The Godfather

The Godfather is a classic that engages viewers not emotionally, but through revealing the fascinatingly depicted world of a New York mafia family and studies of its characters. And through elegant filmmaking that doesn’t rush anywhere, because it wants to devotedly savor every morsel of the story. Marlon Brando gives a standout performance with creative details in his speech that make his character magnetically interesting. The film is a loftily conceived and inwardly sad portrait of people with corrupt ideals whose only non-false value is family. And of the disintegration of the family, because the rule “like father, like son” does not always apply. My favorite passage (other than all of the scenes with Brando) is surprisingly the romantic one and the only explicitly nice one in the whole long film – the wooing of the Italian peasant girl by Al Pacino and his show of respect to her father. (05/06/2022)

The Godfather is not only the best gangster saga, but also the best film about the games of men and the fate of women, and Al Pacino is the best actor I know. He can act with his eyes without even moving an eyebrow. I will never forget the look he gave Appolonia when he gave her the necklace during the courtship, or when he observed his adversaries at Don Corleone's funeral. Fantastico! Fenomenale! (19/10/2003)

In terms of filmmaking, it’s flawless and brilliant, but the story didn’t captivate me that much and I didn’t care how it would all end. The best thing in the film is Marlon Brando’s performance, even when he’s laying down silent, he’s the most charismatic character on screen. Even though this film didn’t thrill me as much as I expected, I’m still quite curious about the second part. (11/08/2008)

The Godfather is the ultimate gangster movie; there’s hardly anything more to add. Marlon Brando is spectacular and not even Al Pacino can surpass him. This is mainly because Marlon Brando’s performance is perhaps one of the greatest acting performances I have ever experienced in a film. Excellent from start to finish. Although the film has 175 minutes, what is it compared to one decade of in the lives of a mobster family, which is everything but boring. (03/12/2012)

It was only the silver screen that finally allowed me to feel the greatness of this gem, which, in the limited and shallow surface of the TV screen, always felt kind of convoluted and without the depth of some of Coppola's other works. It was, of course, a mistake. The Godfather is an extraordinarily robust epic, a purely narrative film whose monumentality is full of fine details and scenes constructed with architectural precision (the way the director masterfully combines different elements of storytelling to amplify intense tension is unique). It cannot be consumed in parts, it cannot be turned off. Coppola is intense, the scenes logically blend into each other (the interlining edit is not self-serving), and it is fascinating to watch the transformations of characters who seem to have aged with the film and radically reshaped themselves internally. The Godfather is "film-life," a radical manifesto of a fictional time that, with its grip and power, can completely control the current time. A captivating, contemplative experience that really needs this great canvas. (12/01/2011)

I give you an offer you cannot refuse. Either you watch The Godfather and get to see the zenith of filmmaking craft or... No comment. But in that case, don’t be surprised if you find a part of a horse in your bed this evening. As an adaptation of the book, I give this “only" four stars, but as a movie in its own right, it must get a full five. (04/08/2004)

Legendary jewel, gangster peak, and perfectly punctuated saga that cannot be forgotten. Pacino's royal role. (21/04/2006)

I can kind of see why this movie became a legend. To be honest, I didn't enjoy it much, but I have to admit that the sound, the execution of some of the scenes are brilliant. That's why the four stars... otherwise simply: the mafia doesn't do much for me, its hierarchy not at all, I caught myself bored many times. I don't need to see it again, nor do I want to. Yes, Brando was great, Pacino's transformation was great, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I would have enjoyed it much more as a book. But I liked the ending, I really did :-) (06/11/2009)

Visually attractive theme, strong storyline, interesting characters, quality direction, luxurious cast - what more could you ask for? One of the rare cases where both art critics and audience agreed and appreciated one of the crucial works of modern cinematography. Overall impression: 95%. (23/06/2006)

Puzo's book was once recommended to me by my grandmother and, it completely captivated me. I felt the atmosphere of the family and from the first page it was as though I already knew them all - it felt like they were my own family. Still, I was a little worried about what the movie would end up being like, but Coppola handled the adaptation perfectly. He preserved the atmosphere, honed all the details, and, with amazing precision, made sure to keep the fans of the original happy. Marlon Brando, as Don Vito, made an indelible mark on cinema history, and Al Pacino gave one of the best performances of his career. The Godfather is a legend, and I'm glad I finally got to see it. (06/10/2006)

A story of gigantic proportions, its adaptation into a screenplay undoubtedly required a very skillful hand. Coppola’s direction is excellent, the pace is indeed very slow, but the scenes from Sicily are captivating and overshadow the relative feeling of emptiness from the beginning of the film. There are many characters and someone who hasn't read the book, will need to see the film multiple times. The performances by the actors are stunning. Above all, Al Pacino's transformation is masterfully portrayed. The enormous running time, of course, is understandable and most likely it couldn't have been done differently. The action is nothing special, but that can be overlooked. The relationships between the characters are well depicted, but in my opinion, The Godfather is not the best mafia movie of all time. (12/04/2004)

Amazing. If The Godfather was more than four hours long, I still wouldn’t even blink, because I’d be afraid to miss a major or dominant moment – that’s how deep Coppola’s flawless narration draws me in and how opulently the twists flow. Precise in every aspect, from the layering of storylines that depend on the most personal acquaintance with the characters and the nature of their world, to the performances, which have received all the possible praise. Chilling, realistic and timeless. Godfather of the Cinema. (16/11/2018)

A meticulously crafted film about American organized crime that kept me entertained from start to finish. My rating is definitely influenced by the fact that I have always enjoyed films with this theme set in the 1920s to 1960s. It was the golden era of organized crime when even brutal murder had class (as in, the killer wore a smashing fedora). These days, just before death, the murder victim hears from the mouth of a tattooed hoodlum with a thick accent that he’s a son of a bitch. There’s no comparison. (16/07/2017)

Once it had to come. I had been avoiding this movie a bit, maybe deliberately, maybe not. I remember seeing it in the past, but only because I stayed up late as a child and they happened to show it. I don't remember anything from it, just one single scene. Yes, of course, it's the scene with the horse's head that completely blew me away as a little devil. Even today, it has a great buildup, mainly because if you don't know the film, you don't know what to expect. But that's the whole film. It gradually reveals its cards and it's up to you whether your jaw just drops or you yawn, bored. Yes, it's long, that's just the way it is, the story is not complicated, but things are still happening. Just watching Marlon Brando is a pleasure. Coppola is not brilliant in how he presents violent scenes, shootings, but when they do happen, they are well-executed. Primarily, it is a family saga, and that's why those violent scenes have such a strong impact. There are movies that are talked about in superlatives, and then there's nothing. In this case, definitely something. (29/01/2014)