Oldies Review - The Godfather

Director: Francis Ford Coppola
Genre: Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 175 minutes
Year: 1972
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert DuVall, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, John Cazale
 
Description: The aging patriarch (Marlon Brando) of an organized crime dynasty in postwar New York City transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant youngest son (Al Pacino).

Review: Don Vito Corleone, better known as The Godfather, is the head of the Corleone mafia family. When an attempt is made to take his life, son Michael unexpectedly steps into the family business.
For many, including myself, “The Godfather” is an all-time favorite and an absolute timeless classic. It is and remains a great mafia epic and probably one of the most influential films ever made.

As soon as the film starts with the atmospheric music of Nino Rota, you are transported to the past and become part of the Corleone family. The head, Don Vito, commands the screen with his presence. With this, Marlon Brando won an Academy Award for one of the most iconic roles ever.

It is a film completely focused on the Corleone family. Despite all the criminal acts within the world of the mafia, the story also highlights the love, frustration and misfortune within the family. This makes the whole realistic. In doing so, each member also leaves an impression. Daughter Connie who allows herself to be in an abusive marriage, tough brother Sonny with his anger issues and even the more sleezy Fredo, who has a more prominent role in “Godfather Part II” (1974). The film’s lead role is given to the youngest son of the family: Michael Corleone.

This was Al Pacino’s big break, an it is understandable why. We frequently see event sfrom Michael’s perspective, which makes him somewhat sympathetic. Michael’s character development, which begins here and continues in the two sequels, is fairly tragic to see. Someone who had no interest in the family business at first, but unexpectedly follows in his father’s footstep, becoming the head of it.

“The Godfather” is not only a timeless classic, that every person, film fan or not, should see. But it’s also a masterclass in filmmaking. I think it’s every filmmakers dream to create aa masterpiece such as “The Godfather”. After so many years, the praise for this movie is still justified.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challange 2016 - # 56: On the Waterfront

Director: Elia Kazan
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Crime
Runtime: 108 minutes
Year: 1954
Starring: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Eva Marie Saint, Rob Steiger, Pat Henning, Leif Erickson, James Westerfield, Tony Galento, Tami Mauriello, John F. Hamilton, John Heldabrand, Rudy Bond, Don Blackman, Arthur Keegan, Abe Simon

Description: An ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.

Review: Former prize fighter Terry Malloy does the dirty work of the corrupt union boss Johnny Friendly, ordered by his brother Charly. When people die, Terry starts questioning the union. The brother, of the girl he falls in love with with, is one of the victims. When the local pastor is chosing sides with the people rebelling against Johnny Friendly, Terry wants to clear his conscience.
“On the Waterfront” is one of the biggest classics from the 50s. The films cast was nominated for several Oscars and both Marlon Brando and Eve Marie Saint won. “On the Waterfront” eventually went home with eight Academy Awards.
Especially Marlon Brando’s role is extraordinary. With this film he brought us a new kind of acting: method acting. He is perfect for the role of Terry Mallow, because he is both macho and sensitive. Besides, one look of Brando says more then a thousand words. “On the Waterfront” is a fantastic film, a must see.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 48: Last Tango in Paris

Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 1972
Starring: Marlon Brando, Maria Schneider, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Maria Michi, Giovanna Galletti, Gitt Magrini, Catherine Allégret, Luce Marqueand, Marie-Hélène Breillat, Catherine Breillat, Massimo Girotti

Description: A young Parisian woman (Maria Schneider) meets a middle-aged American businessman (Marlon Brando) who demands their clandestine relationship be based only on sex.

Review: Before I saw “Last Tango in Paris” I heard a lot of controversy about this film and read positive reviews, with an exception here and there. Well, I’m the exception too, because although I wanted to like this film, I truly didn’t. It looks good, but I can’t consider it a classic.
First, the plot. There is none. They get away with it because of the great performance by Marlon Brando. But the characters are not likeable and I couldn’t relate to any of them. And the dialogues sometimes felt silly to me.
Brando has done some great films and I love him as an actor. But “Last Tango in Paris” is just not one of those movies. And most of the time when I don’t like a film that is highly praised, I get why people love it. With this one I just don’t. It’s probably just me.

