The Godfather Week 4

The three actors I chose from The Godfather:

Marlon Brando: I feel that Marlon Brando is an impersonator type of actor (Goodykoontz & Jacobs 2014). When he stars in a film he creates the character. In The Godfather elements of the character Vito Corleone were created by Marlon Brando. It was Marlon Brando who decided to slick back his hair, talk with the deep guttering sound and puff up his cheeks all of which made Vito Corleone the powerful character he was (Coppola, 1990). If Marlon Brando did not take these actions the opening scene would have not grabbed the viewer and the film would not be a classic.

Marlon Brando has played a large assortment of roles before and after The Godfather. Some of his more famous films are A Streetcar Named Desire, The Wild One, On the Waterfront, Apocalypse Now and Superman. All of these characters where different from Vito Corleone and show his ability to enhance a character and call it his own.

Al Pacino: I feel that Al Pacino is a personally type actor (Goodykoontz & Jacobs 2014). In The Godfather Al Pacino’s newness to film making and shyness stood out in the beginning when his character Michael Corleone was looking for his place in the family. As Al grew as an actor his role of Michael Corleone became a stronger and more recognizable character on the screen. His style of acting made Michael Corleone a more believable character.

As Al Pacino got older and more confident in himself as an actor his roles changed. Yes he made a few gangster genre films but in those films he controlled the scene. Even Donny Brasco when he played down on his luck mafia gangster Lefty he still commanded the scene. Al Pacino’s strong personality guides him through his films and keeps his fans entertained.

I feel that Robert Duvall is a character type actor (Goodykoontz & Jacobs 2014). In The Godfather Robert Duvall plays Don Vito Corleone adopted son and consigliere, Tom Hagen. Tom is the lawyer of the family and the chief councilor to the Don. Robert Duvall’s ability to play the no-outwardly criminal character Tom Hagen helped him to stand out as clean face of the organization and helps to give the family an appearance of legitimacy the Don craves. Tom Hagen looks like a business man among thugs.

Robert Duvall’s wide character range can be seen in several films from his role as a hard fighting Lt. Colonel Kilgore in Apocalypse Now where he utters the line “I love the smell of napalm in the morning (1979).” To the repressed Major Frank Burns in the comedy MASH. Robert Duvall’s ability to take on different roles is critical to his acting success.

Resources:

Apocalypse Now – smell of napalm [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPT3RFTpSUw

Donnie Brasco (7/8) Movie CLIP – If You’re a Rat… (1997) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT8o1fvTB5Q

Goodykoontz, B., & Jacobs, C. P. (2014). Film: From watching to seeing (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.

Marlon Brando Documentary(2014) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gasrbFAmdEo

MASH (1970) Movie Trailer [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O48Cr5vm6Yg

Ruddy, A.  (Producer), Coppola, F. (Director). (1972). The Godfather. [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures

The Godfather (1972, March 15). The Godfather movie trailer. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY1S34973zA

The Making Of The Godfather Trilogy (1990) [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuEnjDaiEXQ

The Godfather Week Three

Some of The dialogue in this film makes a lasting impactful mark on the viewer. When I hear “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse” (Ruddy, 1972) I picture someone willing to do anything to get their way. I picture the Don Vito Corleone willing and able to move mountains to further his cause. That line demonstrates the strength and conviction of the Don. Nothing can stop him from achieving his goals. The Don is an unstoppable force that should be feared and admired.

In the baptism murder scene you hear gunshots after every time Michael Corleone denounces satan. The noise of the murders he has committed lets the viewer know that Michael has crossed a line and will never be the man his father wanted him to be. Michael proclaims his purity and good nature to god while people are being murdered on his command. It adds to the mercilessness persona of Michael Corleone with the organ playing and the shadow on his face the viewer is left to wonder if Michael Corleone is pure evil.

In the beginning of the movie you hear the unforgettable music of The Godfather theme song. When I hear the very first note I instantly know what movie I am watching and what to expect. The song is just as iconic as the movie. It sets the tone of the whole film. Without it the film would not have stood out and would have had less of an impact on my film watching experience. When I hear the melody I picture calmly violent man sitting in a room deciding the fates of others.

The combination of all three categories of sound creates the gangster film genre. When I think of gangster films movies I thing of the raspy voice of Don Vito Corleone calmly discussing murders in his office while his family celebrates his only daughter’s wedding. When I hear the theme song I picture the transformation of Michael Corleone from an honorable man to cold blooded crime load. When I hear the gun shoots I think of every bullet slowly killing Michael Corleone’s soul.If any of these elements were missing the film would not be the same. It would just another mob movie and would have been forgotten by time.

References :

The Godfather – I’m Gonna Make Him An Offer He Can’t Refuse. [Video file].  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmX2VzsB25s

The Godfather (1972, March 15). The Godfather opening scene. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV5QskX_oW4

The Godfather (1972, March 15). The Baptism Murders. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CDlBLvc3YE

The Godfather Week 2

In this scene when Michael Corleone kills Sollozzo and McCluskey the director uses traditional three-point lighting. He carefully controls the shadows on the actor’s faces giving them a very gloomy look. The lighting helped to give the scene a very serious look. The lighting alone let me know that Michael Corleone was up to no good.

