tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post2432027464174899206..comments2023-07-23T09:45:33.199-05:00Comments on the last lullaby (and) peril: 1972: The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola)Jeffrey Goodmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-22771635252033334422010-03-27T11:13:06.705-05:002010-03-27T11:13:06.705-05:00Thanks, Stephen! I completely agree. Not a rule ...Thanks, Stephen! I completely agree. Not a rule but more often than not the case, in my experience.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-35567761867963717022010-03-27T11:09:27.995-05:002010-03-27T11:09:27.995-05:00Yes thanks, Jeffrey. I understand. It often happen...Yes thanks, Jeffrey. I understand. It often happens that way but it doesn't amount to a rule, I suppose.<br /><br />My pleasure. Always a treat to visit this site.Stephenhttp://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-26973943969786377602010-03-27T10:54:55.454-05:002010-03-27T10:54:55.454-05:00Stephen, always great to hear from you!
As for ...Stephen, always great to hear from you! <br /><br />As for my statement about depth and entertainment, I find that many of the more challenging films are not terribly entertaining. And that many films that have have little more than an ambition to entertain are not terribly depthful. Does that help clarify at all?<br /><br />Thanks, Stephen. Always a treat to have you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-71226697282901743532010-03-27T08:03:41.183-05:002010-03-27T08:03:41.183-05:00Jeffrey,
Better than the sequel I think and a goo...Jeffrey,<br /><br />Better than the sequel I think and a good film for sure. <br /><br />I'm not sure what you mean by "I've always felt the film to be as great a hybrid as we've ever had of depth and entertainment." as if depth and entertainment are generally mutually exclusive. <br /><br />Once Upon A Time in America is the best 'Gangster' film if we're thinking along reductive genre lines - and even that has a poor final half hour. Last year's Public Enemies is also very good.Stephenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07036103762441216161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-58031316293305091192010-03-25T09:24:35.049-05:002010-03-25T09:24:35.049-05:00Tony, extremely well put! You certainly make a so...Tony, extremely well put! You certainly make a solid case for the greatness of the sequel.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-83690535506069017132010-03-25T09:08:49.026-05:002010-03-25T09:08:49.026-05:00I gotta say that THE GODFATHER's reputation is...I gotta say that THE GODFATHER's reputation is not in dispute. But I think that one of the things it benefits greatly from in hindsight is how the sequel deepens and enriches the first film.<br /><br />Personally, I prefer the second film, especially as a self-enclosed epic tragedy depicting the moral degeneration of one man in comparison to his father's rise (even though both started with similar motives). The fact that it so seamlessly fits in with the first (despite the loss of several key cast members, most notably Clemenza who had to be rewritten as Pentangeli after the actor overreached salary-wise) is even more exciting.Tony Dayoubhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04632329277519635858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-19252090112686095842010-03-25T07:33:09.082-05:002010-03-25T07:33:09.082-05:00Samuel, great to hear from you! I'm not sure ...Samuel, great to hear from you! I'm not sure this one is better than the sequel, but I personally prefer it. I just like its slightly tighter structure. But, really, we're splitting hairs, I think they're both incredible. <br /><br />Thanks, Samuel. Always a treat to have you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-8664182111388581752010-03-24T17:57:41.003-05:002010-03-24T17:57:41.003-05:00Jeffrey, I can't argue with this one except to...Jeffrey, I can't argue with this one except to anticipate a dispute a few years from now by saying that the sequel is better. My runners-up would be Aguirre and Kinji Fukasaku's harrowing WW2 expose, Under the Flag of the Rising Sun. I've seen Chloe in the Afternoon and Cisco Pike fairly recently; Cisco is certainly worth a look and Chloe would now make a more extensive top-film list for this year.Samuel Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934870299522899944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-32730681185526583082010-03-24T16:41:15.935-05:002010-03-24T16:41:15.935-05:00JD, great to hear from you. It sounds like you an...JD, great to hear from you. It sounds like you and I are completely on the same page with this one! Right now, I probably prefer this one a little to the sequel. But I definitely love them both.<br /><br />Thanks, JD!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-46886629252400326472010-03-24T16:33:58.867-05:002010-03-24T16:33:58.867-05:00Dave, I just read your piece on THE GODFATHER, and...Dave, I just read your piece on THE GODFATHER, and it is fantastic! And I love your comments above, particularly these two things:<br /><br />"The Godfather is drama of such high quality that it's almost unbelievable." <br /><br />"It is one of those rare films that can be appreciated by the average moviegoer and also gushed over by the snootiest of film snobs."<br /><br />Great stuff, Dave! Thanks, always a treat to have you here.Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-84471571892173333882010-03-24T16:23:05.783-05:002010-03-24T16:23:05.783-05:00John, thanks so much for the great comments! I lo...John, thanks so much for the great comments! I love what you say about Coppola taking a pulp novel and turning it into art. I couldn't agree more. <br /><br />I still need to see JEREMIAH JOHNSON, SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, and FRENZY.