Yeah I Prefer The First One.... My Opinion. Michael Did Nothing Wrong. For All The People Who Say Michael Was The Villain. HOW?! How Is He The Villain? Just Because He Had A Cold Expressionless Vibe The Whole Movie? That's How You Have To Be Sometimes In This Game, Especially When You Have EVERY SINGLE PERSON Betray You. His OWN FAMILY Even Betrayed Him But Yall Don't Talk About That. He Did Nothing Wrong, All He Ever Wanted To Do And Tried To Is Bring His Family Back On Top Like What Vito Did. But No One Respected Him Like His Dad And They Were Impatient. I Will Always Side With Michael.
Seeing Fredo as the only one who congratulated Michael for enlisting is heartbreaking. Seeing Michael sitting by himself, alone, is a perfect ending shot.
The guy who played Hyman Roth is a famous acting teacher. His school was called the Lee Strasberg academy. His students were de niro, Pacino & many other greats
Oh yeah, its a shame because Pacino's reputation is that he is known for passionate outbursts of yelling and shouting, but you watch Godfather and Part II and the vast majority of his performance is quiet and restrained. I remember in the first one when he's talking to Moe Green he says "you hit my brother?" very quietly with this intense look in his eyes that would make you piss your pants it was so scary. He is fantastic at having that impact just by his body language and expression. He's always relaxed, calm, and calculated, always sitting back in his nice chair, but every now and then he reveals a little of his true emotions and you remember this dude is a cold blooded killer who will have you strangled when you least expect it.
Honestly, i think the shot of young Vito , in quarantine, singing with the Statue of Liberty is one of the most American shots Ive ever seen on film. The timeframe, the point of how immigrants got here, the wonderment of America, just fucking beautiful… it’s one of my fave things to see, as a former immigrant myself, adopted into a huge old school Italian family. This is just the best man 🖤🇮🇹 … and i appreciate that you dressed for the film 👔👞
Even though Brando was supposed to be in the scene in the end but he ended up backing out, playing the scene without him actually made the scene work so much better
Lol, yeah. Brando was an amazing actor, but he was a difficult one as well. I remember how he had them write cue cards for "Apocalypse Now"and he showed up a hundred pounds or more overweight. Also how he said when he played Jor-El in the best version of "Superman"ever(the Reeve one)that, since they didn't know what aliens would look like, Jor-El should be a sandwich(or burger or something, lol.)
In a way, it is fitting that the scene is all about Vito, but Vito never appears on screen, nor speaks. It is a nice metaphor for this movie as a whole, Michael is smart and ruthless and he is doing his best to protect the family like Vito did, but he's not Vito, and he's struggling to live up to the shadow of his father, who they need so desperately, but he's gone and they have to make due without him.
In regards of Fanucci's scar on his neck, there's a deleted scene (which I wish they would have kept in the film), where Vito sees Fanucci attacked in an alley by a couple of teenagers. They cut his throat but not deep enough. At that point, Vito knows that Fanucci isn't as in with the mob as he says because a real member of the Black Hand would have had back up with him to keep something like that from happening.
Not only that, but he killed only one of the guys who attacked him and he let the other kids' parents buy him off. Vito believed a real mafioso would not have been bought and the other two boys would've wound up dead too.
Plus a real gangster wouldn't have offered to take less money. The Black Hand wasn't really an organization the way the Mafia is, just people engaged in extortion.
I think that the way they did it in the movie was a bit better. Fanucci took the bribe, despite it being far less than asked. This showed to Vito that he was a weakling and there'd be no retaliation(which is why he immediately moves to follow and kill him).
27:40 Fun fact: the actor who came to pay off Vito didn't know there was a pin that the doorman used to secure the door. He was improving his lines, terrified, trying to escape.
One great thing about the second part is it really gave John Cazale a chance to show how great of an actor he was. Fredo is one of the hardest roles to pull off and he was the perfect actor. He just broke your heart in nearly every role he played (it's why the famous line is very apt) Taken way too soon 😔
Just as well, as he would die only 4 years later of lung cancer, shortly after completing The Deer Hunter. A tragic loss to the craft, at only 42 years old.
Fully agree, John Cazale was one of the best actors in the 1970s indeed and an amazing filmography! The Godfather I and II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter, The Conversation.
If you remember in the first episode, Michael hid in Sicily under the protection of Don Tommasino who was in a wheelchair, and in this episode you see how he got there. Tommasino was the guy with Robert De Niro when he took his revenge on Don Ciccio, and Tommasino was blasted in the legs with a shotgun. Don Tommasino appears again in Part III.
Found nothing? Seriously? The corleone family's net worth was billions in part 3. Yeah, he got divorced and lost his daughter but it did nothing to his fame
_"Hyman Roth's performance is pretty good"_ It should be, that's *Lee Strasberg* - director of the Actors Studio in the 1950s/1960s. He trained DeNiro, Pacino, James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Jane Fonda, Eli Wallach, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe & every major actor of that generation. Strasberg was their schoolteacher.
Strasberg, along with Elia Kazan and Stella Adler were basically the creators/first practitioners of what is commonly referred to as Method acting; whilst their methodology was distinct from "traditional/European" Method acting, aka Stanislavski's "system" of acting, they were nonetheless incredibly influential on the style and technique of all modern performance whether on stage and screen, and the "Moe Greene" monologue is a great example why. Less showy but also interesting casting choice(s): Dominic Chianese, who plays Johnny Ola, went on to play Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano. Willi Cicci, Frank Pentangeli's sidekick, was played by character actor Joe Spinell, also known for his roles in the first two Rocky films, the horror movie Maniac and many others; he's also briefly seen during the first movie, particularly in the baptism montage killing Don Cuneo in the revolving door. Spinell tragically died in 1989 in his apartment - he seemed to have had an accident and bled to death as a result of being born with hemophilia. The FBI agent who acts as Frankie's minder when he's under guard is Harry Dean Stanton, best known for his many character roles in the likes of Alien, Escape From New York, Repo Man, Pretty in Pink and the works of David Lynch (and also, y'know, the security guard who gave the Hulk his pants back in The Avengers).
@@sbond7510 - also, I have a Masters AND Bachelors in Drama and thus have spent a significant amount of time learning about the difference between "Method" acting and the Stanislavski school; you'd be surprised how rarely I get to give out these little unsolicited bits of trivia. ;)
Before Heat this was the only movie Pacino and DeNiro had appeared in together although they didn’t have any scenes together. Also DeNiro and Brando were the only actors to win an Oscar for the same character until Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix for the Joker.
@@user-yu1bk4sr6s Yes and no. They are both playing the Joker but as the Joker has never had a proper identity, he can be anything. He can just as much be Jack Napier as he is Arthur Fleck or the force of chaotic nature that shows up in The Dark Knight.
You brought up something I never thought before. Vito Andollini's name change to Vito Corleone might have inadvertently saved his life, if anyone was looking for him in america
This is something that I have to point out when people watch this movie because it’s one of the subtlest moments in any film: when Frank is talking w/ Tom at the prison about how Romans would commit suicide, at the very end of the scene when they start walking, Tom hands something to Frank and Frank immediately puts it in his pocket. Presumably it was the razor blade that Frank used to kill himself. So that whole convo was basically code for “I protected you guys in court, so in return you’ll let me die on my own terms and make sure my family is taken care of.”
You were wondering why Kay did what she did: in the first movie, it was clear she didn't want to live a life of crime. She did love a man who reluctantly became part of that world with the promise he'll go legitimate in a couple years. Both she and Michael found out in this movie it was a promise he could not keep, especially when those couple years turned into around 10 years. The shooting at their house was the final straw for Kay, and while what she did was questionable, to her it was the only way out of that life that she felt trapped in. Michael was trapped because this life was his family's life. It was practically in his blood, but he felt like he had no choice but to press forward. I did notice too that when an extremely tragic event to Michael Corleone, the movie flashes back on Vito Corleone as he closely ascends as the Godfather. Just as we're subtle yet fall Michael's family, we witness the rise of Vito's. Both this movie and the first are the best examples of great storytelling and it was heartbreaking to see two loves fall apart which makes the films all the more memorable.
Also. Remember the ending of the first movie. Kay seeing Michael called Don Corleone, realising that Mike lied to her using the trust between them. She knew at that point that Michael is a murderer, a Maffia boss who ordered the killing of several people incuding his sisters husband. The fact that he was still involved in shady deals after moving to Reno and giving up all illegitim buisness didnt help either. The cycle of violence started all over again, this time thretening the "civilian" familiy. She didnt want that for her kids so she didnt bring another to this world.
Yes, Michael lied to her when he told her he wasn't involved in the death of Connie's husband and he exaggerated how quickly the Corleone family would transition into being completely legitimate, although he 100% wanted that part to come true eventually, but to do so was much harder than he anticipated and his attempt ultimately fell apart in the end. Yes, Michael is the leader of a criminal organization that had murdered a lot of people. All this is true, so I understand why she is frustrated, scared, and wants to leave him. Nevertheless, the way she revealed that she aborted their son, behind his back, without even talking to him until long after the fact, and immediately followed it up by essentially insinuating that his family are born killers...it was cold blooded. I think that was the first time Michael was vulnerable and she just tore him to pieces, as if she was punishing his unborn son for his sins. Is Michael's reaction appropriate? No, but it is crystal clear why he snapped like that. He has been very calm and restrained throughout most of the film, but her words really deeply wounded him and he lost his composure. The whole scene is just tragic and painful.
