The Godfather Part II.
1974: The Godfather Part II
Beat Out: Chinatown, The Conversation, Lenny and The Towering Inferno
Some well-known quotes: "I know it was you Fredo" "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer"
I remember being in target with my dad around the time that my love of movies and the oscars began. I was looking at them all, thinking about which winners I wanted to buy. I spotted the Godfather Part II, and knowing that it had won best picture I picked it up. I remember him telling me that it was said to be the best sequel ever made.
The Godfather Part II is the only sequel to win an academy award for best picture. It's actually pretty impressive if you think about it. I mean, think about all the bad sequels out there that are horrible and have sometimes ruined a great first movie
So, as I watched it I had some pretty high expectations. Expectations that were definitely met.
The film is comprised of a present story of the Corleone family with Michael as the Don, as well as a back story of how his late father, Vito, became the original Don.
The movie is opened with a young Vito in Italy, whose father and brother have just been killed by a mob boss named Don Ciccio. Vito is ordered to be killed because the Ciccio is certain that he will one day seek revenge. However, his mother intervenes and is killed, and Vito escapes.
The young Vito is played by none other than Robert De Niro, who won the oscar for best supporting actor. He is no doubt the star of this movie. He is absolutely perfect, being the main contributer to some of the movie's best scenes
Two of my favorite scenes in the movie actually involve Vito killing someone (I'm not a violent person I swear...) The first is when Vito kills mob boss Don Fanucci. And the second being when he gets his revenge years later on the man who killed his family in Sicily
It's awesome how it all comes full circle, with Vito fulfilling the prediction that if he were allowed to live he would eventually seek his revenge.
Another reason why this movie is so awesome is because of the story it tells...a story about family. It's interesting to see how a family with such power has such dysfunction. You can see how it all starts with Vito, so intent on revenge and power..willing to kill whoever, thinking that it will satisfy him.
I will admit that I cared little about the present story going on with Michael, I was much more enthralled by the backstory of Vito. However, those present moments involving and showcasing the struggling family were amazing.
This struggling family is presented perfectly to the audience with Kay's (Michael's wife, played by Diane Keaton) words that she got an abortion to prevent another child from coming into the family.
And, of course, when Michael orders the killing of his own brother Fredo, played by John Cazale. UGH I can't even take how amazing this scene is. It's actually a montage of a few deaths. The two others being people involved in the more "mob politics" story that I cared little about.
But Fredo's death has him out fishing on his boat....saying the hail mary. Something that he explains he used to do as a young child with the hopes of catching a fish. He is shot in the back of the head while Michael looks on from afar. Its amazing to look back to the first movie and see how much Michael has changed...how much the family has changed.
This change is truly shown in the last scene of the movie...which is a flashback of a surprise birthday party for Vito. The children are similar ages as they were in the first movie, and Sonny is still alive. In the scene, we see Michael telling his family that he wishes to drop out of college and join the marines. His entire family, except Fredo, do not support his decision.
It took me a while to actually decide which Godfather movie I preferred, both were so great and told different stories. However, for me, The Godfather Part II is the better movie. I like it better mainly because I literally could not stop caring about the back story. De Niro's performance was so enthralling. I like how they kept the character of Vito alive in such a unique way, making me care about how he rose as Don, even though he no longer was in the present story.
So, is The Godfather Part II worthy of being the only sequel to win best picture? I definitely think so...do you?
Fun Facts:
The movie is opened with a young Vito in Italy, whose father and brother have just been killed by a mob boss named Don Ciccio. Vito is ordered to be killed because the Ciccio is certain that he will one day seek revenge. However, his mother intervenes and is killed, and Vito escapes.
The young Vito is played by none other than Robert De Niro, who won the oscar for best supporting actor. He is no doubt the star of this movie. He is absolutely perfect, being the main contributer to some of the movie's best scenes
Two of my favorite scenes in the movie actually involve Vito killing someone (I'm not a violent person I swear...) The first is when Vito kills mob boss Don Fanucci. And the second being when he gets his revenge years later on the man who killed his family in Sicily
It's awesome how it all comes full circle, with Vito fulfilling the prediction that if he were allowed to live he would eventually seek his revenge.
Another reason why this movie is so awesome is because of the story it tells...a story about family. It's interesting to see how a family with such power has such dysfunction. You can see how it all starts with Vito, so intent on revenge and power..willing to kill whoever, thinking that it will satisfy him.
I will admit that I cared little about the present story going on with Michael, I was much more enthralled by the backstory of Vito. However, those present moments involving and showcasing the struggling family were amazing.
This struggling family is presented perfectly to the audience with Kay's (Michael's wife, played by Diane Keaton) words that she got an abortion to prevent another child from coming into the family.
And, of course, when Michael orders the killing of his own brother Fredo, played by John Cazale. UGH I can't even take how amazing this scene is. It's actually a montage of a few deaths. The two others being people involved in the more "mob politics" story that I cared little about.
But Fredo's death has him out fishing on his boat....saying the hail mary. Something that he explains he used to do as a young child with the hopes of catching a fish. He is shot in the back of the head while Michael looks on from afar. Its amazing to look back to the first movie and see how much Michael has changed...how much the family has changed.
This change is truly shown in the last scene of the movie...which is a flashback of a surprise birthday party for Vito. The children are similar ages as they were in the first movie, and Sonny is still alive. In the scene, we see Michael telling his family that he wishes to drop out of college and join the marines. His entire family, except Fredo, do not support his decision.
It took me a while to actually decide which Godfather movie I preferred, both were so great and told different stories. However, for me, The Godfather Part II is the better movie. I like it better mainly because I literally could not stop caring about the back story. De Niro's performance was so enthralling. I like how they kept the character of Vito alive in such a unique way, making me care about how he rose as Don, even though he no longer was in the present story.
So, is The Godfather Part II worthy of being the only sequel to win best picture? I definitely think so...do you?
Fun Facts:
- John Cazale, who played Fredo, died in 1978 after making only 5 films...all of which were nominated for best picture (2 of which won) You broke my heart Fredo!
- Marlon Brando was originally supposed to return for the flashback that was the ending scene of the movie. However, he felt that he was mistreated my Paramount, and didn't show up for shooting. Francis Ford Coppola, the director and co screen writer, had to rewrite the scene that day.
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