1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Reservoir Dogs

#880- Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Tim Roth, Chris Penn
Directed by: Quentin Tarantino


Plot Summary: Mobster Joe Cabot and his son, "Nice Guy" Eddie hire six men for a diamond heist and give them different aliases, Mr. White, Mr. Pink, Mr. Blue, Mr. Orange, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Blonde. When the cops seem prepared for the robbery, it is speculated that there was a tip-off from someone involved in the heist. With Mr. Orange wounded, Mr. White tries to protect him, while also contending with Mr. Pink over who the "rat" is, and also having to worry about Mr. Blonde, whom Mr. White has labelled "psychotic" for murdering innocent people during the heist.


Mobster March ends with a film from my favorite director, Quentin Tarantino. Before he was a household name for films like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Django Unchained, Tarantino achieved success with his big-screen debut with Reservoir Dogs, his big-screen debut as a director. With an already established status quo for the gangster genre with films like The Godfather and Goodfellas, what could Tarantino bring to the table? The biggest impact Tarantino could make on the gangster genre was not to change or reinvent what the genre is about, but by adding his own spin on it by incorporating an innovative style of filmmaking that has since cemented his career as one of the best directors out there today.

Reservoir Dogs stars Harvey Keitel as Mr. White. Keitel is one of those actors that is known to have a no-nonsense demeanor, but can also crack some good one-liners when needed to. And that comes out in full with Mr. White, who values professionalism and respect, but is also able to have fun and joke around with the few men he trusts. One of the men Mr. White trusts in the film is Mr. Orange, played by Tim Roth. He's a bit cocky guy and has a quick mouth, but he's a likeable enough character to watch. There's not a whole lot I can say about him without giving some of the major plot points away, but let's just say a lot of the film is centered on the backgrounds of three of the six hired men, and Mr. Orange is one of them, and is arguably the most in depth sequences of the film.

Mr. Pink is played by Steve Buscemi and he gives the performance you'd come to expect from him. His unique voice, sarcastic behavior, comedic timing, and scrawny physique helps create a timid, yet loudmouth character that the audience can have a lot of fun watching. Some of the best zingers in the film come from Mr. Pink, such as why he doesn't tip at restaurants, or even his disdain for being given the nickname Mr. Pink. But by far, my favorite character in the film is Mr. Blonde, played by Michael Madsen. Mr. Blonde, or Vic Vega as he's actually known, is a loose-cannon character that has many layers of personality. There are scenes in which he can be humorous and likable and others where he's intimidating and even scary, and some where they two merge. One of the film's most famous scenes involve Mr. Blonde and the song "Stuck in the Middle with You" by Stealers Wheel, and that's all I'm going to say about that. Point is, Mr. Blonde is one of those villains that the audience loves to hate. Watch for yourself and see how hard it is to actually "hate" him.

The mobster that hired all these men is Joe Cabot, played by Lawrence Tierney. Tierney gives Joe an intimidating reputation and allows Joe's authority to be made through personal words and leaves the actions to be done by those he hires. Joe's son is "Nice Guy" Eddie, played by Chris Penn. Eddie has a lot of interesting relationships with many of the main characters, a casual business relationship with Mr. White, Mr. Orange, and Mr. Pink, a best friend relationship with Mr. Blonde, and of course a father and son relationship with Joe. Penn does a lot with the role of "Nice Guy" Eddie, allowing him to be a humorous and easy-going guy throughout the film (hence his nickname), but also giving him moments where he can be very serious and intimidating, just like his father.

While the other characters are given enough screen time and development, there are two that feel underutilized. Mr. Blue is played by Edward Bunker and while he gets a few funny lines in a handful of scenes, not much is known about him and not much time is actually spent on him. The other is Mr. Brown, played by Quentin Tarantino himself. Mr. Brown's biggest contribution to the film is by initiating the opening dialogue by analyzing the song "Like a Virgin" by Madonna. While it has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the film, it is still an engaging discussion that helps reveal the layers to some unique characters. Since this is Tarantino's first film, it is ironic that the character he plays is the first to carry out his own style of character development through anecdotes.