@mellverse definitely check out John Cazale's (Fredo) other work. He died at age 42 so his filmography is short, but every single one is considered a near masterpiece. The Deer Hunter was his final film and he was literally dying from cancer while filming with Meryl Streep (who'd been with him for two years) caring for him until he died. Crazy talented and an amazing story
About Kay, at the beginning she reminds Michael it's been years past his promised exit from crime and he's still involved. That's in addition to him straight out lying to her at the end of the first movie. He's the one who drove her away, he's responsible for how things turned out between them. I think that's a big part of the overall tragedy of this story. The more Vito, and later Michael, do to protect their family the more they doom their family. I think that's the true purpose of showing the two timelines in this movie. One timeline shows that the foundation of the Corleone family was based on corruption and murder. The other timeline shows the results of that choice.
I think the other purpose is to drive the parallels between Vito and Michael. Vito's backstory is developed not only develop him as a character, but also to add on to Michael's story, who is the true focus of the trilogy
The main difference for me between the first and second movie is the perspective changes slightly. Yeah the first one is violent and tragic but it’s still very romanticized. The second one pulls back the curtain and shows you that Michael’s just a piece of shit now who’s ambition poisoned his once great family. That scene at the end perfectly encapsulates that.
It is a very tragic movie because Michael is a very smart and capable godfather and while he is also ruthless, as you can see in the Vito flashbacks, so was his father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as it were. I think Michael really did his best to try and protect the family like Vito did, but no matter how hard he tries he's not Vito, and he simply can't live up to the shadow of his father. I also wonder if Michael's ambitions to transition the family into a totally legitimate business was part of his downfall. Vito never attempted this. You could view that as Vito accepting his role in life, accepting the darkness of his profession and finding a way to balance that darkness with the light of being a family man loved and respected by everyone. On the other hand, Michael was so fixated on his dream of purging the darkness that he lost the light of a loving family in the process and was left with nothing but darkness. It is super sad imo.
Some things about the film. The whole thing in Cuba with the riots and suicide bomber was the communist revolution of Fidel Castro throwing over the previous government of Bautista. Also I liked the little detail at the very end where Mike still had his ring on showing that he still loved Kate despite what she did to him. Almost as if he wanted to still be married to her.
There's also the small detail of the corrupt buisnessmen and mafia members who Bautista invited celebrated were all taking a piece of the cake shaped like Cuba which is what they had been doing for years in real life.
He was wearing his wedding ring because they were still married and he would never divorce her. But I don't think it's because of love. His love for her died when she told him about the abortion. The only reason why he won't divorce her is because she would probably end up re-married and he would not tolerate his children having a stepfather. He doesn't want a stranger entering the family dynamic.
You gotta think of it from Kay's perspective. At this point, her existence is soulless, her children are in a constant state of simmering danger and consistently Michael chooses a life of violence. That's not at all what she signed up for. Watch that first half hour of the first one again, then this one. Night and day. It's been years of this and she doesn't 'owe' Michael a child, just like how Michael didn't 'have' to kill Fredo. These are choices made. He can justify his actions all he wants but at the end of the day, he's the one living his life. So many moments, he could have chosen to leave with Kay and the kids. He had paid his family debt, imagined or actual, years ago. He had the money, the connections and the resources to live peacefully on an island for the rest of his merry days. But the fact of the matter is that he enjoyed that power. He sold his soul for it. It's brave storytelling because it has the courage to end in tragedy. (I'm sorry to hear about your personal loss. Thank you for sharing and as always, love the video. Film is magic.)
Honestly his ability to project power, control and presence from just simply sitting is just unbelievable and cinema history. I want to emit that level of domination by just sitting haha
Al Pacino’s performance in pt. II is a top 5 cinema performance of all time, no debate….his eyes, how they showed no emotion but were so soulless at the same time is heartbreaking. Legend
I think you are the kind of guy that would really appreciate "On The Waterfront" with Marlon Brando, a classic movie. Keep the reactions coming, you do a great job.
19:16 The actor who portrays Hyman Roth is none other than Lee Strasberg, the former director of the Actors Studio, the acting coach to Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, Jane Fonda etc. He was one of the greatest legends in American acting and theater. 22:00 That's the Cuban Revolution that put Fidel Castro in power in the New Years' Eve of 1959. That actually happened in real life.
Man, listen, bruh. I want you to watch everything on the list of 1000 greatest films. Your reactions are phenomenal. The way you responded to Kate's confession... pure emotion.
I love this one, because of the flashbacks to Vito’s early life. I just love the scenes of New York in the early 20th century. I’m a sucker for that time period!
That last scene is so brilliant. Showing the connection he had with Fredo and how Fredo was the only one who had his back. That's the whole point of it being the final scene. He killed Fredo and he knows he should not have. Regarding that scene, it was supposed to future the Marlon Brando cameo. They had it all worked out contractually however they only had one day to shoot and I guess Brando either could not or did not show up so they had to shoot it without him. In a strange way, I kind of like it better with Brando being absent.
i agree. To me it was heartbreaking that the only brother who congratulated him for joining the army was the brother he had to kill. you remember when only a few people support you in times like that. and to kill that person....
In a way, it is fitting that the scene is all about Vito, but Vito never appears on screen, nor speaks. It is a nice metaphor for this movie as a whole, Michael is smart and ruthless and he is doing his best to protect the family like Vito did, but he's not Vito, and he's struggling to live up to the shadow of his father, who they need so desperately, but he's gone and they have to make due without him.
@@marvelsandals4228 you know, in the next movie, when Micheal says "you're dead to me," i loved how the guy he's talking to is reclining way back in a chair and only lit from the top down....he actually resembles a corpse. A suffering, dying corpse. it makes the scene colder. Great visual storytelling.
@@slchance8839 You're right. Even the details of the scene like the body language of the actors and their positions in the room are significant. Michael, who is so often sitting down in a comfortable chair, relaxed and calm, is standing throughout the entire scene, towering over Fredo who seems so small and frail by comparison. Meanwhile, Fredo is not just sitting in a regular chair or a couch, but in this weird chair that is arched way back, lying on his back, straining just to look at Michael as if doing so is painful. As you pointed out his posture gives us the impression that Fredo is completely defeated. He's alive, but he is as good as dead already and he knows it. He might have been a fool to betray Michael, but he's smart enough to realize that he's doomed. Nothing he says is going to get Michael to trust him again or forgive him for his treason. He has given up.
His mother his father and his brother are killed. He is an orphan in New York at ten years old with TB and the only thing keeping him alive is a prophecy from the man who he hates most in the world who said one day he will become strong and be dangerous. It makes me well up and cry when I see that boy in the hospital singing...
What makes you think that Kay wasn't lying to Michael about the abortion? It could still have been a miscarriage and she told him the worst thing she could think of to make him give her up.
Oooooh. That's a nice 'what if'! It makes so much sense! Michael was always in control over everything and everybody. Had it been a miscarriage, he would've said:"Don't worry Kay; we'll have more babies' and she would just sit there 'oh well...whoopee'. You are right, people who are trapped in someone's web will do anything to make them lose it. Telling him that she made a decision on her own, over something he considers his legacy....yup I like that idea. I wonder if Coppola or Keaton have been asked this question
@@HelloMellowXVI SERIOUSLY?!?! OH MAN! Thankyou thankyou thank you!! You're gonna love it. Same director as Leon the Professional. Cheesy 90s action mixed with some great music, amazing art design and the hands down best Chris Tucker performance you'll ever see. I'm honored to have you react to my favorite movie.
The second continues the process of alienation from healthy/human emotions that Michael started in part 1. Yes, he is a tragic figure -- worthy of the ancient Greeks...he is both victim and architect of his own fate. I'm a 53yr old Portuguese Australian, and I'm so taken with the way you youngsters react to movies that were already vintage when I myself reached young adulthood. You've got good taste bruh...best of luck to you and your own filmic endeavors❤️.
The third film is worth watching just to see the resolution of Michael's arc. To become godfather, to stay involved in a crime family, to have your own blood killed(regardless of reason) that will cost you everything. So the Godfather III is Michael's cost continuing to be called in. And Al Pacino's acting in 3 is still great even if the writing isn't as tight and even if he's got some subpar actors working with him(I swear Sofia Coppola looks like somebody dubbed in her lines, zero expression and delivery flat flat flat).
MelVerse man, you made me cry on that scene with baby... take care man, you are A GOOD MAN, a good man, hang in there, with respect. Daniel, from Europe.
When the MellVerse delivers, he really delivers! Thank you. This reaction was great! Little bit of trivia for you - those scenes in Cuba were filmed in my dad's home town - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I was just a baby at the time, but the scenes of Michael first arriving in Havana were filmed right near where my uncles lived on Avenida Duarte. The scenes in the Presidential Palace when Batista announces he's leaving Cuba were filmed in the Dominican Presidential Palace. The hotel Michael, Fredo and Roth are all staying at has undergone various names, but is now known as the Occidental El Embajador. My dad's side of the family has talked about the filming for years. It was a huge deal.
