THE GODFATHER (Francis Ford Coppola). See listings. Rating: NNNNN
A survey circulated earlier this week asked film critics to share their most grievous cinematic omissions. The Godfather was mentioned, which shocked me how can you have become a critic without having seen one of the greatest American movies ever made?
Maybe people are put off by its length (almost three hours), though you don’t really feel it. Perhaps there’s a fear that it can’t possibly live up to its reputation trust me, it absolutely does. Or maybe there was just a sense that The Godfather would always be around, and could be caught up with when time allowed.
If you’ve been meaning to get to The Godfather one of these days, the Revue is offering a golden opportunity: on Tuesday it’ll be screened as this week’s Book Revue selection. Cultural and cinematic context will be provided by film critic Geoff Pevere, who’s hosting the series.
Really, though? It’s The Godfather. At this point, I can watch it to enjoy Francis Ford Coppola’s exquisite adaptation of Mario Puzo’s pulpy novel, or admire one of the greatest casts ever assembled – Brando, Pacino, Caan, Keaton, Duvall, Shire, Cazale, Vigoda – or to lose myself in Gordon Willis’s exquisite cinematography.
And if you, like certain of my colleagues, have never seen it, you get to experience all those things for the first time. Go do that.
