Critiquing the Arts Class Review: The Godfather

There are very few things that get better with time. Wine is one. Pam Grier is another. But older movies tend to become dated fast. It could be because films have gotten so much more advanced on a technical level, or perhaps because the best old movies are usually pillaged by newer films looking for ideas, taking a piece of the older movie’s creativity with them. The Godfather, however, stands the test of time, more than thirty years after its initial release.

The fact that The Godfather remains so entertaining today has little to do with its plot. As I said above, newer movies are constantly recycling ideas from older ones, and there have been dozens of mob pictures that probably would never had existed were it not for their thematic older brother. But none of those movies, with the possible exception of the latest great gangster pic, the Departed, had a cast of actors as skilled as those in The Godfather. The character of Michael Corleone was Al Pacino's breakthrough role, and it can be argued that he's never been better. Robert Duvall, James Caan, Diane Keaton and the underappreciated John Cazale are all fantastic as well, but it's the legendary Marlon Brando who elevates the movie to such great heights. Toying with an almost perfect screenplay, Brando creates a pop culture icon who serves as The Godfather's backbone, giving a performance that burns its way into the head of anyone who's seen the film.

That's not to say the actors are the only reason The Godfather is a classic. There are plenty of amazing moments that can be seen again and again and still have the same impact. Who can forget the greedy movie studio executive waking up to a surprise in his bed, or Michael getting revenge on his rivals in a crowded Italian restaurant? The movie has been both parodied and outright stolen from so many times that people who haven't seen the movie know certain moments or lines of dialogue.

The finished product is so much more than a standard issue mafia movie. The Godfather is a dense parable about family, loyalty, making tough decisions and, uh, conflict resolution. It's that rare film that's better than the book that inspired it, yet it's still as rich as a good novel.

"The Godfather" weaves multiple storylines together amongst the large cast of actors, several of which are strong enough to be the focus of their own movie. The 1972 Oscar Winner for Best Picture is nearly three hours long, but the film is so absorbing that time becomes meaningless the moment the opening titles flash on the screen. It will almost certainly be remembered as one of the greatest movies of all time.