IIRC, the first Godfather novel by Mario Puzo contained all of the Vito scenes from The Godfather, Part II via exposition and explanation. There wasn't room in the first film to do flashbacks (in part because it would interrupt the flow of the story), so when it came time for the sequel Coppola used the pre-existing stuff about Vito's rise when writing that half of the movie, and worked with Puzo to make the "new" material for the Michael half of the movie (and Puzo was VERY against Michael having Fredo killed; waiting until their mother died was the compromise he and Coppola settled on).
The first was about a man who begrudgingly becomes something he spent his life trying not to become. With the sequel it was a more tragic story of a man who once he is in that position wanted to make it legit. He tries to by doing the Cuba deal. Then all of those plans turn to dust and he realizes that you don’t change “the business” that instead “the business” changes you. That in the end because of it he has to kill one of the last remaining members of his family. That final flashback shows all those that died as a result of the business they have chosen. I love that the movie parallels Vito’s story of going into the business not knowing what it would do to his family in the end.
The old man, Hyman Roth was played by the famous acting teacher of the Actors Studio, Lee Strasberg. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Al Pacino were a few of his students.
Excellent movie. Better than the first IMO. Unrelated movie suggestion you should check out 12 Angry Men (1957). In the top 10 of IMDB, nothing but excellent acting from some of Hollywood's greatest.
24:10 Someone did cut his throat. In a deleted scene, Vito sees some kids mug Don Fannucci and cut his throat. Don Fannicci didn't fight back. He just cried and walked away. That's when Vito realized he was all talk. He knew he could kill Don Fannucci without and fear of retaliation.
The guy with the eyebrows was in a deleted scene right at the start of The Godfather 1 before the wedding his names Genco he was Vitos first consigliere and he passes away from cancer or something he ran the Genco imports business or his family did Edit: in another deleted seen Fanucci the man Vito kills gets jumped and his throat slit and Vito saw it so when he saw he didn’t get revenge on them he knew Fanucci won’t really connected to anybody that’s why he has the scar!
The reason the actor playing Hyman Roth did a great job is that he is legendary actor, director and acting coach Lee Strasberg. Strasberg taught and trained actors Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Julie Harris, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, , Geraldine Page, and godfather actors Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Eli Wallach (hes in godfather 3)
When that scene with the Spanish subs come on the "guantanamo/santiago" one, I'm like "when I don't gotta look at the screen cause I grew up bilingual" 🤭
May as well complete the John Cazale Filmography with reactions to "The Conversation" (another great Coppola film), "Dog Day Afternoon", and "The Deer Hunter" (bonus points if you watch the 1962 short "American Way" and the "Peep Freak" episode of the late-60s cop show "NYPD").
The "riot" was the Cuban Revolution from the 1950s. The people were evacuating because the rebels were taking over similar to how the Taliban just did Afghanistan
As cold as Michael ended up to be by the end of the movie, u can't really blame him for making the decisions he made. He was practically betrayed by the 2 people he should've been able to trust with the most: his WIFE & his BROTHER. Such a tragedy!
I felt more for Kay than Michael to be honest, ever since he married someone behind her back in Sicily. He came back only married her because he needed a wife, then promised he would go legitimate but never did. He's a mobster after all. I absolutely sympathise for him, being told she had an abortion behind his back is terrible, but it was her child too. You should see the third too. Pacino lightens up a bit (I think he's much too somber in 2), Connie becomes top dog, and the relationship with Kay softens a little. Andy Garcia also does well in it. It's not as good as 1 or 2, but not bad.
Yes, Michael lied to her when he told her he wasn't involved in the death of Connie's husband and he exaggerated how quickly the Corleone family would transition into being completely legitimate, although he 100% wanted that part to come true eventually, but to do so was much harder than he anticipated and his attempt ultimately fell apart in the end. Yes, Michael is the leader of a criminal organization that had murdered a lot of people. All this is true, so I understand why she is frustrated, scared, and wants to leave him. Nevertheless, the way she revealed that she aborted their son, behind his back, without even talking to him until long after the fact, and immediately followed it up by essentially insinuating that his family are born killers...it was cold blooded. I think that was the first time Michael was vulnerable and she just tore him to pieces, as if she was punishing his unborn son for his sins. Is Michael's reaction appropriate? No, but it is crystal clear why he snapped like that. He has been very calm and restrained throughout most of the film, but her words really deeply wounded him and he lost his composure. The whole scene is just tragic and painful. On the subject of Apolonia, his first wife who was murdered by a car bomb in Italy, I think her death was the final event that completed Michael's transformation into a cold blooded killer. He looks directly at her and tries to warn her to get out of the car when it explodes, but we never see Michael's face AFTER the explosion. The next time we see him is when he reunites with Kay, wearing all black and a top hat, with a cold, passionless expression on his face. The Michael she knew was already long gone; he died in that car bomb with Apolonia. All that was left was the godfather who wanted vengeance against his enemies. Sure, Michael likely didn't feel love for Kay at that time, but I think he was very vulnerable and needed her to comfort him and help him to regain a little of his lost humanity. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone could have done that. He was already too far gone.
The guy that gets shot when Vito goes back to Italy to kill the cosa nostra boss is the guy with the cane that Michael stays with when he runs away to Italy after killing mcclouskey and sollozzo
A detail I love is how the 3 brothers look, Micheal and Sonny look the least like their father and more of their mother (Michaels slim features and sonny's curly hair) but Fredo the often passed over brother, looks the most like their father in his older age, despite being the total opposite of his father.
The last scene was an outtake from the first movie. Coppola thought it made a nice coda to the story. He didn't know there would be a Godfather 3 at the time.
People from the old countries always had home remedies. That was basically what they call cupping now. You heat the glass and put it on the skin. That's supposed to draw out infection but of course it burns. That's why the baby was screaming. I know when I was a kid if a baby had a fever, they would cut a potato in half and put the flat side on the baby's foot to draw it out. If the potato turned black it meant success.
Bro, your genuine reactions and commentary are incredible. I remember the first time I watched this one, that scene where Kay tells him it was an abortion floored me. The acting for one, it's amazing, but realizing what happened. I personally don't have much love for the third film, but then again I haven't seen it in a while.
I 100% agree with your opinion about the first being the better of the two. I'd say that GF2 had a much more complex narrative & the overlapping storyline of Vito's rise & becoming a beloved patriarch as opposed to Michael's fall from grace. Both father & son are driven to make hard choices for their families. I think the crossover moment for me is the scene with Mama Corleone & Michael shortly before her death. He asks her if Vito was ever afraid that all his hard work & efforts would result in him losing his family. Mama's simple reply of "you can't lose your family" reveals that she cannot fathom how that could happen, yet it is happening to Michael. Even as his grip of power clenched to unimaginable heights, his life is in ruins & there's nothing but pain, regrets, resentments, & loneliness in his wake. The final shot says it all. One moment, we're enjoying the Corleone family in their heyday with love, laughter, & family drama. We share a moment with the 4 brothers, Fredo being the only one supportive about Michael's announcement that he left school to enlist. They all leave to greet Vito, leaving Michael alone. We hear the door open offscreen. "Surprise!" they yell & as we anxiously anticipate Brando, the Godfather, to walk in the room...he's there inside the house & you can feel that he's there, but just out of reach. And Michael sits alone, fade in to a very different Michael Corleone who's alone with nothing but his memories. His soul is gone. I think the first one had a more accessible story, whereas Part 2 was asking more attention from the viewer. It can be very easy to miss a line of dialogue or an important exposition that can cause confusion if you aren't fully engaged & attentive to every moment. Marlon Brando was originally supposed to make a cameo appearance & share the final scene with Pacino, but he was a no-show on the day of filming. I think it's better not having him appear because it elevates him to an almost mystical, godlike character. Just his presence being right-around-the-corner is enough to elicit a legitimate state of awe. I think one of the strengths that this film has over its predecessor is the risky cuts from the past to the present & the juxtaposition between the actions of father & son. This movie is both a sequel & a prequel. Because of clever editing, the changes of timelines feel natural & not jarring at all. In the hands of a lesser director, this format could have fallen off the tracks. GF2 might have an intricate plot & complex story structure that is far more complicated than GF1. It might be superior from a technical standpoint & it might even deliver some of the best performances from its cast. ...and yet, GF1 IMO is the one I enjoy more.
Yeah, although it's best seen as a comedy! :P (just teasing. Andy Garcia and Joe Mantegna are great in it) Hey can you tell me, is that movie supposed to take place in the 70s or the 90s? Pacino and especially Keaton look early 90s, Garcia looks 70s......but 70s leather jackets came back in during the 90s, but later....it's very confusing!
No. The naysayers are right. It's awful. The biggest hindrance is the fact Duvall dropped out and they had to (badly) change the whole story. If Duvall had stayed and they went through will the original story of Tom betraying Michael, we'd be talking about a much better Godfather 3, instead of the why bother, frankly laughable one we got.
@@brandonhendrix7223 Its true. If Duvall was in this film it would have been a better movie. But there are a few things to like about it. Still better than Temple of Doom, not so much Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; just opened a can of worms.... Lol
@@marlonthemarvellous The story was already concluded, it didn't need anything, we weren't hanging on for years thinking "whatever happened after Part 2"? At the time of Part 3's release, "The Godfather" was looked on as a perfect "franchise", and now it isn't, just so that Paramount could have a cash grab. Andy Garcia is great, sure, but I can't even tell you what time period it's in! Can you? Is it the 70s or the late 80s/early 90s? Diane Keaton and Pacino certainly look early 90s; Garcia looks 1970s....although those 70s leather jackets came back in during the 90s, but later in the decade....I'm confused., lol
Just think--in that last family flashback, mild-mannered Michael would someday order the executions of three of the people at that table. (Fredo, Tessio, and Carlo).
