There are some movies which cannot be reviewed. We can all have our opinions, but we cannot rate them. These are the movies which go beyond the ratings and awards. The Godfather (1 and 2) is one such movie(s). To give a rating to these two movies would be an insult to its creators and I am not making any attempt to do so. These are two legendary movies, each an epic, a magnum opus for all other ‘Don’ movies.
Thus, I present here some of my views and scenes from the two movies that touched my heart.
The Godfather - 1
Right movie from the beginning of
the movie, the music is haunting. It pulls you towards itself, like the
fatal attraction of parvana to the shama. Marlon Brando is
characteristic. There has never been another Don in history so charming,
honorable and one who is also a true family man. A Don who respects his friends and never forgets a favor.
The transformation of Al Pacino
from the distant lad who says "That’s my father, Kate, not me” to the
emotional son beside his father in the hospital ensuring him “I am with you
now” to ultimately the unprecedented words pronounced by him “I am working for
my father now” underlines the storyline.
Some of my favorite dialogues by
the movie are:
“A man who doesn’t spend time with
his family, can never be a real man.”
“I never ask for a second favor
when I have been refused the first.”
“Don’t tell me you’re innocent,
because it exhausts my intelligence.”
“Don’t ever take sides with anyone
against your family.”
“Women and children can be
careless but not men.”
The distress look on Brandon’s
face when he finds out his war hero son is invariably pulled into the
underworld business, the silent tears of acknowledgement when he hears the news
of his other son’s murder and simply says “I want no acts of vengeance” shows
that some actors don’t need big dialogues to act.
The final stages between father
and son are beautifully portrayed. A concerned father advising his son, the
last person he thought would be his successor. And the dutiful son consoling
his dad that “We’ll get there”.
The music is not just background
score but also underlines the essence of the movie. Attentions to details like
the steady flow of water, chirping of the birds, are hard to ignore.
The climax of the movie where he
lies with so much conviction to his beloved wife completes the transformation
of Al from a civilian to the head of the Corleone family.
The first scene of the movie, the traditional kissing of the hand of the Don, shows Michael taking over his father’s place. Subsequent scenes show you that though he has taken over his father’s seat, he is nothing like the old Don. The charismatic supremo is replaced by an angry, impatient man.
The movie touches upon the life of
immigrants to the new blooming world America wherein begins our
former godfather’s story. The story of young Vito Corleone runs parallel
to the present day Don. The story of the great man is unfolded beautifully and
entwined well with the present.
In one scene, the relationship with present Don and his kid is intercepted by the young Vito Corleone, a young and handsome R. De Niro, playing with his little son, which enhances the contrast lifestyle of the two leading men.
Attention to detail has been given the utmost importance and the scene in which the lead actor watches a play, which though irrelevant to the story is heart touching, is a proof for this.
There are times when you just
can’t take your eyes off the well chiseled face of Robert De Niro and long for
him to come back on screen.
As the movie unfolds, we see how
the Don junior tries hard to keep his personal life & business in place,
something which the senior had done with ease. In one scene, the new don’s
anger at his wife for having aborted their to be boy child vis-à-vis the
distress troubled look on old don’s face while seeing his young son treated by
a nurse shows the disparity in the way the two men handled their families.
While Don Vito was as much a
family man as he was a Godfather, his son, Michael fails to keep his family
together. Like the icy cold winter snow, the relationship between the husband
and wife is harsh and dry. True to his words, the “Times were changing “.
As the movie progresses, we see
how the once well built, tightly held family by De Niro is slowly losing its
strength and grip under his son.
The love for his wife and kids in
Niro’s eyes in contrast to the anger in Michael’s eyes for his wife underlines
the entire movie.
The story ends similar to the
first movie, where all the Don’s enemies are killed, whether they are part of
family or not.
Climax of movie sums up the life
of Michael and the drastic changes over the years about his views and
relationship he had with his father.
