garcia in an Oscar-nominated performance).
Brimming with all of the violence, intrigue and angst that you'd expect from a Godfather film, Part III performed poorly at the box office and was slated by some at the time of its release. Much of the derision was aimed at the casting of Coppola's daughter (Winona Ryder bowed after succumbing to the Hollywood-specific affliction known as "exhaustion"). Although the Oscar-winning Lost In Translation suggests Sofia is more talented behind the camera than in front of it, the criticism of her performance is largely unwarranted. When you're up against the likes of Pacino, Keaton and Garcia, though, your work is certainly cut out for you.
Despite the history and heavy expectation, what viewers are left with is a well-above average crime epic and a more than adequate conclusion to the most revered series of crime films in cinematic history.
|