You've got quite an eagle eye to spot the scar on Fanucci's neck. It's actually explained in the novel that a few years before Vito first met him, Fanucci was attacked in the street by two boys who cut his throat. But the wound wasn't deep enough to kill him, so he ran through the streets to get help. Vito witnessed this, but he noticed that Fanucci held his hat at his neck to catch the blood pouring from the wound so that his suit wouldn't be ruined. In retaliation, Fanucci killed one of the boys, but not the other. That gave Vito a clue that Fanucci had no affiliations with any gang or mafia, or any other backing, because if he had, then both boys would've been killed. That gave him the confidence to assassinate Fanucci like he does. And after he killed him, no one came after him, or came looking for the killer. After that, Clemenza and Tessio convinced Vito to start taking over Fanucci's protection payments, and used his olive oil business with Genco Abbandando as a front for his operations. Another thing that the novel states later is that Sonny witnessed Vito kill Fanucci, and that put him on the path to becoming the Corleone underboss.
The great critic Pauline Kael described this film the best by writing: "This movie is a moody meditation on power." At the end Michael is more powerful than ever. And he is also basically alone, with no one to share in his 'triumph'. Pacino gives one of the absolute great performances in cinema history here. Even an Oscar wouldn't have been enough recognition.
When it comes to The Godfather , I'm a know-it-all. John Cazale, who played Fredo, did only 5 major films, The first 2 Godfather films, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter (which he filmed while dying of Cancer). He was from Boston (like me) and did stage work in Cape Cod with Al Pacino. In fact, Pacino recommended Cazale for Fredo as well as Sal in Dog Day Afternoon (even though it was based on a real events and the real Sal was only 18 years old). Connie's boyfriend, Merle Johnson, in the beginning was played by Troy Donahue, whose real name was ....Merle Johnson. Th3 guy with the eyebrows was Frank Sivero. His character was Genco, the original consigliere. He also played Carbone in Goodfellas. He was also an extra in the original Godfather. He was one of the onlookers when Sonny beat up Carlo. He was wearing a striped shirt. You should watch the deleted scenes from the movies. The scenes were added to a television event called The Godfather: A Novel for television. It was shown in chronological order. One of the scenes shows how Fanucci got the scar.
Sir, you get a 10A+ from me for your reactions to The Godfather & Godfather Part II. Unlike all the other reactors, I appreciated your sense of humor & little spinkles of one-liner, humorous comments. You had me cracking up. I really enjoyed watching your reactions to this classic movie franchise. 👍
Damn you have a good eye. The scar on Don Fanucci’s throat was from an attack by 3 young guys. Vito witnessed the whole thing, and realized that Fanucci wasn’t as feared or connected as everyone thought he was.
T2, the empire strikes back, aliens, godfather 2, The dark knight, spider man 2, winter soldier, Mad Max 2, wrath of Khan... There's a very short list sequels that were better than the original. Now godfather 3 is bad but good bad. Sophia Coppola's "acting" Is worth the price of admission.
Obviously don't know every movie you've seen but if you haven't seen them I'd love to see you watch High fidelity Good morning Vietnam One hour photo Almost famous Dogma Grosse pointe blank Donnie darko The wrestler Being John malkovich And any tarantino movie you haven't seen Love the videos Man, found the channel a few months back and get genuinely excited when I see a new video uploaded
I just like watching your face and expressions while you take in these gems. I love your emotion that you share. You let your guard down and let us in to your feelings & it’s beautiful
You're married.... that's something you communicate with the person you're married with. You don't go behind someone's back and do that. That's why I felt the way I did.
Damn, Im 2 years late to the party. Still! Its always pleasing seeing someone come across and experience one of my favorite films, and enjoy it as well! There is an interesting parallel that this story shows, namely in the differences between Vito and Michael in how they run the family. The ending scene is a great illustration of that. As a man building up his power, Vito learned how to earn favors as currency, and conduct himself to be a man of honor. He will take care of you if you treat him with respect, and he chose very carefully when to apply force so that people did not outright fear him. In that way, he secured alliances and power and retained his sensibilities as a family man. Michael, on the other hand, started his journey with an act of revenge. That path leaves a man seeing enemies everywhere, and lacking the time to make those alliances and build up favors. He acts in a way that will instill fear in people that may oppose him rather than working to bring them to a state of compromise. Ultimately, it isolates him from everyone around him. It is a self imposed alienation that only barely keeps itself held up with strategic partial truths. What comes to mind is the quote from Machiavelli; It is safer for a prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated. Vito was feared, but also loved for his ability to negotiate, compromise, and uphold his honor. Michael has made himself feared, and hated, because of his paranoia and willingness to coldly dispatch any perceived threats. It is a mess of strategizing and scheming he has trapped himself in.
Yeah I Prefer The First One.... My Opinion. Michael Did Nothing Wrong.
For All The People Who Say Michael Was The Villain. HOW?! How Is He The Villain? Just Because He Had A Cold Expressionless Vibe The Whole Movie? That's How You Have To Be Sometimes In This Game, Especially When You Have EVERY SINGLE PERSON Betray You.
His OWN FAMILY Even Betrayed Him But Yall Don't Talk About That. He Did Nothing Wrong, All He Ever Wanted To Do And Tried To Is Bring His Family Back On Top Like What Vito Did. But No One Respected Him Like His Dad And They Were Impatient. I Will Always Side With Michael.
Same. Second is great. People hate the third. I like part 3 in spite of its imperfections. You should watch it to finish the story.
And your opinion is the correct one. It's a very good movie, but it isn't as awesome as the first.
Don't watch part 3
I have to say, the first one is great, but you said it yourself, the world building in Part 2 is amazing, and is makes it the better film for me.
Its twice as great this one to me cuz being like two great movies oscilating back and forth,but its cool that you liked it at least
Seeing Fredo as the only one who congratulated Michael for enlisting is heartbreaking. Seeing Michael sitting by himself, alone, is a perfect ending shot.
The guy who played Hyman Roth is a famous acting teacher. His school was called the Lee Strasberg academy. His students were de niro, Pacino & many other greats
And it’s still open! One of the best studios, highly respected. Take a class there, Melloooo!!!
Strasburg taught method acting, correct?
@@benntura yes
Damn he's a legend for real
I swear to God, Al Pacino is the only actor that can give a performance of a lifetime just by using his eyes.
De Niro was supposed to play him in part one. They opted for Al but thought so much of Robert they had to bring him back.
Oh yeah, its a shame because Pacino's reputation is that he is known for passionate outbursts of yelling and shouting, but you watch Godfather and Part II and the vast majority of his performance is quiet and restrained. I remember in the first one when he's talking to Moe Green he says "you hit my brother?" very quietly with this intense look in his eyes that would make you piss your pants it was so scary. He is fantastic at having that impact just by his body language and expression. He's always relaxed, calm, and calculated, always sitting back in his nice chair, but every now and then he reveals a little of his true emotions and you remember this dude is a cold blooded killer who will have you strangled when you least expect it.
@@MrJholshouser41 De Niro auditioned for the role of Sonny.
Honestly have you hear of some guy named JAKE GYLLENHAAL.
@@rovaldovanderhorst3372 Dude, Jake is great. Have you seen Nightcrawler? He's so iconic in that movie.
MellVerse bringing me a reaction I can't refuse.
Honestly, i think the shot of young Vito , in quarantine, singing with the Statue of Liberty is one of the most American shots Ive ever seen on film. The timeframe, the point of how immigrants got here, the wonderment of America, just fucking beautiful… it’s one of my fave things to see, as a former immigrant myself, adopted into a huge old school Italian family. This is just the best man 🖤🇮🇹 … and i appreciate that you dressed for the film 👔👞
Yes, its literally beautiful and haunting, this film is just a brilliant masterpiece!
The recreations of Ellis island and the NY Italian neighborhoods are amazing. A really fantastic use and imitation of period photography.
Even though Brando was supposed to be in the scene in the end but he ended up backing out, playing the scene without him actually made the scene work so much better
Lol, yeah. Brando was an amazing actor, but he was a difficult one as well. I remember how he had them write cue cards for "Apocalypse Now"and he showed up a hundred pounds or more overweight. Also how he said when he played Jor-El in the best version of "Superman"ever(the Reeve one)that, since they didn't know what aliens would look like, Jor-El should be a sandwich(or burger or something, lol.)
In a way, it is fitting that the scene is all about Vito, but Vito never appears on screen, nor speaks. It is a nice metaphor for this movie as a whole, Michael is smart and ruthless and he is doing his best to protect the family like Vito did, but he's not Vito, and he's struggling to live up to the shadow of his father, who they need so desperately, but he's gone and they have to make due without him.
In regards of Fanucci's scar on his neck, there's a deleted scene (which I wish they would have kept in the film), where Vito sees Fanucci attacked in an alley by a couple of teenagers. They cut his throat but not deep enough. At that point, Vito knows that Fanucci isn't as in with the mob as he says because a real member of the Black Hand would have had back up with him to keep something like that from happening.
