The Godfather (1972) - 3rd time

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards*:

Best Picture (WON)

Best Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Best Actor: Marlon Brando (WON)

Best Supporting Actor: James Caan

Best Supporting Actor: Robert Duvall

Best Supporting Actor: Al Pacino

Best Adapted Screenplay (WON)

Best Editing

Best Costume Design

Best Sound

(the film was initially also nominated for Original Score, but the nomination was withdrawn and the score deemed ineligible)

I am old enough to remember when the #1 film on imdb’s Top 250 was The Godfather (and not Shawshank Redemption). It was a title it rightfully held for many years, since indeed it’s one of the best films ever made. And it’s not just a fancy thing to throw around, this is an excellent movie, with a very solid screenplay, beautifully directed and acted. Coppola creates a world, a fascinating one, from the opening shot up to the very last one, with a magnificent care for details.

As a writer & director, he has that special talent of taking characters that do awful, violent things and make them feel likeable, important, and someone to root for. Brando’s performance is unusual and unique, and I am more fascinated about it than considering it a truly great one. He is mesmerizing to look at, and I missed him when he was not on screen, mostly out of curiosity on what he’ll do next. That is a talent on its own.

I give the film the maximum score, because there is nothing I would change.

I give it: 10/10

IMDB LINK