The biggest problem with the third installment in the highly respected
"Godfather" trilogy is that it has nothing new to offer.
Everything that happens in this film has already happened in a previous
"Godfather" film. And, while it's all handsomely mounted
and done lushly, it's never as good as it was the first time we saw
it.
"Part Three" continues the saga of Michael Corleone, reluctant
heir to the family business and the new Godfather. As the film starts,
Michael is trying to become respectable. He has made a deal with the
Vatican which may make him one of the most powerful men in the world
(as well as lend a finally respectable light to his family and their
various affairs). He has begrudgingly allowed his son to follow his
dreams and become an opera singer rather than being a lawyer for the
"family". And he is trying to make amends with his extremely
estranged wife (Diane Keaton). So, as you would expect, the shit has
to hit the fan.
Needless to say there are people who would rather the Corleones did
not go legit. And these people have access to firearms. Before long,
Micheal is forced into a bloody conflict, which he allows his hot-tempered
nephew (Andy Garcia) to mostly handle. People end up dead (of course
they do, it's a Godfather movie) and a couple of them do so in unique
ways.
But, for the most part, this is little more than a rehash of what
happened in the first two films.
Yes, I suppose you could argue that this film is putting a fresh twist
on these events that it is basically replaying from the other two,
but the twist isn't really that fresh. I had a hard time staying awake
through this film. Which, though I don't really believe the first
two are the "Greatest Films of All Time", I must admit that
they never came remotely close to boring me.
The performances are good and the direction is alright. But Pacino
was much more vibrant in the previous two chapters. The direction
was far more impressive. The scenery and camerawork have fallen a
few notches. And the plot has a sorry tendency to meander. The sustained
intensity and suspense of the first two films is largely absent. This
is a pompous, self-important affair with nothing new to say. You say
you liked the sustained ending of the first film? Hmm, maybe you'll
like it again this time. You liked the guy getting shot during a festival?
Well, you're in luck! Here it is all over again! You liked people
asking for favors during a party? Oh, excuse me, I was busy stifling
a yawn there. Well, uh, this time Eli Wallach is asking a favor. It
is nice to see him working, just wish he had something important to
do.
Yes, Pacino and Garcia are pretty good. So is Talia Shire. The less
said about Sofia Coppola, the better (poor girl) but she isn't as
bad as many would have you believe. She's not anywhere close to good,
but she doesn't deserve the critical drubbing that she gets. She doesn't
ruin the movie. The movie was a lost cause long before she got there.
But if you see the first two, you'll want to see this one. I can't
stop you. Just remember that I told you so.