Not only that, but he killed only one of the guys who attacked him and he let the other kids' parents buy him off. Vito believed a real mafioso would not have been bought and the other two boys would've wound up dead too.
I'm glad they left it out. It took away from Vito's courage in standing up to Fanucci. You can overexplain things too much.
Plus a real gangster wouldn't have offered to take less money. The Black Hand wasn't really an organization the way the Mafia is, just people engaged in extortion.
And IIRC Vito then knows Fanucci is essentially mortal and vulnerable, thus Vito no longer fears him.
I think that the way they did it in the movie was a bit better. Fanucci took the bribe, despite it being far less than asked. This showed to Vito that he was a weakling and there'd be no retaliation(which is why he immediately moves to follow and kill him).
27:40 Fun fact: the actor who came to pay off Vito didn't know there was a pin that the doorman used to secure the door. He was improving his lines, terrified, trying to escape.
The actor, Leopoldo Trieste was also a well know Italian comedy actor and screenwriter. That's why he manages to make that moment light hearted.
Yup. That nervous laugh when the guy finally opens it for him is so damn genuine!
That is awesome. I didn’t know
One great thing about the second part is it really gave John Cazale a chance to show how great of an actor he was. Fredo is one of the hardest roles to pull off and he was the perfect actor. He just broke your heart in nearly every role he played (it's why the famous line is very apt) Taken way too soon 😔
Just as well, as he would die only 4 years later of lung cancer, shortly after completing The Deer Hunter. A tragic loss to the craft, at only 42 years old.
Fully agree, John Cazale was one of the best actors in the 1970s indeed and an amazing filmography! The Godfather I and II, Dog Day Afternoon, The Deer Hunter, The Conversation.
@@Cosmic86x All five nominated or winning an academy award for best picture.
@@donkfail1 3 of his films won 3 best picture. He had one of the best careers a actor could dream of
@@vassilyvodka2638 And the other two were nominated, right?
If you remember in the first episode, Michael hid in Sicily under the protection of Don Tommasino who was in a wheelchair, and in this episode you see how he got there. Tommasino was the guy with Robert De Niro when he took his revenge on Don Ciccio, and Tommasino was blasted in the legs with a shotgun. Don Tommasino appears again in Part III.
The main comparisons between Vito and Michael are this: One came from nothing and found privilege, the other came from privilege and found nothing.
What do you mean nothing ? Michael was way more successful business wise than his father, but Vito gained respect, Michael caused fear
Once again, found nothing. His wife, divorced. Parents and brothers, dead. Son, estranged. Daughter, killed.
Found nothing? Seriously? The corleone family's net worth was billions in part 3. Yeah, he got divorced and lost his daughter but it did nothing to his fame
That's not the point. He died alone. No one around him. Vito died with his grandson around people who loved him.
_"Hyman Roth's performance is pretty good"_
It should be, that's *Lee Strasberg* - director of the Actors Studio in the 1950s/1960s. He trained DeNiro, Pacino, James Dean, Dustin Hoffman, Jane Fonda, Eli Wallach, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe & every major actor of that generation. Strasberg was their schoolteacher.
And John Leguizamo, who was in “Carlitos Way.”
Strasberg, along with Elia Kazan and Stella Adler were basically the creators/first practitioners of what is commonly referred to as Method acting; whilst their methodology was distinct from "traditional/European" Method acting, aka Stanislavski's "system" of acting, they were nonetheless incredibly influential on the style and technique of all modern performance whether on stage and screen, and the "Moe Greene" monologue is a great example why.
Less showy but also interesting casting choice(s): Dominic Chianese, who plays Johnny Ola, went on to play Corrado "Uncle Junior" Soprano. Willi Cicci, Frank Pentangeli's sidekick, was played by character actor Joe Spinell, also known for his roles in the first two Rocky films, the horror movie Maniac and many others; he's also briefly seen during the first movie, particularly in the baptism montage killing Don Cuneo in the revolving door. Spinell tragically died in 1989 in his apartment - he seemed to have had an accident and bled to death as a result of being born with hemophilia. The FBI agent who acts as Frankie's minder when he's under guard is Harry Dean Stanton, best known for his many character roles in the likes of Alien, Escape From New York, Repo Man, Pretty in Pink and the works of David Lynch (and also, y'know, the security guard who gave the Hulk his pants back in The Avengers).
@@radicaladz this is why I always come to the comments. I learn so much more about the films I love!
@@sbond7510 - always happy to oblige when I can. ;)
@@sbond7510 - also, I have a Masters AND Bachelors in Drama and thus have spent a significant amount of time learning about the difference between "Method" acting and the Stanislavski school; you'd be surprised how rarely I get to give out these little unsolicited bits of trivia. ;)
Every movie that John Cazale (Fredo) appeared in was nominated for Best Picture
It's a huge shame what happened to him. He died of lung cancer age 42 as he was a very heavy smoker.
I think three or four of them also stared Al Pacino
I’m loving Don Mell. Hope he makes a comeback.
We've got see Don Mell come back for Once Upon A Time In America, The Irishman, Casino, American Gangster, A Bronx Tale and Road To Perdition
@@parsasadri8015 And "Millers Crossing"
Also, glad you avoided saying "Godfather 3"in those movies you listed. :)
Before Heat this was the only movie Pacino and DeNiro had appeared in together although they didn’t have any scenes together. Also DeNiro and Brando were the only actors to win an Oscar for the same character until Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix for the Joker.
Heath and Joaquin played too way different characters, didn't they?
@@user-yu1bk4sr6s I agree but it was the same role.
@@user-yu1bk4sr6s Yes and no. They are both playing the Joker but as the Joker has never had a proper identity, he can be anything. He can just as much be Jack Napier as he is Arthur Fleck or the force of chaotic nature that shows up in The Dark Knight.
@@Toast960 got it, thanks.
Those two Jokers are completely different characters.
Godfather 1 & 2 are phenomenal movies. Michael's character arc is tragic and believable. Always in my top 10.
You brought up something I never thought before. Vito Andollini's name change to Vito Corleone might have inadvertently saved his life, if anyone was looking for him in america
Plus it allowed Vito to have his revenge on Ciccio, who didn't know him because of the name change.
This is something that I have to point out when people watch this movie because it’s one of the subtlest moments in any film: when Frank is talking w/ Tom at the prison about how Romans would commit suicide, at the very end of the scene when they start walking, Tom hands something to Frank and Frank immediately puts it in his pocket. Presumably it was the razor blade that Frank used to kill himself. So that whole convo was basically code for “I protected you guys in court, so in return you’ll let me die on my own terms and make sure my family is taken care of.”
You were wondering why Kay did what she did: in the first movie, it was clear she didn't want to live a life of crime. She did love a man who reluctantly became part of that world with the promise he'll go legitimate in a couple years. Both she and Michael found out in this movie it was a promise he could not keep, especially when those couple years turned into around 10 years. The shooting at their house was the final straw for Kay, and while what she did was questionable, to her it was the only way out of that life that she felt trapped in. Michael was trapped because this life was his family's life. It was practically in his blood, but he felt like he had no choice but to press forward. I did notice too that when an extremely tragic event to Michael Corleone, the movie flashes back on Vito Corleone as he closely ascends as the Godfather. Just as we're subtle yet fall Michael's family, we witness the rise of Vito's. Both this movie and the first are the best examples of great storytelling and it was heartbreaking to see two loves fall apart which makes the films all the more memorable.
Also. Remember the ending of the first movie. Kay seeing Michael called Don Corleone, realising that Mike lied to her using the trust between them. She knew at that point that Michael is a murderer, a Maffia boss who ordered the killing of several people incuding his sisters husband.
The fact that he was still involved in shady deals after moving to Reno and giving up all illegitim buisness didnt help either. The cycle of violence started all over again, this time thretening the "civilian" familiy. She didnt want that for her kids so she didnt bring another to this world.
@@dereksinistre5078 Yeah, I completely overlooked the ending of the first ending. Good call
Yes, Michael lied to her when he told her he wasn't involved in the death of Connie's husband and he exaggerated how quickly the Corleone family would transition into being completely legitimate, although he 100% wanted that part to come true eventually, but to do so was much harder than he anticipated and his attempt ultimately fell apart in the end. Yes, Michael is the leader of a criminal organization that had murdered a lot of people. All this is true, so I understand why she is frustrated, scared, and wants to leave him. Nevertheless, the way she revealed that she aborted their son, behind his back, without even talking to him until long after the fact, and immediately followed it up by essentially insinuating that his family are born killers...it was cold blooded. I think that was the first time Michael was vulnerable and she just tore him to pieces, as if she was punishing his unborn son for his sins. Is Michael's reaction appropriate? No, but it is crystal clear why he snapped like that. He has been very calm and restrained throughout most of the film, but her words really deeply wounded him and he lost his composure. The whole scene is just tragic and painful.
She, along with Michael, pays the price for killing their unborn child at the end of GF3.
@@michaelwalsh1035 Given the infamous reviews and fans feelings towards it, you think he should check out GF3?
@mellverse definitely check out John Cazale's (Fredo) other work. He died at age 42 so his filmography is short, but every single one is considered a near masterpiece. The Deer Hunter was his final film and he was literally dying from cancer while filming with Meryl Streep (who'd been with him for two years) caring for him until he died. Crazy talented and an amazing story
He truly was an amazing actor.