Tarantino's style of telling a complete story with scenes that are chronologically out of sequence has been his bread and butter. Reservoir Dogs really got the ball rolling on that, and it carried on in Tarantino's other films. One of my absolute favorite films is Pulp Fiction (another Tarantino gangster film), which borrows a lot of style and recurring actors from Reservoir Dogs (my personal favorite that John Travolta's Vincent Vega is Mr. Blonde's brother). The film also serves as a building block for the evolution of a director like Tarantino. After those films were released, Tarantino set his sights on other genres, from war films to martial arts films to westerns. Hm...westerns? That might be a good place to go for next month. While I'm at it, I might as well stick to Tarantino if we're on that subject.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Reservoir Dogs was the film that allowed Quentin Tarantino to get his foot in the door as a director, and he's been successful ever since. To see his unique spin on the gangster genre, and the film that got his career started, I recommend this film be seen and owned by all fans of action and gangster films.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Reservoir Dogs and movie images are copyrighted by Miramax Films

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Public Enemy

#62- The Public Enemy (1931)
Starring: James Cagney, Jean Harlow, Edward Woods
Directed by: William A. Wellman


Plot Summary: After Tom Powers and Matt Doyle align themselves with the gangster, Putty Nose, they are left to fend for themselves after Putty Nose leaves town as a result of a botched robbery. With Prohibition in effect, Paddy Ryan recruits Tom and Matt as beer "salesmen" in his bootlegging business. The business becomes successful, with the wealth going to Tom and Matt's heads, and catching the attention of Tom's older brother, Mike. Despite Mike's wishes, Tom will not quit the bootlegging business and continues to live like a king, with no signs of giving up his fame and wealth on his own terms.


To continue Mobster March, it's time to look at one of the innovators of the gangster genre's popularity. Before the days of The Godfather or the numerous films directed by Martin Scorsese, before Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, or Marlon Brando, there was James Cagney. Cagney was considered one of the top actors that popularized the gangster genre in the early era of film, so let's look at one of his most famous of films, The Public Enemy.

James Cagney stars as Tom Powers. Cagney has a very distinct way of speaking, and that helps Tom stand out from the rest of the characters. Like the gangsters in Goodfellas, the fame and wealth goes straight to Tom's head and he becomes a more deplorable character than he already was. He starts off somewhat harmless at the beginning, but it is not until he gets involved with the gangsters, that he becomes an enemy of the public (hence the title). What's interesting about his character is that he is NOT a gang leader, but rather, one of the associates to a gang leader. With a film title like The Public Enemy, and a recognizable name like James Cagney attached, you'd expect him to be a leader like Don Corleone. That doesn't mean his performance is bad though, as the audience hopes that Tom can change his ways by the end and reconcile with all those broken relationships he made throughout the film.

Edward Woods plays Tom's right hand man, Matt Doyle. Matt is a very loyal friend to Tom and is willing to do anything for him, but it is obvious that Tom's success has clouded his perception on that. Tom constantly treats Matt like a lackey and considers him his unequal. At the beginning, it seems like it is out of humor, but as it continues to build, it begins to sound more bitter and resentful towards Matt, and that's not fair to him because of how much he actually does to help Tom and himself become successful. Tom's brother, Mike, is played by Donald Cook and boy does he sound annoying. I'm not sure if Cook really talked like that, if they were trying to make him sound similar to Cagney, or what, but something got lost in the execution, because his dialogue sounds really rushed and lacking any form of believable emotion.

The main gangster that helps Tom and Matt earn their success is Paddy Ryan, played by Robert Emmett O'Connor. Paddy is a smooth and quick talker, which gives his character a great presence to serve as a mentor for Tom and Matt. He's no Vito Corleone, but you get the idea that Paddy knows what he is doing and has a sense of loyalty for his men, but could be very vengeful if he were ever to be crossed. Tom and Matt receive earlier "mentoring" from Putty Nose, played by Murray Kinnell. Putty Nose is a great contrast to Paddy because he does not have the same amount of respect for his men that Paddy does. He has no sense of value or morality, as he is a small time gangster compared to Paddy, who also has no problem getting his men to do what he needs them to and then ditch them when it best suits him.

