This Thing of Ours

[telerib]

So, at curiousangel's recommendation, I watched The Godfather.

Why doesn't Hollywood make more movies like that? I know didley squat about cinema, but I thought the entire first act - the wedding - was wonderful and thoughtful, and it conveyed what it needed to without beating you over the head with it. (The ending... that was a little more beating over the head. But it worked, too.)

I was also surprised to see how much from the movie I already knew, because the movie was that influential. It must've informed every pop culture representation of Mafia out there. I had never seen the movie, but was copying Marlon Brando's hand gestures anyway - because that's just the way mob bosses talk with their hands, right?

The Godpigeon even makes more sense, now.

Comments

[curiousangel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it, and I think you'll really like Part II. You're right, too, about it coloring everything we think of when we see a Mafia representation in the media. It contrasts nicely with "The Sopranos" that way, in that you can see the influences (and even in some cases, the direct references -- there's one scene where Tony's crew is all sitting around watching the movie, and they beg one of their number to do his Brando impersonation; all very meta).

Do you see where I was coming from with the description of the family dynamics, too? It does come out more in the second movie (which you should watch as soon as is humanly possible, so the first one is still fresh in your mind), but it's there in the first movie as well.

[telerib.livejournal.com]

Do you see where I was coming from with the description of the family dynamics, too?

Oh yes. I was hoping to see more Fredo, but I can certainly see where the conflict's going to come from in Part II.

It's a bit mix-n-match; my Bernardo is part Tom (as far as his role goes) but also part Fredo (in being sort of nebbishy). Antonio in my mind has the Brando role, but as far as family dynamics go, he's Michael (although without as much "Hey, I thought you weren't *in* the family!" vibe). I'll wait until I see part II before I judge Fredo too harshly, but he doesn't seem competent at all. In theory, Tomasso is competent, but his pride gets the better of him and makes him seem petty (rather like Sonny's anger ended up being his undoing). And Sonny is so entirely my Cristoforo that it isn't even funny. (Not that "angry macho Italian guy" is a particularly difficult stereotype to find.) Allen's character Angelo picks up Tom's cool and collected "talky" skills.

Angelo's fiancee is very Kate; the potential brother-in-law makes Carlo look like Mr. Right. Almost scary how it all lines up.