The Deer Hunter doesn’t get the attention it should. My ears perk up whenever it’s brought up in the comments.
Yes, the Deer Hunter is a phenomenal film
@@sbond7510 such a great movie, very sad
DOn't forget "Dog Day Afternoon", Pacino and Cazale were both awesome in that.
About Kay, at the beginning she reminds Michael it's been years past his promised exit from crime and he's still involved. That's in addition to him straight out lying to her at the end of the first movie. He's the one who drove her away, he's responsible for how things turned out between them. I think that's a big part of the overall tragedy of this story. The more Vito, and later Michael, do to protect their family the more they doom their family. I think that's the true purpose of showing the two timelines in this movie. One timeline shows that the foundation of the Corleone family was based on corruption and murder. The other timeline shows the results of that choice.
I think the other purpose is to drive the parallels between Vito and Michael. Vito's backstory is developed not only develop him as a character, but also to add on to Michael's story, who is the true focus of the trilogy
The main difference for me between the first and second movie is the perspective changes slightly. Yeah the first one is violent and tragic but it’s still very romanticized. The second one pulls back the curtain and shows you that Michael’s just a piece of shit now who’s ambition poisoned his once great family. That scene at the end perfectly encapsulates that.
Ok pubgmobile
It is a very tragic movie because Michael is a very smart and capable godfather and while he is also ruthless, as you can see in the Vito flashbacks, so was his father. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree as it were. I think Michael really did his best to try and protect the family like Vito did, but no matter how hard he tries he's not Vito, and he simply can't live up to the shadow of his father. I also wonder if Michael's ambitions to transition the family into a totally legitimate business was part of his downfall. Vito never attempted this. You could view that as Vito accepting his role in life, accepting the darkness of his profession and finding a way to balance that darkness with the light of being a family man loved and respected by everyone. On the other hand, Michael was so fixated on his dream of purging the darkness that he lost the light of a loving family in the process and was left with nothing but darkness. It is super sad imo.
I think you got it all wrong if that's all you took from the GFII.
If thats what u gathered from gf2 you clearly have a narrow view of the world
That end scene perfectly encapsulates Michael's realization as to the monster he's become. But that isn't all the second one does for the first
Some things about the film. The whole thing in Cuba with the riots and suicide bomber was the communist revolution of Fidel Castro throwing over the previous government of Bautista.
Also I liked the little detail at the very end where Mike still had his ring on showing that he still loved Kate despite what she did to him. Almost as if he wanted to still be married to her.
There's also the small detail of the corrupt buisnessmen and mafia members who Bautista invited celebrated were all taking a piece of the cake shaped like Cuba which is what they had been doing for years in real life.
He was wearing his wedding ring because they were still married and he would never divorce her. But I don't think it's because of love. His love for her died when she told him about the abortion. The only reason why he won't divorce her is because she would probably end up re-married and he would not tolerate his children having a stepfather. He doesn't want a stranger entering the family dynamic.
You gotta think of it from Kay's perspective.
At this point, her existence is soulless, her children are in a constant state of simmering danger and consistently Michael chooses a life of violence. That's not at all what she signed up for. Watch that first half hour of the first one again, then this one. Night and day. It's been years of this and she doesn't 'owe' Michael a child, just like how Michael didn't 'have' to kill Fredo. These are choices made. He can justify his actions all he wants but at the end of the day, he's the one living his life.
So many moments, he could have chosen to leave with Kay and the kids. He had paid his family debt, imagined or actual, years ago. He had the money, the connections and the resources to live peacefully on an island for the rest of his merry days. But the fact of the matter is that he enjoyed that power. He sold his soul for it. It's brave storytelling because it has the courage to end in tragedy.
(I'm sorry to hear about your personal loss. Thank you for sharing and as always, love the video. Film is magic.)
Honestly his ability to project power, control and presence from just simply sitting is just unbelievable and cinema history. I want to emit that level of domination by just sitting haha
Al Pacino’s performance in pt. II is a top 5 cinema performance of all time, no debate….his eyes, how they showed no emotion but were so soulless at the same time is heartbreaking. Legend
I think you are the kind of guy that would really appreciate "On The Waterfront" with Marlon Brando, a classic movie. Keep the reactions coming, you do a great job.
Marlon Brando's greatest performance, in my opinion.
For over a week I've been in quarantine due to having the virus and I stumbled upon this channel. It has made a crappy time better.
19:16 The actor who portrays Hyman Roth is none other than Lee Strasberg, the former director of the Actors Studio, the acting coach to Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, Jane Fonda etc. He was one of the greatest legends in American acting and theater.
22:00 That's the Cuban Revolution that put Fidel Castro in power in the New Years' Eve of 1959. That actually happened in real life.
Man, listen, bruh. I want you to watch everything on the list of 1000 greatest films. Your reactions are phenomenal. The way you responded to Kate's confession... pure emotion.
I love this one, because of the flashbacks to Vito’s early life. I just love the scenes of New York in the early 20th century. I’m a sucker for that time period!
That last scene is so brilliant. Showing the connection he had with Fredo and how Fredo was the only one who had his back. That's the whole point of it being the final scene. He killed Fredo and he knows he should not have. Regarding that scene, it was supposed to future the Marlon Brando cameo. They had it all worked out contractually however they only had one day to shoot and I guess Brando either could not or did not show up so they had to shoot it without him. In a strange way, I kind of like it better with Brando being absent.
wow, that's never occurred to me. Fascinating.
i agree. To me it was heartbreaking that the only brother who congratulated him for joining the army was the brother he had to kill.
you remember when only a few people support you in times like that. and to kill that person....
In a way, it is fitting that the scene is all about Vito, but Vito never appears on screen, nor speaks. It is a nice metaphor for this movie as a whole, Michael is smart and ruthless and he is doing his best to protect the family like Vito did, but he's not Vito, and he's struggling to live up to the shadow of his father, who they need so desperately, but he's gone and they have to make due without him.
@@marvelsandals4228 you know, in the next movie, when Micheal says "you're dead to me," i loved how the guy he's talking to is reclining way back in a chair and only lit from the top down....he actually resembles a corpse. A suffering, dying corpse. it makes the scene colder. Great visual storytelling.
@@slchance8839 You're right. Even the details of the scene like the body language of the actors and their positions in the room are significant. Michael, who is so often sitting down in a comfortable chair, relaxed and calm, is standing throughout the entire scene, towering over Fredo who seems so small and frail by comparison. Meanwhile, Fredo is not just sitting in a regular chair or a couch, but in this weird chair that is arched way back, lying on his back, straining just to look at Michael as if doing so is painful. As you pointed out his posture gives us the impression that Fredo is completely defeated. He's alive, but he is as good as dead already and he knows it. He might have been a fool to betray Michael, but he's smart enough to realize that he's doomed. Nothing he says is going to get Michael to trust him again or forgive him for his treason. He has given up.
His mother his father and his brother are killed. He is an orphan in New York at ten years old with TB and the only thing keeping him alive is a prophecy from the man who he hates most in the world who said one day he will become strong and be dangerous. It makes me well up and cry when I see that boy in the hospital singing...
MellVerse goes that extra mile for us, and we appreciate it!
At10:20 “that was a sweet moment right there”. No it wasn’t, he just told his son that he would one day join him in the mafia.
Isn't that the American Dream?
😂😂😂
What makes you think that Kay wasn't lying to Michael about the abortion? It could still have been a miscarriage and she told him the worst thing she could think of to make him give her up.
🤷🏾♂️ you on to something
Oooooh. That's a nice 'what if'! It makes so much sense! Michael was always in control over everything and everybody. Had it been a miscarriage, he would've said:"Don't worry Kay; we'll have more babies' and she would just sit there 'oh well...whoopee'. You are right, people who are trapped in someone's web will do anything to make them lose it. Telling him that she made a decision on her own, over something he considers his legacy....yup I like that idea. I wonder if Coppola or Keaton have been asked this question
I come to you, on this day of your daughters wedding, to request of you, for the 29th time, that you watch and react to, The Fifth Element.
Seconded! Mellverse MULTIPASS!!!
😊🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😎
Just For That Lmao I'm Doing It Next Week
@@HelloMellowXVI SERIOUSLY?!?! OH MAN! Thankyou thankyou thank you!!
You're gonna love it. Same director as Leon the Professional. Cheesy 90s action mixed with some great music, amazing art design and the hands down best Chris Tucker performance you'll ever see.
I'm honored to have you react to my favorite movie.
@@HelloMellowXVI
Yay!
Damn I hate that movie
The second continues the process of alienation from healthy/human emotions that Michael started in part 1. Yes, he is a tragic figure -- worthy of the ancient Greeks...he is both victim and architect of his own fate. I'm a 53yr old Portuguese Australian, and I'm so taken with the way you youngsters react to movies that were already vintage when I myself reached young adulthood. You've got good taste bruh...best of luck to you and your own filmic endeavors❤️.
An enjoyable reaction, though. It’s interesting how thoroughly you invest in Michael’s point of view. I can’t remember if I did when I first saw it.
The third film is worth watching just to see the resolution of Michael's arc. To become godfather, to stay involved in a crime family, to have your own blood killed(regardless of reason) that will cost you everything. So the Godfather III is Michael's cost continuing to be called in. And Al Pacino's acting in 3 is still great even if the writing isn't as tight and even if he's got some subpar actors working with him(I swear Sofia Coppola looks like somebody dubbed in her lines, zero expression and delivery flat flat flat).
