1) The Godfather is a classic American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola in 1972. In the film starred Marlon Brando, as Vito Corleone and the Godfather, Al Pacino as Michael Corleone, the Godfather's youngest son, and James Caan as Sonny Corleone, the oldest son. The film was based off a book by Mario Puzo in 1969, also entitled the Godfather. The Godfather received eleven Academy Award nominations and won three: Best Picture, Best Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film highly respects and embodies the ideal family values. The wedding of The Godfather's only daughter was the opening act, portraying the family as loving and innocent. The baptism of the Godfather's daughter's child also symbolized the innocence and togetherness of the family. The baptism scene depicted a sense of irony because even though Michael "relinquished the Devil" and any type of crime, he had his father's men carry out the criminal business, which in a sense still involved him. Though the Corleone family lived by the line "Don't ever take sides against the family" and the film displayed them as one who was very together and loving towards each other, they werent so compassionate towards people outside of the family. Even though they were an anti- heroic and rather violent family, the film in a sense still portrayed them as the "good guys".
2)The Godfather (1972):
http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19970316/REVIEWS08/401010321/1023
The article discussed that the Godfather is a powerful and brilliantly structured film. They take the Corleone family, one of the five Mafia families, and give them a sweet appeal, portraying them as the most innocent Mafia families in the film. While the other families' businesses are based off of selling drugs and doing illegal business, the Corleone family focuses more on 'victimless crimes' and maintaining power, which in a sense softens their image. Though the film heavily stresses the importance of family and staying together, the women of the family don't play significant roles nor are they highly respected. The only Corleone daughter is abused by her husband and lied to constantly. The Corleone mother is basically a nanny because she takes care of her grandchildren and a "prop" for her husband so it creates an imagine "the perfect marriage".
3) The article and the screening are similar because they both express the significance of family and being loyal to them. Though the film and article are aware of the downplay on the women, to a certain point they are respected and looked after, dependening on who they are and what role they play in the family. When Connie, the only Corleone daughter, was being physically abused and disrespected by her husband, the oldest brother, Sonny, took it upon his self to make it known that he will cause physical harm to her husband if he put his hands on his sister again. It is somewhat ironic that even though the men in this movie have little consideration or respect for their wives, the women in their family are put on a higher pedestal, which to a certain degree makes sense. Just like the Godfather, he loves his wife, but treats his daughter with more love and embraces her more.
4) Even while 'The Godfather' was an intensely "action packed" and violent film, there was an underlying message to it. Ford Coppola wanted his viewers to notice that family was important and to always put their needs and your love for them first. "Don't ever take sides against the family". The Corleone family portrayed both positive and negative aspects of how the ideal American and Italian American family should be. The average family idealizes them whether it be because of their togetherness at dinner time or their seriousness in attending any family functions: funerals, weddings, baptisms, and etc. Though they were violent towards people who went against their family business, it was in the end, a way to look out for the family and keep them strongly united.
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