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The Godfather Part III – 1990 Francis Ford Coppola
- “Just when I think I was out they pull me back in”
- Many of the critics recognize the impossibility of following up two of the greatest films in cinema history- this film is neither a masterpiece or a disaster
- The film misses Robert Duvall’s presence- it just doesn’t have anyone with the size to compete with Pacino
- The acting is particularly brutal by Sofia Coppola. She’s not an actress and it’s immediately apparent. The scenes with her and Pacino and so distracting with the disparity in the acting talent
- 7 oscar noms and most of them very deserving
- The trademark Coppola finale montage (for the godfather films they are a series of murders) is way too drawn out here
- The step sequences at the opera (Operatic is a great way to describe this film and FF Coppola’s work) is such a dazzling set piece finale
- Border top 10 of 1990
- Recommend/ Highly Recommend border
Drake2017-04-06T15:34:25-04:00
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I think Duvall not appearing in The Godfather Part III is overblown. Most of the significant part of his role was merged into Talia Shire’s character I think and I thought Talia Shire rose up to the challenge. Which surprised me somewhat because I haven’t been that impressed by Talia Shire as an actress before this film. And I kind of feel also Duvall rose in stature too much to have another role like the one he had in Part II. Very subdued and insignificant than his role in Part I. It’s still a miss however.
I think this film has much bigger problems like the tone, the performances (Sofia Coppola, Pacino), the makeup than Duvall not appearing in it. Having said that Andy Garcia is pretty strong in it especially in the 2nd half when he is acting like Michael Corleone after his uneven attempt to play Sonny Corleone in the 1st half.
The CODA version of The Godfather Part 3 is pretty bad. I’m not even sure it’s archivable. The melancholic opening and closing scenes are replaced by exposition scenes. Bad editing and sound mixing. At least the Original Cut for all it’s flaws and regrettable parts had a satisfying ending. And it is some achievement for Coppola that he managed to keep all of his daughter’s scenes intact even 30 years later. Well done.
@Malith – I think I prefer to fate of Michael in the Coda but that’s a very small change. Everything else is a downgrade and I also felt Coda moved much slower
@Harry- I don’t think the ending is a small change. But yes, changing the opening makes it dreadfully slow.
The Godfather Part 3 has some amazing silhouette shots. Very impressive. There is one with S.Coppola and Garcia in his hideaway, there is one with Pacino talking about the Pope taking a break from the Opera, the hanged Helmut Berger etc.
[…] The Godfather: Part III – F. Coppola […]
did you see the new cut with a new ending and opening (and slight edits) come out. i’m excited to rewatch these films!
Look at the comment written that came right before yours on the comment stream. He has not seem them yet.
…on Heat and Dust
@D.W.Griffith- not yet– I still haven’t seen the Cotton Club redux either- and I want to- want to see them both.
@Drake – Have you yet done so?
@Zane- I have not yet