The women of The Public Enemy are not too much to write about. Tom has two girlfriends throughout the film, Kitty and Gwen Allen, played by (an uncredited) Mae Clarke and Jean Harlow respectively. Apart from a scene in which Tom shoves a grapefruit in Kitty's face to shut her up, not much between the two characters is really important to write about. They don't add a lot to the story other than the fact that Tom is sick of Kitty and Gwen has a weakness for "bad" men. The best female character in the film is Tom's mother, played by Beryl Mercer. All she wants is for her two sons to stop fighting so their family can have peace, which is of course something any loving mother would want of her kids. She also displays the need to constantly cook, clean, and take care of her boys. Her peppiness should be something humorous (that seems to be how it's conveyed on film), but it ranges more on depressing because the audience can tell that the emotional state of Ma Powers is hanging by a thread and won't be able to take much more if Tom and Mike can't make up.

One of the more refreshing aspects of The Public Enemy was that it did not have to rely on guns and violence to convey the concept of on-screen gangsters. While there are some forms of violence, the use of gangsters is more or less to shape perceptions on morals and values within the individual characters, like in The Godfather. However, the genre has evolved over time, leaving older representations of gangsters, like this film, a product of its time but still something fun to check out when detailing the metamorphosis of the gangster genre (like I have).


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Public Enemy is a very influential film in the gangster genre, but a lot of it hasn't aged too well. The only part of the film that still holds up well is the performance from James Cagney, which is enough for me to recommend for a DVD rental.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

The Public Enemy and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Departed

#1083- The Departed (2006)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson
Directed by: Martin Scorsese


Plot Summary: Before graduating from the police academy, Billy Costigan is recruited by Capt. Queenan and Staff Sgt. Dignam to go undercover in the the Irish-American mob in South Boston. Billy infiltrates the mob, led by Frank Costello, and keeps a low profile, until he learns that that one of Costello's men is working within the Special Investigations Unit of the Massachusetts State Police. The other mole, Staff Sgt. Colin Sullivan, is one of Costello's most trusted men, and makes it his mission to find the "rat" within the mob before he is found out first. In order for Billy to get out alive and complete his undercover work, he must find the other mole, while also protecting his own identity.


My introduction to the gangster genre was thanks to The Departed. My dad took me to see it when it first came out, and I was hooked instantly. What got me invested in the film was its stellar cast which created memorable characters to study throughout the film. Since seeing it, pop culture has accepted the film as a film to discuss when talking about the greatest films of the 2000s. I even have an inside joke with a certain best friend of mine where we yell "ARE YOU A CAWP!?!?!" at each other. Clearly, The Departed is a film that has been popular since its release, but does it hold up in comparison to director Martin Scorsese's OTHER mob classics like Goodfellas, let alone other mob movies? After getting into the gangster genre this month, my question for re-watching The Departed was even if it is a film I love, does that make it a good film in the realm of the gangster flick.

The Departed has an all-star class which begins with Leonardo DiCaprio as William "Billy" Costigan, Jr., the film's main protagonist. Billy is an excellent main character to follow because he is more of an anti-hero than anything. He makes mistakes, he can be rude and unlikable to many people, but there is a sense that he wants to do something honorable. He is able to boost credibility of being in the mob is by dropping out of the police academy and spending two years in jail, utilizing his family ties to organized crime as a catalyst. Under the terms of his probation, Billy is sent to see Dr. Madolyn Madden, played by Vera Farmiga, for therapy. It is this relationship that is one of the most interesting, as Madolyn is the character that sees both sides of Billy, the tough mob member that he is pretending to be and the honorable man that wants to serve for the law. Billy also has a ton of respect for Capt. Oliver Charles Queenan, played by Martin Sheen, whom he looks at as a mentor figure and is also the man that recruited Billy to infiltrate Costello's mob.

Matt Damon plays Staff Sgt. Colin Sullivan, Costello's mole in the Massachusetts State Police. The beautiful irony of Sullivan is that he works for the Special Investigations Unit that focuses on organized crime, the very thing he is doing himself. Even if the audience can see all of Sullivan's lies displayed, that doesn't mean the other characters can and it is frustrating when they cannot, which makes Sullivan all the more detestable. When Sullivan succeeds, the audience shouldn't be able to stand it. When he begins to have a steady relationship with his girlfriend, Madolyn (and yes, that does mean a love triangle with them and Billy), the audience should roll their eyes and hope he is caught in a lie. When a character begins to wise up to Sullivan's lies, the audience is happy that this scumbag could be found out. Simply put, Matt Damon plays Sullivan as the kind of bad guy that you want to get caught and get what's coming to him.

