Right V. Wrong: The Case Of The Godfather Part III
Recently I watched The Godfather Part III for the first time. Instead of rattling on about how unsurprisingly shit it was, I’m going to briefly dissect it through some stills which demonstrate what worked and what (or who) didn’t. For the lovers of this film, sorry not sorry. And yes, there will be plenty of spoilers.
This works. Keaton + Pacino = acting gods. Sure, they are not hot shit in this film, but they do get to scream in agony (or in my eyes ecstasy) as their daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola) is killed in front of them.
This doesn’t work. The only award the now acclaimed filmmaker Sofia Coppola could ever win in this role was the best case of nepotism gone wrong. Winona Ryder dropped out of the project to go and shoot Edward Scissorhands (I wonder why…) And so, director Francis Ford Coppola wrangled his daughter Sofia to play the young Mary Corleone. No, Sofia is not a skilled actress in the slightest. But she gives one hell of a muted, death scene. The rest of her performance is something akin to a punishment, that we, the humble audience, are forced to endure.
This works. Talia Shire reprises her role as Connie Corleone (Michael’s sister). Like her co-stars, she isn’t given much, except a good sly murder.
This DOESN’T WORK. The cousin-incest relationship between Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia, who does quite well, perhaps best in show) and Mary is not only disgusting, but offending to anyone who has to witness it.
This works. Any reminder of the two preceding Godfather films reminds us that once there was something amazing about the Corleone’s. The few flashbacks only work due to the uber shitness of the latest instalment. Otherwise, this would have been a tacky addition.
