The Godfather Screening Report:
1. “The
Godfather” by Francis Coppola is considered arguably the greatest film of all
time. Having been nominated for 11 Academy Awards and winning 3 including best
picture. Furthermore, we mentioned Coppola’s background and the different
assistants he enlisted to help him direct his films like George Lucas and
Martin Scorsese. The film won the Sam Goldwyn Award for best original
screenplay by Mario Puzo and Coppola. The sequel, The Godfather Part 2, was
once again nominated for 11 Academy Awards but went on to win 6; including best
director, picture, screenplay and actor in a supporting role (Robert De Niro).
2. The
article entitled “The Godfather (1972)” talks about the overall impact the film
has and continues to have on cinema today. Francis Coppola was not Paramount’s
first choice to helm the film; Sergio Leone was offered to direct the film
first but turned it down so he could direct “Once Upon A Time in America.”
Peter Bogdanovich was offered the job but turned it down to direct the film
“What’s Up Doc?” Eventually the studio offered Coppola the job with a $2
million production budget after they saw the direction he wanted to go with the
film being that no one other film really explored Italian mobsters;
furthermore, Coppola, who was in a $300,000 hole with Warner Bros. after a
failed project with THX. Paramount was considering firing Coppola after just a
week into production after Al Pacino was injured on set and Coppola making
changes to the script, which kept delaying production dates. Paramount’s
patience was wearing thin with Coppola and they needed hit in a desperate way.
In addition, to keep the studio happy Coppola added more violent scenes to the
film to appeal to the audience. The film
became a blockbuster when it was released making $81.5 million in North
America. It soon went on to make over $135 million at the box office. Making it
the highest grossing film on 1972. Throughout the next few decades the film has
been re-released in theatres numerous times bringing its grossing total to $285
million.
3. The
article talks about Paramount’s unwillingness to hire Coppola and their thought
process throughout the production. Since the release the film has received
numerous awards, including three Oscars and one of the highest critic ratings
for film ever. Paramount finally got the “hit film“ they were looking for and
they wanted a sequel in the worst way. During production of “The Godfather Part
II” Paramount gave complete control of the film to Coppola and many arguably
consider it better than its predecessor.
4. Overall,
“The Godfather” was just an amazing film. It kept the audience guessing and on
their toes. Due to the film’s violent nature, it felt as though anyone could be
killed at any time. The score by Nino Rota was great and made it feel like a
true gangster film. The cinematography by Gordron Willis was good but at times
was very dark making it difficult to see but the different cuts and shots made
the film enjoyable. In spite of all the positives, Pacino’s performance is what
made the film for me. It demonstrated a man’s evolution from a kid whom nothing
is expected from to a man that becomes head of the most lethal crime family in
America. Pacino commanded the screen every time he was on it and made this
crime boss who ruled with an iron fist struggle with his own personal battles to
make him sympathetic in some ways. In the beginning it felt as though it was
going to be a Marlon Brando film and they fed off of one another perfectly as a
father-son duo but it became Pacino’s coming out party.
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: Wayne Clark
Date: 4/27/14
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