Great Brando impression in the intro, man!
If you listen carefully, you can hear Johnny Ola tell Fredo that Michael never had the makings of varsity athlete.
MelVerse man, you made me cry on that scene with baby... take care man, you are A GOOD MAN, a good man, hang in there, with respect. Daniel, from Europe.
12:51, hey, the rug, it really ties the room together, does it not?
Fuckin A
When he said “you just can’t kill ya brother man” 😢
When the MellVerse delivers, he really delivers! Thank you. This reaction was great!
Little bit of trivia for you - those scenes in Cuba were filmed in my dad's home town - Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. I was just a baby at the time, but the scenes of Michael first arriving in Havana were filmed right near where my uncles lived on Avenida Duarte. The scenes in the Presidential Palace when Batista announces he's leaving Cuba were filmed in the Dominican Presidential Palace. The hotel Michael, Fredo and Roth are all staying at has undergone various names, but is now known as the Occidental El Embajador. My dad's side of the family has talked about the filming for years. It was a huge deal.
12:30 "That rug really tied the room together" - The Dude
24:13 thats explained in the book
Which one?! The prequel novel start in 1933, with Sonny already 17 years old.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Family_Corleone
IIRC, the first Godfather novel by Mario Puzo contained all of the Vito scenes from The Godfather, Part II via exposition and explanation. There wasn't room in the first film to do flashbacks (in part because it would interrupt the flow of the story), so when it came time for the sequel Coppola used the pre-existing stuff about Vito's rise when writing that half of the movie, and worked with Puzo to make the "new" material for the Michael half of the movie (and Puzo was VERY against Michael having Fredo killed; waiting until their mother died was the compromise he and Coppola settled on).
@@SolonIsonomia there's also a deleted scene that you can watch of him getting that scar
You are a born actor with a cinematographer’s gift. ❤
The first was about a man who begrudgingly becomes something he spent his life trying not to become.
With the sequel it was a more tragic story of a man who once he is in that position wanted to make it legit. He tries to by doing the Cuba deal. Then all of those plans turn to dust and he realizes that you don’t change “the business” that instead “the business” changes you. That in the end because of it he has to kill one of the last remaining members of his family. That final flashback shows all those that died as a result of the business they have chosen.
I love that the movie parallels Vito’s story of going into the business not knowing what it would do to his family in the end.
Aye man, that Vito Corleone impression was reaaaaaally good. Keep at the acting bruh!
Thank you, I really felt like it got better from the first video
@@HelloMellowXVI oh fasho. If you can some how make that voice your own, thats for sure a character I would pay money to see mayne!
Dude, thats a pretty spot in impression. For real, caught me off gaurd.
“…for a while now…” perfect
The old man, Hyman Roth was played by the famous acting teacher of the Actors Studio, Lee Strasberg. James Dean, Marilyn Monroe and Al Pacino were a few of his students.
Excellent movie. Better than the first IMO. Unrelated movie suggestion you should check out 12 Angry Men (1957). In the top 10 of IMDB, nothing but excellent acting from some of Hollywood's greatest.
FANTASTIC movie!!
John Cazale is an unbelievable actor. All 5 movies he was in were nominated for best picture, three of them won.
24:10 Someone did cut his throat. In a deleted scene, Vito sees some kids mug Don Fannucci and cut his throat. Don Fannicci didn't fight back. He just cried and walked away. That's when Vito realized he was all talk. He knew he could kill Don Fannucci without and fear of retaliation.
The guy with the eyebrows was in a deleted scene right at the start of The Godfather 1 before the wedding his names Genco he was Vitos first consigliere and he passes away from cancer or something he ran the Genco imports business or his family did
Edit: in another deleted seen Fanucci the man Vito kills gets jumped and his throat slit and Vito saw it so when he saw he didn’t get revenge on them he knew Fanucci won’t really connected to anybody that’s why he has the scar!
The reason the actor playing Hyman Roth did a great job is that he is legendary actor, director and acting coach Lee Strasberg. Strasberg taught and trained actors Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, Montgomery Clift, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Jane Fonda, Julie Harris, Paul Newman, Ellen Burstyn, , Geraldine Page, and godfather actors Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and Eli Wallach (hes in godfather 3)
John Cazale (Fredo) was such a tremendous actor. Every actor on the set looked up to him. RIP
When that scene with the Spanish subs come on the "guantanamo/santiago" one, I'm like "when I don't gotta look at the screen cause I grew up bilingual" 🤭
May as well complete the John Cazale Filmography with reactions to "The Conversation" (another great Coppola film), "Dog Day Afternoon", and "The Deer Hunter" (bonus points if you watch the 1962 short "American Way" and the "Peep Freak" episode of the late-60s cop show "NYPD").
The "riot" was the Cuban Revolution from the 1950s. The people were evacuating because the rebels were taking over similar to how the Taliban just did Afghanistan
The rug really ties the room together.
The BEST reaction of this movie :) Good job, bro!
As cold as Michael ended up to be by the end of the movie, u can't really blame him for making the decisions he made. He was practically betrayed by the 2 people he should've been able to trust with the most: his WIFE & his BROTHER. Such a tragedy!
John Cazale was in only 5 movies before his early death. Each of the 5 was nominated for a best picture academy award
I felt more for Kay than Michael to be honest, ever since he married someone behind her back in Sicily. He came back only married her because he needed a wife, then promised he would go legitimate but never did. He's a mobster after all. I absolutely sympathise for him, being told she had an abortion behind his back is terrible, but it was her child too.
You should see the third too. Pacino lightens up a bit (I think he's much too somber in 2), Connie becomes top dog, and the relationship with Kay softens a little. Andy Garcia also does well in it. It's not as good as 1 or 2, but not bad.
Yes, Michael lied to her when he told her he wasn't involved in the death of Connie's husband and he exaggerated how quickly the Corleone family would transition into being completely legitimate, although he 100% wanted that part to come true eventually, but to do so was much harder than he anticipated and his attempt ultimately fell apart in the end. Yes, Michael is the leader of a criminal organization that had murdered a lot of people. All this is true, so I understand why she is frustrated, scared, and wants to leave him. Nevertheless, the way she revealed that she aborted their son, behind his back, without even talking to him until long after the fact, and immediately followed it up by essentially insinuating that his family are born killers...it was cold blooded. I think that was the first time Michael was vulnerable and she just tore him to pieces, as if she was punishing his unborn son for his sins. Is Michael's reaction appropriate? No, but it is crystal clear why he snapped like that. He has been very calm and restrained throughout most of the film, but her words really deeply wounded him and he lost his composure. The whole scene is just tragic and painful.
On the subject of Apolonia, his first wife who was murdered by a car bomb in Italy, I think her death was the final event that completed Michael's transformation into a cold blooded killer. He looks directly at her and tries to warn her to get out of the car when it explodes, but we never see Michael's face AFTER the explosion. The next time we see him is when he reunites with Kay, wearing all black and a top hat, with a cold, passionless expression on his face. The Michael she knew was already long gone; he died in that car bomb with Apolonia. All that was left was the godfather who wanted vengeance against his enemies. Sure, Michael likely didn't feel love for Kay at that time, but I think he was very vulnerable and needed her to comfort him and help him to regain a little of his lost humanity. Unfortunately, I don't think anyone could have done that. He was already too far gone.
@@marvelsandals4228 lol
The guy that gets shot when Vito goes back to Italy to kill the cosa nostra boss is the guy with the cane that Michael stays with when he runs away to Italy after killing mcclouskey and sollozzo
I can't separate two movies. They are both a masterpiece.
A detail I love is how the 3 brothers look, Micheal and Sonny look the least like their father and more of their mother (Michaels slim features and sonny's curly hair) but Fredo the often passed over brother, looks the most like their father in his older age, despite being the total opposite of his father.
The last scene was an outtake from the first movie. Coppola thought it made a nice coda to the story. He didn't know there would be a Godfather 3 at the time.
People from the old countries always had home remedies. That was basically what they call cupping now. You heat the glass and put it on the skin. That's supposed to draw out infection but of course it burns. That's why the baby was screaming. I know when I was a kid if a baby had a fever, they would cut a potato in half and put the flat side on the baby's foot to draw it out. If the potato turned black it meant success.
I loved your Bea Arthur impression at the beginning!
Bro, your genuine reactions and commentary are incredible. I remember the first time I watched this one, that scene where Kay tells him it was an abortion floored me. The acting for one, it's amazing, but realizing what happened.
I personally don't have much love for the third film, but then again I haven't seen it in a while.
There are no films like this. I find it unique and with great interpretations I love the second because you see how Vito became the godfather
I 100% agree with your opinion about the first being the better of the two. I'd say that GF2 had a much more complex narrative & the overlapping storyline of Vito's rise & becoming a beloved patriarch as opposed to Michael's fall from grace. Both father & son are driven to make hard choices for their families.
I think the crossover moment for me is the scene with Mama Corleone & Michael shortly before her death. He asks her if Vito was ever afraid that all his hard work & efforts would result in him losing his family. Mama's simple reply of "you can't lose your family" reveals that she cannot fathom how that could happen, yet it is happening to Michael. Even as his grip of power clenched to unimaginable heights, his life is in ruins & there's nothing but pain, regrets, resentments, & loneliness in his wake.