Mob leader Frank Costello is played by Jack Nicholson. Costello is a memorable mobster character because of his wide-eyed personality, which is thanks to Jack Nicholson's trademark neurotic persona. Nicholson is able to transform himself into a character that is calm and full of mobster wisdom in some scenes, but can transition into a psychotic and ruthless madman in other scenes. No matter what type of personality Costello has, Nicholson has enough charisma to pull the audience in and become invested in his character, and more importantly, have our attention focused on every word he says because when he speaks, we know it will be something worth listening to.

Rounding out the main cast is Mark Wahlberg as Staff Sgt. Sean Dignam. Dignam is the character primarily responsible for the film's comedy, providing numerous memorable lines throughout the film thanks to Wahlberg's timing and ability to sound tough and sarcastic. Dignam is the glue that holds the characters in the police force together, as he is very hard-nosed with Billy, hostile with Sullivan (Dignam suspects that he's the mole working with Costello), has a mutual respect for Capt. Queenan, and a comedic rivalry with Capt. George Ellerby, played by Alec Baldwin. Dignam is one of the most memorable characters in The Departed and that has to do with his ability to work off a majority of the other main characters.

The Departed is another film on the famed résumé of director Martin Scorsese that has helped establish his name as one of the greatest filmmakers of the modern era. The film has often been put up in comparison with Goodfellas over which is the better Scorsese gangster film. Whether or not it is better is hard to determine, since it is a different type of gangster film told through the familiar style of the director. So far in the gangster movies I've seen, they are the types of movies where the audience is able to root for the "bad guys," but in The Departed, the lines between what makes a good guy and a bad guy are blurred and are not determined on their profession. As is the case with Billy, a man of the law pretending to be a criminal mobster, and with Sullivan, a man within law enforcement that has been trained to contribute to organized crime. It isn't as easy for the audience to label "good guy" from "bad guy" based on what side of the line they are on, and becomes a study of an individual's personal character and what they value, and to me, that's the beauty of the film.


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Departed is a unique modern entry in the gangster genre that spends just as much time with the law enforcement as it does with the mob, while also looking at many incarnations of both working within the other. With an amazing cast and a suspenseful narrative told by an iconic filmmaker, it is a film that I highly recommend watching and owning in your collection.

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

The Departed and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- Goodfellas

#848- Goodfellas (1990)
Starring: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
Directed by: Martin Scorsese


Plot Summary: As far as he could remember, Henry Hill always wanted to be a gangster. Growing up in Brooklyn, Henry is taken under the wing of local mob boss Paul "Paulie" Cicero and his associates Jimmy "The Gent" Conway and Tommy DeVito. They achieve success through numerous thefts and robberies, with the fame and respect going to their heads and making them feel untouchable. When Tommy murders Billy Batts, a made man, they need to cover their tracks in order to avoid being found out and murdered for their actions. Henry finds a new way to make money by selling drugs, even convincing Jimmy and Tommy to join him despite Paulie's wishes for them to stop. Jimmy is elated with the news that Tommy is going to be a made man, feeling that he and Henry will be virtually made as well and will be feared, respected and untouchable, that is if all goes according to plan.


By the time The Godfather wrapped up its trilogy with a third installment that was considered underwhelming by critics and audiences, the gangster genre had seen its fair share of films that tried to reintroduce and modernize the genre with moviegoers everywhere. Throughout the '80s and early '90s, films like The Untouchables, Scarface, Reservoir Dogs, and Pulp Fiction proved that there was still new life to be breathed into the genre thanks to directors like Brian De Palma and Quentin Tarantino. In the modern age of film, no director has immortalized himself more with the gangster genre than Martin Scorsese, and much of that can be credited to his work in one of the greatest mob movies of all time, Goodfellas. Usually with films like Goodfellas and The Godfather, if it has a reputation that deems it so good that I "have" to love it when I see it, part of me becomes skeptical of whether or not I'm going to watch it and believe the hype. Sometimes a film is so good that it is easy to enjoy it, and other times it is harder to do so if I have difficulty trying to find the appeal. Luckily, the latter was not an issue at all with Goodfellas, as I instantly saw why people love this film and it was a film where I was able to believe the hype.