The shadows in the film were almost like another character. They were used to effectively tell the story. Michael Corleone and Vito Corleone are meticulous in their planning. They run their family like a grandmaster plays chess. They are always one step ahead of the other families and a play the long game. The clever use of shadows drapes the two in a blanket of secrecy. At any moment they can strike out and destroy their enemies like in the baptism scene where Michael arranges for the murders of all his rivals. The shadows on his face gave him that no good look he had when he murdered Sollozzo and McCluskey.

If the film used high-key lighting it would have detracted from the scene. Michael Corleone is a dark scheming character if his face or the film would have been brightly lit it would have gave the film an action movie feel. In my opinion great gangster films must have a dark look to them. It help the film to stay grounded in some sort of realism.

Resources:

The Godfather (1972, March 15). Killing Sollozzo and McCluskey. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY1S34973zA

The Godfather (1972, March 15). The Baptism Murders. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CDlBLvc3YE

Ruddy, A.  (Producer), Coppola, F. (Director). (1972). The Godfather. [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures

The Godfather

Title: The Godfather

Writer: Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Year: 1972

Actors: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, and Diane Keaton

[2. Summarize the story and plot of your chosen movie.]

Story: The Godfather is a story about a New York City crime family in the 1940s. During this movie we witness the transformation of Michael Corleone from Marine Corps captain to the head of the Corleone Family.

Plot: The movie starts out with an elder Italian man sitting in the office of Don Vito Corleone, the current head of the Family, begging for justice for the brutal beating of his daughter. The Don accepts his offer and in lieu of money the Don tells the man one day he will come for a favor and he expects his request to be honored. This seen is the glimpse into the how violent and powerful the Don and the Family are.

The next seen we are next introduced to Michael Corleone then a Marine Corps captain, war hero, and civilian or nonmember of the crime family who has returned home with his girlfriend Kay to attend his sister’s wedding. The wedding is a huge affair with hundreds of party goers along with the heads of the five crime families of New York City. Johnny Fontane, the Don’s godson and famous singer is in attendance and asks the Don to use him influence to help him land a role in a movie that will launch his career back to the top. The Don sends his adopted son and consigliere, Tom Hagen, to Los Angeles to secure the role for Johnny. After an abusive dinner with the studio head Tom Hagen reports back to the Don. The next morning the studio head wakes up with the head of his most prized horse lying in the bed at his feet.

During the Christmas season the Don is approached by a known heroin dealer Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo requesting investment and protection to set up shop in NYC. The Don refuses and is shot in the street in front of his office while his dimwitted son Fredo cries. The Turk then kidnaps Tom Hagen to talk to, and tries to convince Tom to help him convince the Don’s other son the hot headed Sonny to take the deal. Sonny refuses the deal and prepares the Family for war. Michael, with his jaw broken from a run in with The Turk’s protection NYPD Captain Marc McCluskey, volunteers to kill The Turk and Captain McCluskey as retribution for the attempt on the Don’s life. Michael shoots them both and runs to Italy to hide from the law.

While Michael is in Italy Sonny is murdered. The murder motivated the Don to end the war and bid for the safe return of Michael from Italy. Michael returns a year later marries Kay and starts his transformation from Michael the war hero who the Don never wanted mixed up in the Family to the new Don.

After taking control of the Family Michael reliefs Tom Hagen from his duties as consigliere and appoints is father the retired Don as consigliere. Michael then goes to Las Vegas to attempt to buy Moe Greene out of his shares of the casino business Moe refuses and Michael returns home more determined to take over Moe’s business.

The retired Don Vito Corleone dies from a heart attack. During the funeral Michael realizes one of his capos Tessio has betrayed him and is setting him up to be assassinated. With this new found knowledge   Michael arranges for the murders of all his rivals. During the baptism of his sister Connie’s child Michael’s trap is sprung and the Dons of the other NYC Families, Moe Greene, and Tessio are murdered.  Michael then extracts a confession from Carlo his brother-in-law for his role in the murder of Sonny and has Carlo murdered. The movie ends with the capos of his new and rival free Family pledging their allegiance.

[3. Discuss whether your film is presented chronologically or non-linearly.  In your discussion, address the following:

1. Was the film presented chronologically or non-linearly? How did this aesthetic choice contribute to the general effect on the audience?]

Chronology:  The film was told in chronological order. This film was needed to show the transformation of Michael Corleone. If the story wasn’t told this way the movie would of not have had the same meaning.

[ b. How are elements like character development or foreshadowing impacted by the choice of storytelling methods?]

The chronological story telling also helped to develop Michael’s devious thinking something he needs to become a powerful Don.

[4. If the film had followed a different presentation style, how would the general effect on the audience have been different?]

Michael’s story line was needed to be told in the order it was. If not so the story would have been just another crime story instead of an epic tale of a man unwanted rise of power.

Resources:

The Godfather (1972, March 15). The Godfather movie trailer. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY1S34973zA

Ruddy, A.  (Producer), Coppola, F. (Director). (2009). The Godfather. [Motion picture]. United States: Paramount Pictures