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Actors: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Godfather II |
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The Godfather Part 2 is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. It exposes Americans to the Mafia lifestyle-characterized not only by killing, but by romance, family, and incredible power. The Godfather Part 2 illustrates what most people don't know-the Mafia is not only violence. It is a tapestry of many layers. As the story unfolds, before your eyes, it becomes evident that this story is one of the greatest ever told.
That said, I begin the review.
Francis Ford Coppola weaves a web of power, lust, money, and betrayal in this film. But don't forget the most important aspect-the family. The film is an unusual mix of culture, violence, and beauty as the story is told of Michael Corleone, son of the infamous Don Corleone, and his reluctant development into a ruthless but sensitive Mafia leader. The story is paralleled by flashbacks to the early days of Vito Corleone.
Michael Corleone wants nothing to do with the family business. He wishes to hold public office-or another legal position, such as a lawyer.But the untimely death of both his brother Sonny and his father prevents that. Wanting to avoid the disgrace of the family, Michael takes over. but he swears to make the family business legitimate. However, he has a difficult time doing this. Legal (and illegal) conflict with a Jewish businessman named Hyman Roth only escalates the problem.
Michael tries his best to run the family according to his father's advice, but as the times change, so does the family, and Michael becomes overwhelmed. Not to mention that sweet(but stupid) Fredo betrays him to another business partner, and Michael becomes very angry (this is illustrated in the scene at the New Year's Party- "I knew it was you, Fredo." Michael plots to kill his own brother.)This part of the story fully illustrates the fact that this was a criminal's rise to power in an organization-la Cosa Nostra.
Throughout the film, another story is told, the story of Vito Corleone and his time as the Don, as the Godfather, a term of the utmost respect and honor for Italians.Vito Corleone, (portrayed beautifully by Robert De Niro), goes back to Italy to kill Don Ciccio, the murderer of his father,brother, and mother. (you may remember the beginning, when his mother gave her life to save her son-that was Vito.)
Then, the film comes back to Michael's story. He is in an extreme conflict with his wife, Kay, over the family business. It is obvious that the violence and the lifestyle bothers Kay-and when she asks him to change, he replies that he can't and won't-but it is not his fault. He is angry with her for wanting to end the family and for wanting to take away "his" children. Kay actually gets an abortion in order to end it (she was having a male son).
Michael's situation with Fredo gets worse and worse-they begin to distrust each other even more. Michael gets his hitman to kill Fredo as he looks on from the house, as the snow falls from the sky.
To give away more of the film would be pointless-so I leave you with this, the advice of the late Don Corleone, "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."
-Person1
--Person1, Resident Scholar
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This movie has two stories. One is a "flashback" that tells the story of Vito Corleone's rise to power in New York City, while the second revolves around his son, Michael, and his attempted murder by three close buisness partners.
--Danny, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Godfather II |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/Era of Movie:
- 1960's-1970's
- 1930's-1950's
Crime & Police Story?
Yes
Crime story:
- catching/stopping killer
Criminal enemy is...
- politicians
- law enforcement gone bad
- Mafia conflict
- gang conflict
- drug dealers
If this is a criminal POV story...
- criminals stealing from other criminals
- criminals killing each other
- one man's rise in a criminal organization
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- criminal
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Black)
Hair style
- short/standard straight (man)
- short/standard wavy (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
- hard edged
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- red
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard wavy
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 40%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
- 80%
Hair color
- brunette (Black)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Italian
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Midwest
Europe
Yes
European country:
- Italy
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Central
Misc setting
- fancy mansion
- resort/hotel
- moving train
- church/synagogue
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
- gory visuals of deaths
Movie makes you feel...
- in awe
- all mixed up
How many deaths in film?
- 3-4
- dozens
Kind of violence:
- mental battles
- hand to hand
- guns
- knives
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
Any profanity?
- Occasional swearing
- Some foul language
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
Is this movie based on a
- book
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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