Goodfellas is told through the point of view of Henry Hill, played by Ray Liotta. Henry is the character that goes through the most development, so his up and down development (seriously, it's an emotional roller coaster to see how he progresses) allows Liotta to showcase his acting talent in playing numerous versions of Henry Hill. There's a comedic side to him, a loyal side, a nervous side, an explosive side, and many other ways we see Henry performed, and since Liotta is able to do all of these emotions convincingly, it makes for a very engaging main character to follow.

Jimmy "The Gent" Conway is played by Robert De Niro. De Niro is much different in this film than he was in The Godfather Part II, but still knows how to fill the role of a mafia associate. Jimmy is protective of Henry and Tommy as if they were his sons, prideful of his heists, and overly paranoid of being whacked or snitched. All these elements combine to form a unique mentor character for Henry and Tommy to follow. Jimmy and Paul "Paulie" Cicero, played by Paul Sorvino, are characterized by the different personalities of the Corleone leaders in The Godfather Trilogy, with Paulie reflecting Vito's values of family and respect and Jimmy reflecting Michael's modern business savvy.

Joe Pesci plays Tommy DeVito and is an absolute scumbag the entire film. Tommy is the character that lets the success go to his head the hardest, and thinks because he, Henry and Jimmy have some success that he can do what he wants and can't be touched. That's not to say Tommy is a "bad" character, as there are many times where there is an appeal to the character. You can tell that there's a solid relationship between Tommy and his mother, played by Catherine Scorsese, and Pesci's personality helps Tommy find a sense of humor that provides for some very funny lines and scenes. Just don't tell Tommy that you think he's funny, trust me.

Henry's wife Karen, played by Lorraine Bracco, is a very interesting character because she wants to stand by her husband, but can't stand him when she suspects he's not being honest with her. Rather than acting rationally about it, she resorts to public tantrums and even threats of violence. It is clear that Karen is a bit unstable, and even a bit whiny, but it's nothing that she shouldn't have expected when she learned what Henry did for a living. Instead of reacting the way most people would, she admits she got turned on by it, which I'll admit was kind of funny but is also a sign that Karen isn't a logical person.

Goodfellas encompasses all the iconic status that The Godfather was able to achieve, and a lot of that can be credited to the filmmaking techniques of director Martin Scorsese. Scorsese not only called the shots as a director, but also helped write the screenplay for the film. It has a different style in its narrative that is written to have rich and compelling scenes of dialogue, performed by top quality actors, and mixed within a ton of fast paced action. When a film is able to do all of those things within itself, it is no wonder how Scorsese has become one of our era's top filmmakers, and one of the best directors to make a gangster film.

Now go home and get your f****** shinebox! (I love that scene)


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

With great performances and quickly paced narrative, Goodfellas became an instant classic and immortalized itself as one of the great gangster movies. This film was full of action and great dialogue, making it a film that's more my speed and one I recommend everyone see and own in their collection. 

Comment below to share your thoughts on the movie or to discuss a topic that I left out of my review

Goodfellas and movie images are copyrighted by Warner Bros.

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Godfather Part II

#603- The Godfather Part II (1974)
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola


Plot Summary: Don Michael Corleone has had a lot on his plate since taking over the "family business," including watching over his family and making new business deals. The business and private aspects of Michael's life merge one night, when a message from Florida gangster, Hyman Roth, is received by an attempted assassination on Michael's life. Enraged by the attack on his home, children, and pregnant wife Kay, Michael makes it his primary objective to make Roth and the others who planned the assassination on his life pay. To add to the drama surrounding the Corleone family, Michael is put under investigation by the FBI and must appear before a Senate committee to clear the family name.