Rating: 2/ 5

Top 5 Thursday: Classic Movie Stars

My daily talk is about movies, movies popular today and the actors and actresses in those films. Sometimes I also like to think and talk about the stars that we once had. The classic movie stars. Here are my favorites.

5. Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly is most famous for his roles in “Singin’ in the Rain”, which I absolutely love, and “An American in Paris”. He was a dominant force in Hollywood musical films from the mid 1940s until this art form fell out of fashion in the late 1950s.

4. Marilyn Monroe
Not just a famous Hollywood actress, but also a model, singer, showgirl and sex symbol. Starred in “The Seven Year Itch”, “All About Eve”, “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “Some Like it Hot”. An icon in her time and never will she be forgotten.

3. James Dean
James Dean was a cultural icon. “Rebel Without a Cause”, where he played troubled teenager Jim Stark, defined his stardom. Later he starred in “East of Eden” and “Giant” which were also a great success. Dean's enduring fame and popularity rests on his performances in only these three films. He died too young.

2. Audrey Hepburn
The only British actress on this list. She wasn’t only an actress, Hepburn was also a humanitarian. She was actually always very modest about her acting, which makes her likeable. Favorites off course “Breakfast at Tiffanies” and “My Fair Lady”.

1. Marlon Brando
Brando was, besides a fantastic actor, also a political activist. Brando had a significant impact on film acting, and was the foremost example of the "method" acting style. Great movies like “On the Waterfront” and “A Streetcar Named Desire” and later “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now”. What an actor!

They almost made the top 5: Grace Kelly, Eva Gardner and Paul Newman

Top 5 Thursday: People I Want to Be for One Day

I've been thinking about this question for a long time. Who would you want to trade places with for one day. I doesn't matter if they are male or female or if they are dead or alive. I came up with these five.

5. Marlon Brando (in the 1950’s)
This was Brando’s best period in my opinion. I would just want to feel how it’s like to be an actor in that time and his acting methods. Because appearantly he wasn’t the easiest person to work with.

4. Dian Fossey
I admire the work she did and how she studied the mountain gorilla’s. It is a dream of mine to see them in the wild some day, so I would want to know how it feels to be Dian.

3. Jane Austen
She is my favorite writer and I love her stories. It’s sad that she only wrote six novels, but I would love to step into her world for one day. How she came up with the love stories, especially “Pride & Prejudice”, the most beloved story of all-time for me.

2. Naomi Watts
Off course I would want to be my favorite actress. She has done so many great movies and I love every single performance. The once in “21 Grams”, “Mulholland Drive”, “King Kong” and “The Painted Veil” are my favorites.

1. David Lynch
He’s not my favorite director, but I would just want to get into his mind. What the hell goes on in there? How did he come up with “Lost Highway”, “Mulholland Drive” and “Twin Peaks”? And I always wondered if everything has a deeper meaning or he just wants people to discuss about his films.

They almost made the top 5: J.K. Rowling, Rachel McAdams and Tom Hanks

Some Random Wallpapers

I have made five new wallpapers, all with different people of movies in them. I'm on a role here, I have a lot of inspiration. I hope you like them.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt

The Notebook

Johnny Depp

The Motorcycle Diaries

Marlon Brando

Let me know what you think. And feel free to use them on your own computer.

Movie Tip #17 - A Streetcar Named Desire

Director: Elia Kazan

Starring: Marlon Brando, Vivien Leigh, Kim Hunter

Description: Blanche Dubois (Vivien Leigh)goes to visit her pregnant sister (Kim Hunter) and husband Stanley (Marlon Brando) in New Orleans. Stanley doesn't like her, and starts pushing her for information on some property he know was left to the sisters. He discovers she has mortgaged the place and spent all the money, and wants to find out all he can about her. Even more friction develops between the two while they are in the apartment together...

Review: I thought, let's go for a real oldie this week. This is my favourite classic movie (hello, it's from 1951!). The story is very simple, its black and white and the movie takes place in just a couple different locations. Be honest, Marlon Brando was a very handsome man in his younger years (reminds me a little bit of Jeff Corwin...hahaha). And his performance is great. He is able to accurately depict the emotion and rage that his character feels. And "STELLAAAAAAAA!"..... just a classic one-liner.