The Godfather Part III (1990): Directed by Francis Ford Coppola

New York, 1979. An older, diabetic Michael Corleone has but two goals: reunite with his estranged children Anthony (Franc D’Ambrosio) and Mary (Sofia Coppola, daughter of the director), and to completely legitimize the Corleone family’s wealth and leave the world of crime forever. Both goals are met with great opposition, however. Michael’s now ex-wife Kay refuses Michael forgiveness, which divides their children. And retiring from the “family business” becomes near impossible when Sonny’s illegitimate son Vincent (Andy Garcia) pulls Michael into his conflict with Joey Zasa (Joe Mantegna), not to mention the Catholic Church’s opposition to Michael buying into Immobiliare, one of Europe’s oldest and most respected corporations. The ratification of Michael’s buy-in would completely legitimize his wealth, but church, despite its $700,000,000 debt, fears the corporation and church’s reputation would both be tarnished by their association with the Corleone name.

This film gets a lot of slack for its inferiority to the first two Godfather films as well as some other reasons. But it really is an underrated piece of filmmaking; had it not been a Godfather film (trivia: Coppola insisted that the film be called The Death of Michael Corleone, but the studio fought him to the end and eventually pulled rank), it would probably be better received among the average filmgoer. But it can’t, for reasons fairly obvious. It’s a double-edged sword that forgives the bad elements and pulls the better elements down.

First, the character of Vincent. Garcia sears the screen in just about every scene he’s in, combining the volatility of his father Sonny and, by film’s end, some measure of intelligence and diplomacy once Michael takes him under his wing and names him the new Don. But the character is weakened somewhat by the script and the ridiculous subplot of Vincent and Mary’s (keep in mind they’re first cousins) love. Their relationship is never explicitly shown, but it is a completely unnecessary and far-fetched script device.

And of course, Mary. I don’t think there’s an actress alive who was so universally panned for a performance like Sofia Coppola for her work here. Admittedly, her performance is amateurish with a few cringe-worthy moments. But to be fair, her scripted lines are uninspired and flat, and her character is too underdeveloped. Again, the script must share some of the blame. She’s a device more than a character.

But there are still some flashes of brilliance left, namely, once again, Pacino. He uses small gestures and soft, contemplative dialogue delivery to show a man filled with regret and shame, but still retains his fierceness in certain scenes. As evil as his character used to be, you can’t help but sympathize with him. The scene in which he suffers a stroke and screams “Fredo!” is yet another showcase of Pacino’s submission into the character of Michael. If you look at Pacino’s performance from the beginning of part I to the end of part III, you’ll find one of the most riveting and fully-realized characters ever created for the silver screen. We know him so well that he could be a person we know in real life.

The Godfather Part III is flawed, no doubt. But it’s still a fitting final chapter to the Godfather saga. The Atlantic City helicopter attack is orchestrated brilliantly, as is the cross-cutting of the murder montage and Anthony’s opera debut. And finally, the subtext of evil men hiding behind religion—a theme touched on just peripherally in the first two movies—comes full circle here. It could have been a better film, but in my opinion it couldn’t have ended the trilogy any better.

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”



Previous Movies of the Week:

#1: Gladiator
#2: The Passion of the Christ
#3: Cool Hand Luke
#4: Fight Club
#5: American Beauty
#6: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
#7: Goodfellas
#8: Boogie Nights
#9: American Psycho
#10: Dr. Strangelove
#11: Dog Day Afternoon
#12: Unforgiven
#13: 2001: A Space Odyssey
#14: Do the Right Thing
#15: Reservoir Dogs
#16: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
#17: L.A. Confidential
#18: Big Trouble in Little China
#19: Out of Sight
#20: The Shawshank Redemption
#21: The Waterboy
#22: Field of Dreams
#23: The Godfather
#24: The Godfather Part II

i don't understand why this movie gets as much flak as it does. It's not THAT bad. Sure sophia can't act and there's some hot cousin on cousin love, but as a film not compared to its predecessors, it's pretty decent. It's considerable dwarfed by I and II, but it's better than say Smoking Aces or whatever passes as a crime film these days.

if this move had been the only godfather movie ever made, it wouldn't have been torn apart like it was. But there's such a HUGE decline from the first two, it kind of takes away from this one. Plus, the whole plot is pretty lame.