I have done reviews on other movie trilogies (The Lord of the Rings and Toy Story), and this is usually the time where I should discuss what the second installment is supposed to do in context of bridging the overall plot of the three-film franchise. However, this is not possible with my review of The Godfather Part II. Due to the mixed response of fans and critics concerning The Godfather Part III, the film did not make the list of films to watch before you die. Instead, the point of view of a film like The Godfather Part II is altered by making it a discussion of how a film's sequel compares to the original. Since there was so much to discuss about the first installment, characters and themes that carried over into the second film are able to be analyzed in terms of how they evolved during the span of two movies.

Al Pacino stars as Don Michael Corleone. The film takes place after Michael assumes the role of head of the "family business," allowing the audience to see the transformation of Michael's character. No longer is he this compassionate family man that he was in the first film, but has now transitioned into a more ruthless and business savvied mob leader. The audience can tell that Michael still holds many of the loyalties that his father held, such as the importance of family and respect, but also has a sense of reality that the times are different from when his father ran things. Michael isn't afraid to play a little dirty if it means keeping him and his family safe and the business thriving. What made Vito respectable, his morality, is the aspect that Michael does not have and that in turn makes him a successful leader. The differences between Michael and Vito create a dichotomy for the audience to decide who they prefer heading the family.

The second half of the film's narrative follows a prequel format by telling the story of Vito Corleone, played by Robert De Niro. His scenes are the biggest highlight of the film because they add an extra amount of depth to the character of Vito Corleone, without needing him to be played by Marlon Brando. You don't see Robert De Niro pretending to be Marlon Brando (if anything, they both play the character differently), but rather see an extra layer added to one of the greatest film characters in history. Based on the perception you have of Vito after watching The Godfather, De Niro helps shape Vito's background, how he got his start and how his values are shaped, which really help paint an overall picture of the foundation for the Corleone family.

Fredo Corleone, played by John Cazale, is often considered one of the great movie cowards and a lot of that is through Cazale's physical appearance and the way he talks and acts. He isn't the brightest or strongest member of the family, but craves respect and the chance to prove his worth. So much so, that he would go to any lengths to get the family to see it. I won't spoil what happens, but it does break the hearts of many, including Michael.

The main women in The Godfather Part II are Michael's wife Kay, played by Diane Keaton, and Michael's sister Connie, played by Talia Shire. Thanks to the events of The Godfather, the second film begins with Kay trying to be a sensible and loving wife to Michael, and Connie going out of her way to hurt herself and the family (Michael in particular) with her actions. By the end of the film, there is a full metamorphosis of both characters through Michael's character development. Kay desperately wants her and her kids away from the "family business," which makes a lot of sense for a caring mother to do if she feels that her and her children are in danger, so the audience can't fault Kay for what she wants to do for her family, but probably would for the lengths she does to do so (not spoiling it, but it's REALLY shocking). Through the drama that escalates within her family, Connie does her best to be a peacemaker for everyone, redeeming herself with the audience for her self-destructive behavior.

The Godfather Part II is often considered one of the best sequels of all time, and even one that is often considered to be better than the first film. The film takes all the themes of family, loyalty, and respect and tests them by combining them with the theme of keeping the business alive. The film does not try to replicate The Godfather, but rather continues the story by introducing new characters and plot elements in a familiar environment of family and gangsters. While I can't say that I liked the sequel better than the first, I can see where many do. It all depends on how you like your mafia movie. It depends on if you like a more modern-based mob ran by Michael, or if you enjoy a more traditional mob ran by Vito. I'm one for classical and iconic approaches to the genre, and The Godfather fits that bill wonderfully, with The Godfather Part II allowing the story to evolve with the times, and there's nothing wrong with that.


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

The Godfather Part II is not able to capture as many iconic scenes and characters as its predecessor, but still delivers by continuing and evolving the story introduced in the first film. Thanks to the career-defining performances from Pacino and De Niro, I strongly recommend watching and owning this film to see how to make a proper sequel.

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The Godfather Part II and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures

1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die- The Godfather

#569- The Godfather (1972)
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola


Plot Summary: Don Vito Corleone, the Godfather, is the head of a New York crime family. When Vito will not do business with drug dealer Virgil Sollozzo, he is targeted by Sollozzo and his gang, the Tattaglias. When Vito is put in the hospital after an attempted assassination, his sons Sonny and Michael have their chances to take over for the Don in his absence. After igniting a feud with the Five Families, Sonny stays to run the "family business" while Michael is sent to Sicily and their other brother, Fredo, is sent to Las Vegas. After numerous threats and challenges posed on the Corleone family, Michael returns home to settle the score with the Five Families and assume the role of the new Don Corleone.


