The Godfather, Part II

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The Godfather, Part II

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The Godfather, Part II

Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo

Continuing saga of the Corleone family as they move to Nevada and make the casino business their major income source under the leadership of the increasingly paranoid and malevolent Michael, whose rei...( read more  read more... )gn as the 'Don' is juxtaposed against the parallel tale of his father's escape from Sicily as a young boy and his subsequent rise to power in New York's Lower East Side during the turn-of-the-century.

Id: 10904958

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The Godfather, Part II Recent Reviews
  • ceWEBrity
    December 9, 2009
    ceWEBrity
    I wouldn't call either the first or second movie better than the other. This was much more subtle and coherent than the first film, but the flashbacks with Vito Corleone weren't all that interesting, feeling more like padding than a cornerstone for the plot. Honestly, I found Mar...( read more)lon Brando's character to be the least interesting one in the first film, and I wasn't all that excited to learn more about him here. I do like Robert De Niro's portrayal more than Brando's, but it's too little too late. In truth, I think the second film's advantage and disadvantage over the first play into each other; perhaps it's by virtue of the "filler" that the present-day plot is kept simple, crisp and easy to follow. The last thing it needed is another 45 minutes added to it.

    Anyway, I recognize the place The Godfather films have in the cultural canon, and the artistry and thought behind them are clear, but (at least at this point) I definitely don't consider them favorites. Too much woman-beating and guiltless sociopathy and macho posturing for me. It's not really a wonder that critics, primarily straight white men, fell head-over-heels for the movie when it first came out.
  • lewiskendell
    November 30, 2009
    lewiskendell
    I didn't like this as much as the first Godfather movie. The parts about young Vito were not as interesting as I was hoping for, and the Las Vegas and Cuba storylines weren't as enthralling as the New York-based plot of the original. I also thought that the movie suffered from lo...( read more)sing so many of the original's best characters. Still, the movie ended very strongly, and Al Pacino was very good once again.
  • SirPant
    September 7, 2009
    SirPant
    It's funny how well this film worked so well after the departure of Brando but that's where both De Niro and Pacino stepped up in a film that really made their careers. Even though the pair never have a scene together, its almost like their in competition. This is a far superior ...( read more)film than Godfather Part 1 but for me, It will always be the late great John Cazale who makes part 2 so damn good.
  • RCCLBC
    June 22, 2009
    RCCLBC
    Whlle not as consistently "solid" as The Godfather, this second installment of the Corleone family saga is still an riveting piece of work.

    And fans of the first film will no doubt appreciate the opportunity to not only a little "follow-up" on the Corleones, but also to get a ...( read more)little back story on how their Empire came to be in the first place.

    I felt like the editing could have been a little smoother and that it lost a little of it's momentum following the "Intermission". But it was still a great film and definately well above "par" as far as "sequels" go.
  • Passenger1986
    May 3, 2009
    Passenger1986
    Some see this as less a sequel, but more of a continuation of the first. Some see this as the greatest sequel ever made. I don't fall into either side, but I do know this is some damn fine film making.

    The film is split into two major stories, both being played out at the same t...( read more)ime. One is a prequel of sorts, about Vito Corleone (played in most scenes by Robert De Niro, who deserved the Best Supporting Actor) and his rise to power from humble beginnings and a troubled past. The other focuses on his son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino, improving on the already magnificent performance from the first film) in the present time of the film, trying to keep the family's businesses and ventures going while figuring out who he can trust.

    A lot of what I said about the first film, in regards to Michael, can be said here, so this review will try and focus on other aspects
    So, with that said, the perils of keeping business afloat and keeping a family life hit harder here than they do in the first installment. Michael suffers betrayal in business by family (through Fredo, his brother) and what he sees to be betrayal by his wife (Diane Keaton, reprising her role and doing well again) after she tells him she had an abortion, not wishing to bring another child into a den of sin and lying to Michael, saying it was a miscarriage.
    That scene is one of the more powerful scenes of the film, with Michael slapping her in disgust and getting furious. However, unlike his late brother-in-law, he can keep himself in check (and in my eyes, he's still a better man).

    Michael also faces a new challenge with an investigation into the dealings of the family is ongoing, thus creating more stress for the Don. On the flip side, back in Vito's day, once he's disposed of the local Mafia kingpin, he earns the respect of the neighbourhood, thus solidifying a position of power he would hold for years to come.

    What I like most about this film is the relationships Michael keeps, particularly with Fredo (John Cazale, one of the other standout performances as is Robert Duvall as Tom Hagan, one of my favourite characters of the whole saga). Fredo is seen as a good hearted man, if not overly intelligent, who is jealous of younger brother Michael. After his betrayal, Michael goes through several stages with him ranging from sorrow at what Fredo has done, to just downright disowning him and then eventually welcoming him back to the fold. The scenes between Al and John are great and it's a pity John passed away after only doing a handful of films.

    I still strongly prefer the former film, due to how Michael starts off an innocent bystander in his family's dealings and then ends up running the show himself. That said, put the two films together, you have a powerful story. The third film would deal with paying for the sins he has committed but that is to be left for another review.

    I would also like to add that the first two films have made a spectacular leap in mediums to the video game industry and are a joy to play.
  • thevoiceofreason1
    December 15, 2009
    thevoiceofreason1
    Why are English gangster films so crap?
  • supershiftyspy
    December 10, 2009
    supershiftyspy
    I didn't think it was as good as the first.
  • paulanthonynelson
    December 6, 2009
    paulanthonynelson
    A super sequel in every sense, by not seeking to top its groundbreaking predecessor, but to expand upon it... and, in turn, breaking new ground itself. The parallel between the old-school Don, whose touch was as much velvet as gunpowder, and the new-school operation run by new Do...( read more)n Michael, which is as sleek as chrome and utterly heartless. Michael's fiscal success and influence may eventually outstrip Vito's, but as the chilling final shot of GODFATHER II shows, what does it profit a man who gains the whole world but loses his soul? Gorgeous, bruising, elegant crime fimmaking of the first rank. You can positively swim in Coppola's GODFATHER films, so tangible and pungent is the atmosphere.
  • lessommerville
    December 4, 2009
    lessommerville
    for most fans this is the last godfather movie
  • clas81
    December 4, 2009
    clas81
    Gangsters and Classic movie lovers must watch!
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