matt-thornton.net

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You're reading a really old version of matt-thornton's website. For example, if you're looking at the movie reviews... you'll notice that none of them are of recent films. Indeed, I leave them here for posterity's sake, but I doubt very much that they'll get updated anytime soon. So have a giggle.

You might, if you're lucky, find something recent from Matt at his blog matt's debates. Kernow bys vyken.

The Godfather

the one line review:

another not so classic classic

the overview

This film has cult status. It's one of those films, you know, one that "you just have to see" - it's a legend in its own time, but sadly, that where it should stay.

the plot:

It's the story of how a young son, Michael Corleone (Pacino) rises up to the challenge of taking over his father's ("The Don" - Brando) family empire. He looks at first to tbe the weak sibling in the family, especially in the shadow of his older brother, but when things all go wrong, Mikey takes it all on with style. It's all about family, respect, illegal activities and killing people. 70's style.

the verdict:

For starters, this film is loooooong. Not a bad thing, because it gives you plenty of time to get settled. After a while you're into the movie, and you enjoy the plot development. But then after a further while, you begin to wonder where it's all going, because the film drifts from plot to plot. They could have ended the film in at least three different places, yet instead you end up with a slight feeling of three small films stitched into one big film. For this reason it drags in places.

Furthermore, it's often difficult to follow exactly who the hell is who, and quite what is going on. You need to have a bloody good memory to remember faces and names, in order that shooting scenes, and important characters are remembered, so that, when they inevitably die, you realise why it's important.

Marlon Brando delivers the performance that you'll be expecting of him - the stereotypical muffled speech, big chin, super-cool, calculating family father who loves his kids, and Al Pacino, looking yooooooung, is awesome as Michael Corleone. There's other people in here you'll recognise, like Robert Duvall (Apocalypse Now, Gone in 60 Seconds) to name but one.

I'm against buying films for the sake of it, and I won't do it on the basis of "you have to own this film" and all that crap, but it's probably a worthy addition. The trilogy is now only 20 squid, which is good value for some 9 hours of film. Just make sure you're in the right mood to watch this. Dark room, smoking jacket, bit of a mood... perfect.