THE FAMILY

The first time i read the Godfather novel i was not much impressed, i got bored and went to sleep???!!! the second time i read it i was simply blown away!!!!! written in 1969 the novel by the famous novelist Mario Puzo has achieved legendary status. Director Francis Ford Coppola was a well known face in Hollywood but was yet to get a deserved break...well the godfather movie changed his life forever...the main story revolves around the highs and lows of an American – Italian Mafia family headed by Don Vito Corleone ( Marlon Brando making a comeback nailed it bang on!!!!) and his 3 sons ...Santino (James Caan as the violent, eldest impatient brother)....Fredo (John Cazale as the weak middle sibling) and Michael ( Al Pacino in a career defining role that is still remembered even today.)

the story begins in 1945 with the return of Micheal for his younger sister's wedding Connie (Talia shire who played Rocky's long suffering wife)...what happens is that the don refuses to get involved in the trade of narcotics ( a common term nowadays)...and along the way makes a truckload of enemies. people who have read the novel will reveal that many story threads have been eliminated from the novel while writing the godfather screenplay including Johnny Fontaine's broken up marriage...this movie clocks 3 hours.....but is worth every penny....many memorable scenes flash before my mind when i recall this movie....the dead horse's head on the bed sheets....michael inflicting revenge on all enemies towards the climax....coppola does a masterstroke by juxtaposing the massacres with the baptism....on the acting front Brando and Pacino register the maximum impression with able support from others as well.

To begin with the famous Italian spaghetti director Sergio Leone was the first choice to direct the movie...even Robert Redford was to play micheal's role....imagine!!!!!!!! the godfather in my opinion is the greatest adaptation of a novel on screen...countless films have copied,imitated The Godfather including Analyze This (1999) ,Sarkar ( 2005) , Nayakan ( 1987) ,the Freshman ( 1990) but none have been able to match the original, the definitive mafia “gangster” movie. Another fact is that it was on Brando' s insistence that the actor brought a new dimension to the don's role especially the famous scratchy voice...the movie was criticized for the portrayal of Italians as gangsters for life...also how can i forget the famous score by Nina Rota......EXQUISITE..Suits the script to a T.the movie dwells on the American Dream many immigrants thought of achieving while entering the U.S .It also depicts the responsibilities a family expects its own children to undertake when they grow older . The film also boasts of memorable one liners like “"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" , “be close to your friends but be closer to your enemies”...beautiful cinematography shot in Sicily...grand cast...brilliant direction...superlative performances makes THE GODFATHER an EPIC!!!!!!!