One of the most important movies ever made in cinema history. The Godfather is no wonder the god of all those gangster movies, the lord of the mafias, and the darkest noir of them all. I admit I was one of those people who feel awkward when this film comes up in conversations, or maybe in the shows that I see, reviews that I read and magazine that I check out because this film is always mentioned here and there. I feel a bit out of place, which then rose up the frustration to really see this film and see what's the fuss all about. And now, after watching the film, I feel a bit ashamed because I just downrightly missed for so many years one of cinema's greatest. This is indeed Hollywood's The Don.
Francis Ford Coppola had crafted a chilling masterpiece, a haunting portrait of a family which lives in the dark underworld, doing business in the shade. A film that concerns about family royalty and loyalty. Judging by the opening sequence itself, one will know that it's not an ordinary film and that Coppola is the real master of craft. It strikes a resemblance to what monarch families that exist in the 70's or 80's or even now. And what makes us feel drowning in this film was that it gives us a solid view of how violence could ruin one's family foundation. It gives us a view that being a mobster isn't all about flashy stuff, like what other gangster movies, but gives us a darkest view, no light, no brightness, but only desolateness, regret and the fierce force of redemption. As what I told you, the opening scenes were brilliant; a man sitting with his face somewhat blending in the dark, talking about his abused daughter and demanding for vengeance. The Godfather meanwhile has voice in the background, saying that vengeance should not be imposed, but justice.
The Godfather as it was supposed to focus on the Godfather, actually focuses on the successor, Michael Corleone (a hailed performance by the young Al Pacino). Bloody hell, he's one of my favorite actors of all time, and his role here in Godfather just made him a legend. His transformation is the film's most pivotal part because it shows us Michael Corleone a once indiferrent youngest son of Don Corleone who don't give a damn to the family's business, but when something happened to his father, he learned all about redemption and vengeance. His following of his footsteps after his father remids us that we should all honor thy father. He is the center of the film and Al Pacino just done it perfectly well. All the performances in this film is all top-notch. Marlon Brando's characterization of The Godfather himself, Don Corleone, was phenomenal! He perfectly enveloped the role, which won him Best Actor in Oscars back in 1972.
The story was really dark and I think not all people would dig in this. Well, for me, I dig it because I'm a great fan of dark movies, and rightfully said, The Godfather would make all those other gangster movies look like dumb caricatures of the mobster world. The Godfather as I could picture out was a huge success because of its cinematic visual style. It's dark, complicated and a complex film not for all to swallow in. It's like watching a picture in a very old newspaper, which is quite interesting. Coppola's direction is an A-Superb. He would show what he wanted to show, and he's never afraid of doing it. The time frame of 3 hours was a justified classic. It's just really amazing and the film's score complement it highly. Given with this situation, if I were to live way back 1972, I would consider this film to be a work of art. Even in this year 2006, upon watching this film, it's still an art, and it would remain to be an art in the next 100 years or so.

Rating: A+