The final shot says it all. One moment, we're enjoying the Corleone family in their heyday with love, laughter, & family drama. We share a moment with the 4 brothers, Fredo being the only one supportive about Michael's announcement that he left school to enlist. They all leave to greet Vito, leaving Michael alone. We hear the door open offscreen. "Surprise!" they yell & as we anxiously anticipate Brando, the Godfather, to walk in the room...he's there inside the house & you can feel that he's there, but just out of reach. And Michael sits alone, fade in to a very different Michael Corleone who's alone with nothing but his memories. His soul is gone.
I think the first one had a more accessible story, whereas Part 2 was asking more attention from the viewer. It can be very easy to miss a line of dialogue or an important exposition that can cause confusion if you aren't fully engaged & attentive to every moment.
Marlon Brando was originally supposed to make a cameo appearance & share the final scene with Pacino, but he was a no-show on the day of filming. I think it's better not having him appear because it elevates him to an almost mystical, godlike character. Just his presence being right-around-the-corner is enough to elicit a legitimate state of awe.
I think one of the strengths that this film has over its predecessor is the risky cuts from the past to the present & the juxtaposition between the actions of father & son. This movie is both a sequel & a prequel. Because of clever editing, the changes of timelines feel natural & not jarring at all. In the hands of a lesser director, this format could have fallen off the tracks.
GF2 might have an intricate plot & complex story structure that is far more complicated than GF1. It might be superior from a technical standpoint & it might even deliver some of the best performances from its cast. ...and yet, GF1 IMO is the one I enjoy more.
Giving that rug to the Dude , all the dude wanted is his rug 🤣🤣🤣
I only realised this recently. Johnny Ola, the guy on the phone to fredo, Is Uncle Junior from The Sopranos!
Don’t listen to the naysayers, if you’ve come this far, The Godfather P3 is still fantastic and you should watch it.
Yeah, although it's best seen as a comedy! :P (just teasing. Andy Garcia and Joe Mantegna are great in it) Hey can you tell me, is that movie supposed to take place in the 70s or the 90s? Pacino and especially Keaton look early 90s, Garcia looks 70s......but 70s leather jackets came back in during the 90s, but later....it's very confusing!
I agree. It's not phenomenal as the other two were. But I has its moments. It's a decent watch. And it concludes the story.
No. The naysayers are right. It's awful. The biggest hindrance is the fact Duvall dropped out and they had to (badly) change the whole story. If Duvall had stayed and they went through will the original story of Tom betraying Michael, we'd be talking about a much better Godfather 3, instead of the why bother, frankly laughable one we got.
@@brandonhendrix7223 Its true. If Duvall was in this film it would have been a better movie. But there are a few things to like about it. Still better than Temple of Doom, not so much Kingdom of the Crystal Skull; just opened a can of worms.... Lol
@@marlonthemarvellous The story was already concluded, it didn't need anything, we weren't hanging on for years thinking "whatever happened after Part 2"? At the time of Part 3's release, "The Godfather" was looked on as a perfect "franchise", and now it isn't, just so that Paramount could have a cash grab. Andy Garcia is great, sure, but I can't even tell you what time period it's in! Can you? Is it the 70s or the late 80s/early 90s? Diane Keaton and Pacino certainly look early 90s; Garcia looks 1970s....although those 70s leather jackets came back in during the 90s, but later in the decade....I'm confused., lol
Fredo just happy he ain't fuck up today😂😂😂
The actor that played Johnny Ola was Dominic Chianese. He also played Uncle Junior in The Sopranos. Great reaction! 👍
Just think--in that last family flashback, mild-mannered Michael would someday order the executions of three of the people at that table. (Fredo, Tessio, and Carlo).
ooh. good point. turns out, michael lost his family by killing it himself.
You've got quite an eagle eye to spot the scar on Fanucci's neck. It's actually explained in the novel that a few years before Vito first met him, Fanucci was attacked in the street by two boys who cut his throat. But the wound wasn't deep enough to kill him, so he ran through the streets to get help. Vito witnessed this, but he noticed that Fanucci held his hat at his neck to catch the blood pouring from the wound so that his suit wouldn't be ruined. In retaliation, Fanucci killed one of the boys, but not the other. That gave Vito a clue that Fanucci had no affiliations with any gang or mafia, or any other backing, because if he had, then both boys would've been killed. That gave him the confidence to assassinate Fanucci like he does. And after he killed him, no one came after him, or came looking for the killer. After that, Clemenza and Tessio convinced Vito to start taking over Fanucci's protection payments, and used his olive oil business with Genco Abbandando as a front for his operations.
Another thing that the novel states later is that Sonny witnessed Vito kill Fanucci, and that put him on the path to becoming the Corleone underboss.
I’m glad you agree that the first movie was better than the second. These are both amazing, but nothing can outdo the first godfather movie.
There comes a day in every person's life where they grow up and realize the godfather isn't boring, and all the hype around it is justified.
The great critic Pauline Kael described this film the best by writing:
"This movie is a moody meditation on power."
At the end Michael is more powerful than ever.
And he is also basically alone, with no one to share in his 'triumph'.
Pacino gives one of the absolute great performances in cinema history here.
Even an Oscar wouldn't have been enough recognition.
When it comes to The Godfather , I'm a know-it-all. John Cazale, who played Fredo, did only 5 major films, The first 2 Godfather films, The Conversation, Dog Day Afternoon and The Deer Hunter (which he filmed while dying of Cancer). He was from Boston (like me) and did stage work in Cape Cod with Al Pacino. In fact, Pacino recommended Cazale for Fredo as well as Sal in Dog Day Afternoon (even though it was based on a real events and the real Sal was only 18 years old).
Connie's boyfriend, Merle Johnson, in the beginning was played by Troy Donahue, whose real name was ....Merle Johnson. Th3 guy with the eyebrows was Frank Sivero. His character was Genco, the original consigliere. He also played Carbone in Goodfellas. He was also an extra in the original Godfather. He was one of the onlookers when Sonny beat up Carlo. He was wearing a striped shirt.
You should watch the deleted scenes from the movies. The scenes were added to a television event called The Godfather: A Novel for television. It was shown in chronological order. One of the scenes shows how Fanucci got the scar.
Sir, you get a 10A+ from me for your reactions to The Godfather & Godfather Part II. Unlike all the other reactors, I appreciated your sense of humor & little spinkles of one-liner, humorous comments. You had me cracking up. I really enjoyed watching your reactions to this classic movie franchise. 👍
Damn you have a good eye. The scar on Don Fanucci’s throat was from an attack by 3 young guys. Vito witnessed the whole thing, and realized that Fanucci wasn’t as feared or connected as everyone thought he was.
This my favorite Godfather movie, DeNiro was a beast as a young Vito
T2, the empire strikes back, aliens, godfather 2, The dark knight, spider man 2, winter soldier, Mad Max 2, wrath of Khan... There's a very short list sequels that were better than the original.
Now godfather 3 is bad but good bad. Sophia Coppola's "acting" Is worth the price of admission.
Agreed
Disagree GF3 is good
Obviously don't know every movie you've seen but if you haven't seen them I'd love to see you watch
High fidelity
Good morning Vietnam
One hour photo
Almost famous
Dogma
Grosse pointe blank
Donnie darko
The wrestler
Being John malkovich
And any tarantino movie you haven't seen
Love the videos Man, found the channel a few months back and get genuinely excited when I see a new video uploaded
I just like watching your face and expressions while you take in these gems. I love your emotion that you share. You let your guard down and let us in to your feelings & it’s beautiful
I like how you cut to another scene to do your take toward the end.
The guns they use in the sicilian scenes are "lupare" (singular lupara). They are sawn-off shotguns used in origing for hunting wolves and boars.
Michael lived in the mountains of Nevada so no one could touch him, but it was the turmoil inside that undid him.
Isn't it amazing how the arts, such as music, movies, etc., can dig up memories and emotions within us. I feel for you.
I don't blame her and it's her body she had the right to terminate the pregnancy.
You're married.... that's something you communicate with the person you're married with. You don't go behind someone's back and do that. That's why I felt the way I did.
Damn, Im 2 years late to the party. Still! Its always pleasing seeing someone come across and experience one of my favorite films, and enjoy it as well!
There is an interesting parallel that this story shows, namely in the differences between Vito and Michael in how they run the family. The ending scene is a great illustration of that.
As a man building up his power, Vito learned how to earn favors as currency, and conduct himself to be a man of honor. He will take care of you if you treat him with respect, and he chose very carefully when to apply force so that people did not outright fear him. In that way, he secured alliances and power and retained his sensibilities as a family man.
Michael, on the other hand, started his journey with an act of revenge. That path leaves a man seeing enemies everywhere, and lacking the time to make those alliances and build up favors. He acts in a way that will instill fear in people that may oppose him rather than working to bring them to a state of compromise. Ultimately, it isolates him from everyone around him. It is a self imposed alienation that only barely keeps itself held up with strategic partial truths.
What comes to mind is the quote from Machiavelli; It is safer for a prince to be feared than loved, but he ought to avoid making himself hated.
Vito was feared, but also loved for his ability to negotiate, compromise, and uphold his honor. Michael has made himself feared, and hated, because of his paranoia and willingness to coldly dispatch any perceived threats. It is a mess of strategizing and scheming he has trapped himself in.