Very few have stepped up to bat to defend The Godfather Part III (1990), which I consider a masterpiece and the equal of Parts I and II.
The Godfather Part III (1990)
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Reviews Counted:53
Fresh:35
Rotten:18
Average Rating:6.4/10
Runtime: 2 hrs 50 mins
Genre: Dramas
Synopsis: In the third film of Francis Ford Coppola's Corleone family saga, 20 years have passed and Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is in failing health and haunted by remorse over his brother Fredo's murder.... In the third film of Francis Ford Coppola's Corleone family saga, 20 years have passed and Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is in failing health and haunted by remorse over his brother Fredo's murder. As part of his plan for legitimizing the family business, Michael contributes a large donation to the church and accepts an honor from the pope. His nephew, Vincent (Andy Garcia), becomes his protégé with the help of Connie (Talia Shire) while his own children, Anthony (Franc D'Ambrosio) and Mary (Sofia Coppola), remain free from a life of crime. After selling his casinos and laundering his money through the Vatican, Michael attempts to take over a European-owned company, International Immobiliare. However, former mob colleagues Don Altobello (Eli Wallach) and Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna) force his return to the underworld, and Vincent's brash temper almost starts a mob war. In Sicily, Michael instructs Vincent to form an alliance with his enemy, Don Altobello. Many of the same cast from Coppola's first two films are back in this powerful sequel. New to the series is George Hamilton, surprisingly effective as Michael's financial advisor, B. J. Harrison. [More]
Starring: Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Joe Mantegna, Eli Wallach
Starring: Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Joe Mantegna, Eli Wallach, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Bridget Fonda, George Hamilton, Sofia Coppola, Rick Aviles
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Director: Francis Ford Coppola
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Reviews for The Godfather Part III
It is, I suspect, not even possible to understand this film without knowing the first two, and yet, knowing them, Part III works better than it should, evokes the same sense of wasted greatness, of misdirected genius.
An epic without epic scope, a muted, strained, unnatural affair that never comes into dramatic focus.
Fans of the first two instalments are likely to find The Godfather Part III an unworthy heir to the tradition. First-time voters, meanwhile, will surely wonder what on earth all the fuss was all about.
Though certainly one of 1990's better films, it is seriously flawed and doesn't hold a candle to the two earlier Godfather movies, considered in most critical corners to be among the best, if not the best, films of the 1970s.
Ultimately, the film is fine for ending the trilogy, but Part III is more of an appendix than an epilogue.
I think if you can take a step back from the first two movies and if you can ignore the younger Ms. Coppola, this is still a more artful and ambitious movie than the industry standard.
A discordant and unnecessary coda to an already completed and glorious symphony of films.
Latest News for The Godfather Part III
June 30, 2008:
RT on DVD: Tarantino on Inglorious Bastards DVD, Godfather Trilogy Restored
This week in DVD news, Francis Ford Coppola brings you the Godfather trilogy (again), Quentin Tarantino is super excited about the original Inglorious Bastards, and Hancock may... More...
March 21, 2006:
"Godfather" Video Game Debuts Today
Variety was kind enough to remind me that the new "Godfather" video game hits the shelves today, which is good news because I'm kind of a sucker for (GOOD) movie-based... More...
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