<br /><br />Thanks, John. Always great to have you here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-57633314916875105042010-03-24T15:20:01.904-05:002010-03-24T15:20:01.904-05:00This is a great film and one that I can watch pret...This is a great film and one that I can watch pretty much any time, even when it shows mangled on TV (usually during one of AMC's GODFATHER marathons) and I invariably find myself quoting along with the film. Just great dilaogue, direction, acting, cinematography, etc. And just when you think Coppola can't top this he goes along and makes GODFATHER PART II which is even better!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164105442273577128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-55380035530393063662010-03-24T14:03:57.147-05:002010-03-24T14:03:57.147-05:00I can understand why Spielberg would make such a s...I can understand why Spielberg would make such a statement... The Godfather is drama of such high quality that it's almost unbelievable. I wrote a lengthy essay on this one when I chose it for my own countdown, without even really going into plot or anything. I love everything about this movie. Perhaps I don't rank it as my #1 of all time, but it always hovers around that mark. It is one of those rare films that can be appreciated by the average moviegoer and also gushed over by the snootiest of film snobs.<br /><br />As I said when I wrote about this one, really the entire 1970s is, for me, "The Decade of Coppola." He made four of the best movies of the decade. His work between only 1972 and 1979 is amazing. Four classics, three of which are indisputably epic in scope.<br /><br />My #1 runner up has to be Werner Herzog's AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD, which I also consider to be a masterpiece. It's a toss up between that one and FITZCARRALDO as to what is my favorite Herzog film.Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07134196370913749544noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-51152619819018482092010-03-24T12:34:42.903-05:002010-03-24T12:34:42.903-05:00A true masterpiece as is the 1974 follow-up. Simil...A true masterpiece as is the 1974 follow-up. Similar to Welles with “Citizen Kane”, the rest of Coppola’s career has always lived in the shadows of The Godfather films. And like many filmmakers have done before him, Coppola took a pulp novel and turned it into art. While Sam saw it at the Loew’s Tower East, I was a few blocks south watching it at the Loew’s State in Times Square.<br /><br />#1 The Godfather<br /><br /><br />Runner ups<br />The New Land<br />Cries and Whispers<br />Cabaret<br />Jeremiah Johnson<br />Slaughterhouse Five<br />Ulzana’s Raid<br />Frenzy <br />Harold and Maude<br />Deliverance<br />Fat CityJohnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01808503055317962289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-40293561016133762432010-03-24T08:52:20.216-05:002010-03-24T08:52:20.216-05:00Sam, thanks so much for your wonderful comments! ...Sam, thanks so much for your wonderful comments! First off, I apologize. I have never seen CRIES AND WHISPERS and should have said that in my post. I am correcting that now. I also am a huge fan of CABARET and am correcting that in my post, as well. <br /><br />Of the others you mention, I still need to see THE NEW LAND, TOUT VA BIEN, A SEPARATE PEACE, and THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE. And I like FAT CITY, although a little less than the others I mention.<br /><br />Thanks, Sam. Always such a treat to have your perspective here!Jeffrey Goodmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464544798603030406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2361395648458719073.post-79147256379751445092010-03-24T08:00:16.229-05:002010-03-24T08:00:16.229-05:00My Own #1 Film of 1972:
Cries and Whispers (Bergm...My Own #1 Film of 1972:<br /><br />Cries and Whispers (Bergman; Sweden)<br /><br /><br />Runners-Up:<br /><br />The Godfather (Coppola; USA)<br />Cabaret (Fosse; USA)<br />The New Land (Troell; Sweden)<br />Tout va Bien (Godard; France)<br />A Separate Peace (Peerce; USA)<br />Chloe in the Afternoon (Rohmer; France)<br />The Merchant of Four Seasons (Fassbinder; Germany)<br />Fat City (Huston; USA)<br />The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeiosie (Bunuel; Spain)<br />Lucifer Rising (Anger; USA)<br />The Ruling Class (Medak; UK)<br />Young Winston (Attenborough; UK)<br />Solaris (Tarkovsky; Russia)<br />Aguire the Wrath of God (Herzog; Germany)<br />Bless the Beasts and Children (Kramer; USA)<br />Sleuth (Mankiewitz; USA)<br />The Ecstasy of Angels (Wakamatsu; Japan)<br />The Heartbreak Kid (May; USA)<br />Deliverance (Boorman; USA)<br />The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (Fassbinder; Germany)<br /><br />Yes, Jeffrey, it's as perfect a film as as ever been made, and it's one of the crown jewels of American cinema as is it's even more auspicious follow-up in 1974. There are few films as imminently watchable on repeat viewings (how many times have I seen this in my life after that initial viewing back upon release when I was 18 years old at the Lowes Tower East in Manhattan?) and Puzo's novel too was a favorite back in those days. Members of my family still utter dialogue from the film...("oh Paulie, you won't see him anymore"...."two shots in the head, don't take no chances", "leave the gun, take the canoles" etc. etc.<br /><br />It's criminal not to have this film at #1 here or perhaps even for the decade, but I'll play the role of contrarian here and go with an art house masterpieces, a film that also had me returning to the theatres, and which has exerted an enormous influence on the way I think of film. CRIES AND WHISPERS is one of the most shattering film sin the history of the cinema, and with Coppola's film, are the creme of the crop for 1972, along with several other masterful works.Sam Julianonoreply@blogger.com