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.

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

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