The Godfather: Screening Report

1)            Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

Throughout its history, film has been an ever-changing industry.  Every couple years there is a new that changes it all.  From Disney and animation to Welles and Citizen Kane, the film industry has undergone many changes.  In the sixties we saw a younger generation stand up and make movies that spoke for them, movies that dealt with freedom of the young, like the Graduate.  Now the turn of the decade brought a new change in the film industry.

A new sense of freedom was welcomed in the art of filmmaking.  Directors were free to create movies they felt were socially responsible.  Topics for the “real people”, more realistic movies were being made at the turn of the century.  That includes more graphic violent scenes are more frequent and graphic sexual scenery.  This created more mature movies and a new way of rating movies.

New forms of ratings include PG, PG-13, PG-17, and Rated R.  These ratings took into a count content material, language, violence and sexual content.  The Godfather was released in 1972, during the beginning of the changes.  At time for it’s release it was rated R, for its violence, crime, language and sexual content.  This movie was one of the first films to include an “anti-hero”. Even though the Corleones plotted and executed murder on others, and partakes in other criminal activity you could not help but root for them and root for their safety.  You begin to dislike the other “families” for all their low blows and intrusions and begin to liken the Corleones for their loyalty and family orientation.  The movie traps you in and won’t let go until 175 minutes later, no wonder it is one of the best, winning 3 Academy Awards.

2)            Find a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content.  You may use the library or the Internet.

This movie is a movie you cannot refuse! The Godfather, although fictional, was based on the real life mafia of New York.  It makes a lot of sense for people to draw comparisons between the movie and a real life cooperation.  According to Justin Moore, the CEO and founder of Axcient, there is a lot in common between CEO’s and the fictitious characters in The Godfather.  Moore had noticed that “there are some universal themes in the movie [The Godfather] I can relate to as a CEO” (Dishman, Fastcompany, 2012).  In his opinion, the characteristics the mob leaders in the film and the CEOs of America have in common is their ability to build a strong community, hold people accountable, don’t get emotional, and always having time to spend with your family (Dishman, Fastcompany, 2012).   According to Moore, a leader has to have these qualities something that mob leaders and CEOs have in common.  In the movie Don Corleone saw everything as a business even though they called it a family.  His business was important to him and he did not hold his tongue when he feels his business in compromised.

Since its release “The Godfather” has been praised for is movie editing effects to the way it tells the story.  The way the story it is told, it feels real. It is a film that drags you in, and you are invested in the business, and you want them to succeed. In his review of the movie, Roger Ebert, he notices how even though the movie is a bit long, one if engulfed in the story.  You can’t help but just stay and watch the rest of the movie.  It has the suspense of a thriller, the romance of a love story and the gruesome of a horror movie all in one.  Ebert points out “it absorbs us so effectively it never has to hurry” (Ebert, 1972).  He compliments the graphic and detailed visuals of the movie, and commend for staying true to the book it is based of.  Including all the car bombs, murders, shots and back stabbings.  It is a movie that although hardcore, kind of stays true to life.  The Mob is a business, a deadly one, but a business nonetheless.   You have to make decisions that one feels is good for business, or money.  And the movie depicts that.

3)             Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

Both of these articles supported the “anti-hero” idea that followed the movie.  These guys are not the greatest guys in the worlds, they cheat, hurt, plot and kill.  Some of the scenes that were shown in the movie were really gruesome, it has all the qualities to make you hate these men who kill for the sake of money. But in the movie you rooted for them.  With comparisons to real life CEOs, you really see the mob leaders in a new light.  They might not be your conventional businessmen, but they are.

Money does make the world go around for these “businessmen”, in the film you see Don Corleone reject working with a drug salesman because of the negative attention that might bring to his “business”, and the replications that followed that decision like being shot and almost getting killed. 

The emotion and loyalty behind every family member really makes you even root for them even more.  The care of Michael, his youngest son, and how devoted he was to his father’s well being, saving him that one night in the hospital.  Also Sonny, even though hot tempered, he did it all because he wanted to avenge his father’s shooting.  It was all in the name of family, something we can all relate to.  To Michael and Sonny Corleone, family was number one, and to most of us, family is on top and we can all relate to the characters in the movie. 

This movie is also one of the “quotable” movies.  Some of the most famous movie quotes come from this film including “I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.” And “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” “ I have a sentimental weakness for my children and I spoil them, as you can see. They talk when they should listen”, and “that's a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.” And so much more, it is always fun to see the original context of some quotes that you have everywhere else except its origin.

4)            Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

As we have seen the film industry has undergone major changes in history.  Starting out with black and white silent movies, then adding sound, then color, then animation, the film industry has been an ever-changing one.  The Godfather continues this trend of movies that are different than the ones in the past.  By time the seventies rolled around more people we open minded (see the 1960s), they were willing to try and see it all.  Movies were beginning to be less restricted and filmmakers wanted to make movies that mirrored real lives, including sex and violence.

The Godfather is a long movie, but it does not feel long at all.  You become invested in each character, you go through every emotion they do.   Marlon Brado’s portrayal of the Don I think was perfect, a man who has earned the respect from everyone.  The way he talked, slow and concise, to the way he walked, slow and upright, the viewer can tell he is a man of power.  To the cockiness of Michael because of his father, it is all believable because it happens in real life.  The Godfather is a dark movie and the lighting helps the mood of the film.  It is mostly entirely in dark lighting and it gives you the mood that you feel like something is going to happen, soon.  The Godfather has all the makings of a classic, it is a movie too good to refuse!

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) ( x ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) ( x ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (  x) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (x  ) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) ( x ) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: ______________Juan Ortiz___________________  Date: ______4/27/14____________

Reference:

Dishman, Lydia. "An Offer You Can't Refuse: Leadership Lessons From "The Godfather"." Fast Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.            <http://www.fastcompany.com/1826672/offer-you-cant-refuse-leadership- lessons-godfather>.

Ebert, Roger. "The Godfather Movie Review & Film Summary (1972) | Roger Ebert." All Content. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2014.            <http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-godfather-1972>.