I’m Gonna Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse

It took me 36 years to watch it. Okay, let’s be fair – I was all of 4 when The Godfather came out. 1972 was the year. It was rated “R”, I was four.

I’ve always heard about the Oscar sweep – the legendary actors and actresses, and that the Godfather series was the quintessential mafia movie. And it is. All 3 hours.

Today’s movie making techniques will spoil any fan– the storytelling ability of Martin Scorsese spoils me. Nothing against Francis Ford Coppolla – I thoroughly enjoyed watching Godfather – but am hooked on the quick pacing, the music, and cinematography used in the Goodfellas, Casino, and The Departed.

Before this sounds like heresy to the true movie fan – I should say that it absolutely is now among my favorites – and Jodi and I will watch The Godfather 2 this coming weekend. In fact, this will be a part of our small and selective DVD collection of movies.

Nothing had been made quite like it before 1972. The story was compelling. Brando was great- but PACINO – wow….he and DeNiro are still the best.

On a graphic note: The horsehead scene was probably very stunning back then. It was a bit melodramatic by today’s standards. I was more stunned by the hand in the Ziploc bag in Departed-and Nicholson’s ability to keep eating his lobster and butter sauce through the scene.

Bottom line: I think 30+ years of knowing the “famous lines” and often parodied scenes might have set my expectations high-and I forgot to “mentally adjust” for the movie making techniques of the 70s – so it was a little slow to start for me. But once I got into, it had all of the makings of a great mafia movie.