I think I'm going to go buy this movie because of your description Frank. I've never seen it, but 1 and 2 are probably my favorite movies.

Two highlights:

1. Andy Garcia
2. Andy Garcia


oh yeah, Pacino's scene at the end when coppolla gets killed.

That's a good scene. Also, Michael's return to Italy and his confession, all great stuff.

I hate the helicopter scene, though. Pure Hollywood bullshit.

yeah, that was bullshit

i've never seen this one, but i love the first two. i've purposefully avoided III in the past because of how bad everyone says it is compared to the first two.
should i see it anyway?

It's worth seeing, just to close the book on Michael. You won't go in expecting I or II, but there are some redeeming qualities.

Well, first comes part II for me.
Then goes I and finaly part III.
The first thought when i did watch part III, was that i didn't like the end.
My second thought (as i change my mind in seconds ) was that it couldn't be better! So i come to agree w/ Frank.
I did watch the 3 of them w/ my brother in 2 days. A long time ago.
I also try to convince my friends to watch it (and me to join them) but they are not in.. (as they are not in, to my whole PJ situation...!)
Well,.. nevermind...!
5 stars for me (the 2nd 5!)

I gave it two stars because there are only two good things about the whole movie. Andy Garcia is cool, though a lot of his dialogue sucks, and Pacino's reaction on the stairs at the end. Other than that, the movie blows. And yes, it is made worse because it had Godfather in its name. It is just such a departure from the first two. Not only in style and overall watchability, but its values and characterizations and whatnot. My number one major problem with Part III is how Connie takes on a more powerful role in the family. It doesn't seem right, especially when Andy Garcia, the supposed successor to Vito and Sonny, just goes along with what she says. I don't know, I just don't like it. I've seen it twice, and my plan is to never watch this movie again.

Bad writing, decent acting, above average film. This movie would be mediocre if it didn't have the strong foundation (GI and II) to hold it up. GIII is good more for what the first two films were than what GIII is, if that makes any sense.

Yep, that's another major script flaw that I didn't mention in my first post. They turned Connie into a Lady Macbeth, which totally goes against the entire foundation laid in Parts I & II: women don't get involved in the family business. And when she's talking to Michael about "poor Fredo drowning," that just makes me sick. Why in the hell would she say that to Michael of all people? Either we're supposed to believe that she really believes that (which makes no sense given her new "role" in the family), or else she's trying to brainwash Michael into believing that (which, again, makes no sense... he mentions Fredo and his death a few times throughout the film). As said, a lot of this script is just really poorly thought out and written.

Also, this movie doesn't seem nearly as grand as the first two. The most famous line in this movie ("Just when I thought that I was out, they pull me back in" or something like that) is well-delivered and is a cool bit of dialogue. But it's delivered in a kitchen. Just a kitchen. That bothers me.

One thing went through my mind when they played this on TV last night, "God, I miss Tom Hagen."

Blame Robert Duvall's greed for that.

i really enjoyed this film right along with the first 2.

i enjoyed that we were lead to believe that michael would be assassinated, but find that he dies of old age like his father.

I'm late to The Godfather series, just having watched the first two last year. I held off on III because of it's reputation but watched it on HBO a few days ago.
Like others have said before it's not bad but pales by comparison to the first two. I thought Pacino was playing a caricture of a gangster at times but excelled in others. George Hamilton seemed out of place. The cousin love was a clunky plot device. I liked Andy Garcia more as the film played out. If you think of Mary as mildly retarded Sophia's limited range conveying emotion is less noticeable. The helicopter hit was too over the top. You could see Mary's death in Michael's arms coming a mile away.
What did I like? The last hour or so at the opera. The kitchen scene after the hit. Michael's confession. The blending of history (Pope John Paul I & the Vatican banking scandal) into a fictional plot. Michael's natural death, all alone, with an orange dropping from his hand.
All in all a good movie. Better than most but not nearly the classic status of its predecessors.