After spending a month reviewing musicals, I wanted to spend this month looking at another genre that was unfamiliar to me. Unlike the lighthearted, fun environment of the musical genre, this month's genre will be the exact opposite with Mobster March (technically the gangster genre, but it makes for nice alliteration). To understand the bare bones of the genre, I knew there was only one film to start off with. The Godfather has one of the biggest reputations in film history, and a film that all gangster films aspire to be like. The first and second installments of The Godfather trilogy are so intertwined that this will feel more like a two-part review, so certain important characters will be left out of this part, but will appear in the next part (for anybody who thinks I "forgot" to talk about Michael here).

When people think of The Godfather, they usually think of Don Vito Corleone, played by Marlon Brando. Brando creates a mafia leader with a heart full of honor. Don Corleone values family and tradition and offers many views on what he perceives a true man to be like. Subtle lines of dialogue like that really shape a persona for Don Corleone upon his introduction. The way Brando speaks, looks, and what he says commands the attention of the characters and audience and creates one of cinema's greatest characters. This description of Don Corleone might seem vague, but it's a performance that NEEDS to be seen by everyone and not worth receiving the "spark notes" version on here.

James Caan plays Don Corleone's oldest son, Santino "Sonny" Corleone. Sonny is a hothead with a fast mouth, which, at first, brings shame and embarrassment to Don Corleone which he berates Sonny for. Sonny feels the shame that he has brought to his father and the family, and knows that he must redeem himself, and has the opportunity to when his father is in the hospital. While Sonny is not the greatest mafia leader, he is a great older brother, as he comes to the aid of his pregnant sister Connie, played by Talia Shire, when her husband Carlo, played by Gianni Russo, starts physically abusing her. Caan gives Sonny a natural charisma that allows the audience to be captivated by his character, and in many circumstances, such as how he defends his sister, the audience can really root for a character like Sonny to protect the family name.

Where Sonny lacks in making good business deals, Tom Hagen, played by Robert Duvall, makes up for it tenfold. Hagen is a close friend to the Corleone family, so much so that he is treated like an adoptive son to Don Corleone. Hagen is a lawyer, but not the kind of cheesy, over-the-top stereotypical film lawyer like Billy Flynn in Chicago, but is actually how a real lawyer would be. Duvall plays Hagen as a man of logic and confidence, symbolically being a conscience for the Corleone family during Don Corleone's absence. Going into the film, it's obvious that actors like Marlon Brando and Al Pacino will be able to entertain based on reputation of the impact their characters had on film history. Tom Hagen is one of those nice surprises from experiencing the film for the first time, thanks especially to the level of Duvall's performance.

The film's score, composed by Nino Rota, accompanies the film's Sicilian atmosphere and helps set a tone and sound for an authentic environment. I'll keep this one brief (in fear of offending any Sicilians who disagree with my claim that the music sounds authentic), so the main thing to note on the music is that it feels welcomed in the film and doesn't seem out of place for a film like The Godfather, which you could consider as a success towards the film's score.

The Godfather will forever hold a legacy on the gangster genre. Director Francis Ford Coppola modernized the gangster genre and helped pave the way for actors and directors to add their own twist to the genre. The film's themes of family and loyalty add dimension to the mafia movie, instead of a film full of just crime and violence. There's an element of anti-heroes, or protagonists with a twisted sense of morality, presented in the film thanks to the ideals of its characters. While the world does not usually label the mafia as something "good," the Corleone family are made more likable because of what they value, and that's what makes the film compelling. Much like Don Corleone, The Godfather has a reputation that demands the respect of its peers and is one of the most celebrated movies in history.


Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

The Godfather is probably a little slower for some viewers, but the acting performances are so great and the dialogue is so well-written, that the film becomes engaging through a natural progression. This is one film that should be watched by everyone for the sake of its reputation, and one I can comfortably say is worth owning in every moviegoer's DVD collection.

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The Godfather and movie images are copyrighted by Paramount Pictures