Best Movie Ever: The Godfather
From Hagen to Sollozzo, here are the 100 reasons why The Godfather is the Greatest Movie Ever.
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By Jordan Hoffman February 9, 2011 |
| 100 | Bonasera Believes in America |
How to begin your epic tale about Family, Destiny, The Malleability of Ethics and the Immigrant Struggle of 20th Century Americans?
How 'bout a lengthy monologue from a minor character you'll barely hear from again?
That's why The Godfather is genius.
| 99 | The Don |
Marlon Brando was no one's first choice for the role of Don Vito Corleone. Francis Ford Coppola wanted Sir Laurence Olivier and Paramount wanted Ernest Borgnine or Danny Thomas or. . . anyone.
Coppola was able to push his second choice of Brando through only after the legendary actor agreed to a paycut, to binding insurance claims and a screen test.
He wore cotton balls in his mouth to look extra jowly and won the Academy Award for his turn as the noble/terrible Lord of the the Corleone Crime Family.
A Native American activist names Sacheen Littlefeather picked up his award in his stead and yelled at the audience because it was the '70s.
| 98 | I Mean, We're Not Murderers |
If you take a shot every time something ironic is said in Mario Puzo's script of The Godfather you'll be drunk before Michael returns from Italy.
The Don tells his Consigliere Tom Hagen to put Clemenza on the Bonasera revenge job, but with the understanding that he get "reliable people" who "aren't gonna' get carried away."
By adding, "I mean, we're not murderers," Don Vito implies a moral boundary between family business and frivolous emotionalism.
By sniffing a flower as he says it just makes it awesome.
| 97 | Mama and Tessio |
Mama Corleone is the hearty, nurturing bosom of this great family; often seen but rarely heard.
To her right is one of Don Vito's Capos, Tessio - and, no, you are not hallucinating that really is Abe Vigoda.
Tessio holds an orange, one of the first of many references to citrus fruits in The Godfather that sends over-analyzing film scholars into a tizzy.
| 96 | Dance Dance No Absolution |
The Don's other Capo, Clemenza, is just like your Uncle Louie. . .if your Uncle Louie sliced people's necks with piano wire when they didn't pay their protection money.
| 95 | Luca Brasi, Mensa Candidate |
Musclebound enforcer Luca Brasi is what is politely referred to in Italian-American culture as "a little stunad."
Here he rehearses his obsequious remarks for his momentary audience with the Don "on this, his daughter's wedding day."
According to legend, this scene was shot after actor Lenny Montana, a former wrestler and actual Colombo family bodyguard, flubbed his line with Brando in the forthcoming scene and Coppola realized it was much more realistic that way.
| 94 | Kay Likes Her Lasagna |
Michael Corleone explains the origin of the phrase "an offer he can't refuse" to his new WASP girlfriend Kay.
Despite protestations of "that's my family, that's not me," she shoulda gotten the hell out of there at that very moment.
Read whatever innuendos you want into Michael's non-sequitur "you like your lasagna?"
| 93 | MC Mama |
Mama readies to turn the mic over to Johnny Fontaine, but not before a little Tarentella action.
Forza Italia!
| 92 | Always A Bridesmaid |
The Don's son and heir apparent, Santino "Sonny" Corleone, takes advantage of a brief hole open to him (ahem) in his father's meeting schedule.
| 91 | Johnny Fontaine, Hollywood Finnochio |
Johhny Fontaine can't land the part of his dreams and sobs about it to his Godfather.
Don Corleone will aid him, of course, but not before offering some sage, healing therapy: whapping him across the face and shouting ACT LIKE A MAN!!
Note: it is universally accepted that Fontaine's character in question is Frank Sinatra, and the role he angling for is his Academy Award-winning turn in From Here To Eternity.
