The Godfather II 1974

     This film continues the saga of the Corelone crime family where the Godfather left off.   It goes back and forth from Vito Corelone growing up in Sicily in 1910 New York to Michael Corelone in the 1950’s.  Vito becomes the original Godfather and Michael takes his place after he dies.  Michael is expanding the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.

     The total screen time for both Godfather films is nearly seven hours.  We could relate and sympathize with both Vito and Michael except their business is crime and murder.  Both figures command respect but they are selling their souls for this respect.  There is honor and dignity but death from a possible assassination lurking around the corner at every turn.  Michael’s family disintegrates around him and he’s a lonely man unable to trust anyone.  Both films are very involved but you are drawn into the stories and also glad you are not a part of any of this.  3 ½* (I liked this movie)

202 min, Crime directed by Francis Ford Coppola with Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, John Cazale, Talia Shire, Lee Strasberg, Michael V. Gazzo, G.D. Spradlin, Richard Bright.

Note:  Imdb 9.0 out of 10, 97% critic 97% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 3*, Amazon 4.7* out of 5* with 633 reviews.

Special Note:  Filmed in Dominican Republic and Italy; Lake Tahoe, Los Angeles, California; New York; Miami, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada.