The Godfather (1972)

Laura Flippin's latest blog post:

have an ongoing dispute with someone whose opinion I respect, specifically as to whether I really know anything about good “film” from the 1970s.  True, there are a lot of contributions to the canon that I haven’t seen – The Sting, The Exorcist, Chinatown, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.  And I’ll admit that it’s not the decade I look at first when choosing a classic film to re-watch.

But if there is an exception to that rule, it’s The Godfather.  Recently, on a weekend where we were cooking spaghetti Bolognese and breaking out the cabernet sauvignon, it would have been heresy to select any other movie.  And every time I watch it, I’m reminded of what a break through film this was – not only for Al Pacino, but also Diane Keaton, Robert Duvall, and James Caan.  The storyline is great, the cinematography is amazing, and the acting is unsurpassed.  Each viewing shows you something that you haven’t noticed before, often in the small details that you can miss a thousand times before realizing they aren’t just accidents but intentional part of the full picture – e.g. the cut of Kay’s dress, the background views when she and Michael walk through the streets of New York, and the musical abilities of the supporting cast and extras at Connie’s wedding.

And once you start watching, it’s a marathon.  You might as well keep going – The Godfather II and The Godfather III loom ahead of you.  Sure, one is the only sequel to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards and the other is , depending on your point of view, either awful or laudable.  But you can’t look away.  Load up the meatballs and linguine, pour another glass of wine, and sit back and enjoy.

from Laura Flippin Movie Reviews http://ift.tt/1wUym6D