The Godfather: Part II (1974 movie)- Review

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola
Released: 1974
Country: United States

Main cast: Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Robart Duvall, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg, Talia Shire, Michael V. Gazzo, G. D. Spradlin, Richard Bright, Morgana King, Marianna Hill, Gastone Moschin

Genres: Crime drama

Rating: 4 out of 5

Review

The story of the powerful Corleone family continues with The Godfather: Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film itself is as powerful as the first film, only it is not as engrossing as it's predecessor.

But more of that later. First let's discuss the basic aspects of the movie. While the film continues the tale of Michael Corleone's leadership over the Corleone family, it also shows us, through flashbacks, about the youth of Vito Corleone. The young Vito Corleone is played by Robert De Niro.

There are frequent flashbacks in the movie showing us about the youth of Vito Corleone and how he became engaged in crimes. As such there is a mixture of both a sequel and prequel in The Godfather: Part 2.

Some characters get more importance in this movie. Connie, Michael's sister, played by Talia Shire, who had remained not so important in the first movie, gets a little more importance in this movie. Like the first movie, Vito Corleone's wife, played by Morgana King, remains a minor supporting character.

But a real surprize is given by Fredo Corleone, played by John Cazale. In The Godfather we had seen Fredo as mild, getting not much attention. But in this movie his role gets bigger. And in fact, he plays a crucial role in the plot. He helps an enemy, Hyman Roth, in a plan against Michael.

It all starts like this. A failed assassination attempt on Michael Corleone leads him to take safety  measures so that his dear family can remain safe. He is sure that the assassination attempt has been done by Hyman Roth. But he doesn't let Roth realize he knows all this. Instead, in front of Roth, he pretends that he believes that the assassination attempt was planned by Frank Pentengeli, whom Michael trusts a lot.

On this context, while a conversation with Pentengeli informing him that he is certain that Hyman Roth is the antagonist, Michael says these famous words: ''Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer''; which had been taught to him by his late father.

But one man in his own family has been helping Hyman Roth. Who is he? When he finds out that it is none but his beloved, weak, and mild older brother Fredo, he is terribly shocked and saddened. What does it lead to?

While this story continues, the youth of Vito Corleone shown in flashbacks, is interesting in it's own way. We come to know more about this character.

It is surprising if you compare Michael from the beginning of The Godfather, with the Michael of The Godfather II. At the beginning of The Godfather, Michael Corleone was such a sweet, calm young man. His character started to change by the middle of The Godfather, and by the end of the movie, he had become a completely ruthless man. This transformation of Michael Corleone was an important aspect of The Godfather. And in The Godfather: Part II, Michael has become such a very ruthless, coldhearted man. Yet, he does remain devoted to his family. The character is played brilliantly by Al Pacino, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his performance.

A character whom I started to sympathize was Michael's wife, Kay, played by the talented Diane Keaton. Kay doesn't like the criminal activities her husband is engaged with. In a scene she tells her husband that he had once said her that he would make the family business legitimate within five year; it has been seven years since he said that but still the family business is not legitimate. Her husband says that he has been trying. How much he is trying, in fact?

Robert Duvall reprises his role as the family consigliere and informally adopted brother of Michael Corleone, Tom Hagen. His role remains just as important as it was in the first film. There is also the presence of Lee Strasberg as the villain, Hyman Roth. James Caan briefly reprises his role as Sonny Corleone, in a flashback scene.

It is, without a doubt, among the best gangster movies ever made, and obviously, a masterpiece. Then why did I give it 4 out of 5, if it is indeed one of the best films ever made? Why didn't I give it a 5? That I am explaining below.

The film starts looking very promising. And it turns out to be an excellent and powerful experience. There is no doubt in that. But, some of the very first scenes seem boring. It isn't engrossing. But then, after a few scenes, all of a sudden gets so very exciting and engrossing, and then you start enjoying it. Really. From that parts, you seem to enjoy it.

It being very enjoyable, but I thought one thing. The Godfather was as well a slow-paced movie. But however, it was engrossing in each and every scenes. The Godfather: Part II is, excluding some of the first scenes, very enjoyable, very much engrossing, highly interesting. So overall, comparing the two films, I think The Godfather was a better film, but however, The Godfather: Part II is a very much excellent film as well.

The dramatic cinematography and scores, and the editing, all of them, along with the story, screenplay, acting- make the film an excellent one. So, high praises to all of them!

Overall, ''The Godfather: Part II'' is a brilliant and excellent film by Francis Ford Coppola. The slow-paced film may not be entirely enjoyable, but watching it you will have a wonderful cinematic experience. Longer than it's predecessor, it is a little less interesting than the first film, but however, it is as excellently-made film as it's predecessor. Itself a great movie, ''The Godfather: Part II'' is, without a doubt, a classic!

4 out of 5