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Organized crime is a subject that has peaked the interest of our society the past several years, particularly due to the success of the hit series The Sopranos. We admire the mob for its success, connections, and most of all, power. Who wouldn’t like the opportunity to be compt at their favorite restaurants, get the best tickets to sporting events and theater, and be feared by all those who dare cross your path? Sounds peachy, but its not all creamy! For all the movies, documentaries, and sitcoms, nothing comes close to the ‘Chairman of the Board’ of mob films, The Godfather. Considered by most film critics, including myself, as one of the greatest movies of all time, The Godfather will ‘make you an offer you can’t refuse!’

Vito ‘Don’ Corleone, played by Marlon Brando in his Oscar-winning performance, the head of one of the five New York crime families of the 1940′s, must protect his family from total annihilation after he refuses to subject his business operations to the realm of narcotics. An attempt on his life leaves him physically paralyzed and unable to attend to his finances, leaving his youngest son Michael, played by Al Pacino to run the family while he recovers. The defining moment of the film is the different direction Pacino takes versus Brando. Brando prefers a professional, respectful form of business with friends rather than enemies, and love rather than fear. Pacino on the other hand uses ruthless behavior, betrayal of the other crime families, and fear over love and respect. (Murdering a corrupt police captain and drug dealing kingpin in a family restaurant says it all!).

Michael Corleone is the character that everyone can relate to and we basically see the movie through his eyes. Initially, he is the only member of the Corleone family who made a life for himself outside the family business, only to turn on his morals and values once his father’s life was threatened. Michael realized that this is the life he must choose because family is stronger than any other person in your life, accept them unconditionally. Once in power, Michael decides that gambling is better racketeering (mafia slang for illegal operation) than narcotics and plans to move the entire Corleone family to Las Vegas. Before the move is finalized, Michael decides to enact revenge on every crime family that not only plotted against his father, but to those who objected the family move without ensuring them a piece of the pie in Nevada.

The Godfather has repeatedly been emulated throughout movie history with films such as Goodfellas, Casino, and Donnie Brasco. Whether you were a made guy or destined to sleep with the fishes, I always get the chills watching this movie (I’m surprised its not played every Friday at midnight somewhere, little cult film humor

haha). The movie costumes emulate a typical gangster in Ol’ New York (a trench coat, top hat, and fine Italian shoes 'worth more than your life!’) Watching this film can also make you hungry as pasta with meat sauce is constantly the meal of choice for the Corleone family (I can taste the hot sausages as we speak!). Most of all, the film, like no other mafia movie I’ve seen, tempts you with the limitless possibilities of being a member of organized crime (then scares you to death with the harsh realities).

The DVD version is presented in its original theatrical format, though the additional features are non-existent except for commentary by director Francis Ford Coppola. Now what is the point of movie commentary? I know we’ve all seen these movies before, but we still like to hear the dialogue without it being blocked out by some commentator! Bottom line, you probably will get too caught up in this 3 hour movie without worrying about the additional features that would be hard to come by in 1972. Can you hear the music now?…. The horse has lost its head and Hollywood will never be the same again!…. The Godfather, he’ll show you the difference between naughty and nice!

Movie Grade: A
DVD Grade: C
Overall Grade: B+