The Godfather_Film Review

8/6/2019 The Godfather_Film Review

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BGS Assignment Book/Film ReviewReview of The Godfather

Anik DasRoll No. 1111332Section - E


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BGS Assignment Book/film R eview

1 | P a g e A N I K D A S

The Godfather

G enre: Crime / Drama

Introduction:

The G odfather is a 1972 movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola based on the novel

of 1969 by Mario Puzo. The film critically showed the mafia culture of New York City

in the span of 1945 1955.The movie features Marlon Brando playing the lead role

of godfather, Vito Corleone, who is famous for his voice in this movie and Al Pacino

playing the role of his younger son, Michael Corleone, among other stars. The movie

centres on the Corleone family and mainly depicts the policies, politics and the

critical decisions taken by the godfather himself and also by the family. It shows the

transition and journey of Michael Corleone from a war returned soldier to be the

godfather. It also shows the conflict of interests between the family itself and also

with the third parties involved. The movie went on to win the Academy Award for

best film, best actor and best adapted screenplay.

Plot:

The story begins on a happy note with the marriage of Connie, daughter of Vito

Corleone. As the story unfolds, we cant help but notice that there is a constant and

continuous skirmish between the four mafia familie s Corleone, Barzini, Tattagalia,

Strachi over the control of New York city. Michael Corleone does not want to be a

part of the family business, mainly gambling. At this point of time, Sollozzo , a

narcotics dealer wants to have his business in New York and seeks help from

godfather but was duly refused. As retaliation, a murder attempt on Vito Corleone

happens. The emotional bond brings Michael closer to the family and he starts


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strategizing along with Sonny, his elder brother and Tom Hagen, consigliore to the

family. He actively involves himself with the murder of Sollozzo. After the murder of

Sonny, Michael takes over the family business and tries to expand it. As Don

Corleone dies from a natural heart attack, he eliminates all the possible future

threats and declares himself as the G odfather.

A nalysis:

Business Perspective: The business run by the Corleone family considers the ethics

above all, claimed by Vito Corleone. The family name was above all and the motto

was Business with Honour. The decisions in the business are mainly taken by the

godfather, sometimes consulting with the consigliore. It can be inferred that it was an

one man army which sometimes may lead to precarious situations du e to the follies

and the incognizance of the concerned person. The means that were employed to

fulfil their interests were to make an offer that one cant refuse and to scare people

by damaging their prized possessions. This was apparent when Johnny was

facilitated to take the lead role of a movie by frightening the director. The business

perspective was not to have an adverse effect on the society. Thats the reason they

didnt want to indulge into the narcotics business even though there was a possibility

that they might be left behind as some other players might take up the opportunity

and avails themselves with a greater profit, thus having a stronghold on both the

business and the government. The different business entities were aware of the

positions, alliance and power of the others and there could be a co -existence as long

as their interests do not conflict. As the business in concern was more of a mafia

business and the business of power and money, it involved the elimination of

opponents who can effectively have an adverse effect on ones benefits. This also


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involved the removal of the in-house betrayers, if any to ensure that there is no one

person who can reveal important and confidential business secrets to the rival

business entities. There is always an on-going debate whether to have personal

feelings in the business. To some extent, the personal feelings do come in the

business, irrespective of the aftermath of the action. As Michael killed Sollozzo, he

avenged the attack on his father and removed any future possible threats on his

fathers life from Sollozzo. When the revenues stopped flowing due to the uncertainty

and unavailability of the resources, there is a pressing need to expand the business

from the current sources and have an economy of scale. This was implemented by

Michael when he went to Nevada to acquire partnerships in some of the hotels. Every

business organizations try to run business and so there must be some collaboration

between them to have a sustainable condition. But, everyone has a different opinion

from others and hence it takes a common gathering to reach a consensus.All the

four families came together for a solution to the narcotic traff icking and finally

decided that it should be allowed but controlled. But as it turns out, there are some

decisions which were taken on the account of the racism black peoples are

animals. So let them lose their souls . As a central person of the business, one

cannot afford to be careless about the decisions one make, the trade -offs one

chooses and the means one applies. This was evident from Don Corleones

statement I spent my life not to be careless. Finally, every business unit wants to

have their monopoly in the market. Michael Corleone does precisely the same uponhis fathers death by eliminating all the key players from other families and becoming

the godfather in the process.


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Go vernment R ol es: G overnment is mainly run by politicians chosen by the common

people in a democratic system. The law and order is enforced by the police, FBI and

other law enforcing entities. These different entities as shown in the movie are all

corrupted units and their alliance with the mafia world is shown clearly in the movie.

The big fishes are not afraid of the police or the FBI as they know that they can be

taken into confidence by giving them bribe. The politicians are in the pockets of

these mafia gangs and the so-called business units. It implies that if one has mo ney

to buy out the leaders of the country, they can also have power to influence the

operations of the country. Dishonest politicians have the capability to destroy the

interest of a mass by fulfilling their own interests. Sometimes, the police are bribed to

impose false acquisitions on someone. They did not have a clue on the murder of

Sollozzo and hence, they went on making unnecessary killings and pointless

charges on the innocent. There was one picture published in the newspapers which

showed that officials were laughing as they stand over the body of a killed cop. This

shows the incompetence on the part of the so-called anti-crime unit of the country.

The government should have a different take on these issues. They should solve the

problems at its outset at the grass root level. Analysing the situation, if the growth of

the mafia gangs were controlled in the first time, then there was neither a need of the

unnecessary murders nor a turbulent society prevailing over the lives of the common

people. But, to ensure this, all the key players of the government should have the

conscience of not to take any unfair means for their own good. A decision should befor collective welfare rather than the benefit of an individual.

Effect o n the S o ciety: The society always bows down to the most powerful person.

This has been going on since the start of mankind and this prevails even till date.


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Don Corleone, aka godfather was a person who was regarded as a man who can

solve all the problems. In this situation, the society regards an individual over the

government and treats him as the saviour. Their dependence is mainly because of

the fear of the individual as he holds the power position. We, the players in a society

are easily affected by the fear imposed and often, we are the ones responsible for

the aftermath that they have on us. In a word, we bring these to ourselves by our

indifference and view of own good. Rather the being proactive, the society is reactive

to the news flashed to them. Hence, the news of godfathers i llness or his return to

home features in the first page of the newspaper. If the society as a collective can

stand up, then these menaces can be stopped altogether.

M y Perspective: The movie boasts its success on the cast and crew who did justice

to the roles assigned to them. None of the characters seems to be redundant. The

screenplay iscoherent and never for a moment, will a person feel bored watching this

movie. The dialogues and the script are intriguing enough to have an impact on the

viewer. The work behind the lens is awesome and it is the capture of subtle

moments and certain emotions that makes the movie all the more perfect. The

background score has a sad tint, completely in sync with the theme and events of

the movie. The movie also shows that you can earn honour in any business as long

as you are truthful and ethical about the way you go about it. However, it could have

shown a bit more of the then economic conditions and the standard of living of the

common people. Also it could have shown the effect of the drug trafficking to have a

clear view of the effect of the controlled supply of the drugs. We are not sure whether

the guideline mentioned (not near schools, not to children) was adhered to or not.

G odfather is pictured as a puppeteer holding and controlling the strings of the society


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and this essence is perfectly portrayed by the symbolic picture associated with the

movie. On the whole, The G odfather has a niche position in the world of art and will

continue to be a benchmark for others to follow in the future.

R eferences:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ G odfather

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068646/

Documents

The Godfather_Film Review