The Godfather - Part III

Michael Corleone is back, for this third and last part of The Godfather series. The film was released in 1990 and shows how Michael is trying to legitimize his business and get redemption. The story is around real life events : the death of Pope John Paul I and the Banco Ambrosiano scandal ; which are linked to Michael’s story. The movie stars Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire (Coppola's sister) newcomer Andy García, Eli Wallach (The Magnificent Seven), Joe Mantegna (David Rossi in Criminal Minds !), Bridget Fonda and SofiaCoppola (Coppola's daughter).

In this last part, Michael reflects on what he has done in his life – this is different from the first two, where he never questionned his actions – however, it is always the same old tune : « I had to protect my family ». He tries to get out of illegal activities but they keep catching up with him :

Michael Corleone: Just when I thought I was out... they pull me back in.

There are two sides to Michael : he is the affectionate father trying to bet his business legitimate, at the same time he is grooming his nephew Vincent (Andy Garcia) to become the next Don Corleone.

Michael Corleone: Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.

Michael Corleone: Never let anyone know what you are thinking.

The movie is mainly about Michael ; no matter what the storyline, it is about looking for forgiveness and trying to make amends, it is about reflecting on one’s life, a life that Michael did not choose, as we saw in Part I, it is about being unable to change things. The force of destiny is too strong, and Michael keeps being pulled back. If one thinks about it, it is tragic. His life is ruined by the weight of family responsibilities. The most touching scene is his scream on the stairs, as he realizes that the last person he cared for is gone. The conclusion is the only logical one : Michael eventually has to pay the price for everything he has ever done – no matter how much he tried to turn it around, it is too late for him.

Vincent Mancini: Don Lucchesi, you are a man of finance and politics. These things I don't understand.

Don Lucchesi: You understand guns?

Vincent Mancini: Yes.

Don Lucchesi: Finance is a gun. Politics is knowing when to pull the trigger

Michael Corleone: I feel... I'm getting wiser now.

Kay Corleone: The sicker you get, the wiser you get, huh?

Michael Corleone: When I'm dead, I'm gonna be really smart.

One problem with this movie was the decision to put Sofia Coppola in the film, I found her acting very bad, which took away from the film’s quality. Glad to see Diane Keaton again, exceptionnal as usual, and Talia Shire as Connie, with a much more active role than in the previous movies.

I was not a fan of the storyline involving the Vatican, although I subsequently found that it is based on true events. But, as mentionned before, the storyline barely matters here, as we see Michael struggling.

Part III is more theatrical, more political, therefore very different from Parts I & II. That said, I thought it was a great movie, but nowhere near the first two.

Mary Corleone: I'll always love you.

Vincent Mancini: Love somebody else.

Midnight in Paris

 It’s been a long time, blame the holidays. I am now coming back to review a movie that is light, entertaining, and funny, perfect for those well-earned vacations ! Anyway, this is now the third time that a Woody Allen movie appears on this blog, and I have to say, even though this is not his best movie, Midnight in Paris is still rather enjoyable, with a great cast : Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams (The Notebook), Michael Sheen (Blood Diamond), Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose), Adrian Brody (ThePianist), Kathy Bates, and even our very own Gad Elmaleh, Léa Seydoux and Carla Bruni !

Gil and Inez are engaged and are travelling to Paris. Gil is a struggling writer who falls in love with Paris and thinks Paris in the 1920s was the Golden Age, whereas Inez is just your average superficial, normal girl. When Inez goes off dancing with some friends, Gil walks around Paris at midngight and is suddely taken back to the 1920s, where he meets Hemingway, Man Ray, Dali, Picasso, Gertrude Stein, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, etc… He doesn’t ask questions and just takes the adventures as it comes, which takes him further away from Inez.

 

I am not a fan of Owen Wilson, and Marion Cotillard is truly beginning to get on my nerves, yet I found this a pleasant comedy to watch.

The movie deals with escaping where you are and always thinking « it was better before ». Ultimately we are stuck in the present, and the movie eventually shows that once you have accepted it and stop chasing rainbows you are ready to be happy. The opening shots of Paris, and actually all the shots of Paris, are breathtaking – I even had difficulties recognizing my city. I enjoyed seeing shots of Giverny (Monet's gardens), where I have been recently for the first time, pure coincidence. The rest of the cast is excellent and, every time we encounter a new character, it is someone famous! : I loved seeing an appearance by Adrian Brody, who impersonates Dali. Every artist portrayed is fun, with a humorous cloud around them. No comment on Carla Bruni’s appearance, tasteless, but high five to Gad Elmaleh, I found it hilarious when he gets stuck in the past.

One needs imagination to watch this: it is of course highly unlikely, and we never get an explanation as to how Gil manages to be back to “today” every morning.... It is a fantasy, a mix of dream and reality. If you are more like Inez (McAdams) in character (sceptical, rational, down to earth, falsely intellectual) then you stand no chance of liking this movie – I like the actress and here I found her character just highly unpleasant.

 

Inez: You always take the side of the help. That's why Daddy says you're a communist.

Ernest Hemingway: It was a good book because it was an honest book, and that's what war does to men. And there's nothing fine and noble about dying in the mud unless you die gracefully. And then it's not only noble but brave.

Gil: You can fool me, but you cannot fool Ernest Hemingway!

On the downside, all the story is a bit predictable: Inez’s parents are war overdone, the affair with Paul is obvious, and one could have guessed the end. This is a film that you have to watch without really thinking about the discrepancies, the clichés, and you’ll spend a very enjoyable moment. It is not up to other Woody Allen movies but it is worth the time.

Rear Window

No 42 of the greatest movies of all times, as named by the AFI, Rear Window (1954) is simply magnificent. I am not necessarily well acquainted with Hitchcock movies, but I was enthralled from the start.

LB Jeffries (played by James Stewart) has a broken leg and is confined to his apartment. Out of boredom he starts observing his neighbours and speculating about their lives, to the point of being obsessed with them. One evening he hears a cry and starts suspecting one his neighbours, Thorwald (Raymond Burr) of having killed his wife. He begins investigating, with the help of his caretaker Stella (Thelma Ritter) and his girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly).

 

At first nobody believes him, and the whole film turns on one statement by Grace Kelly: "Tell me everything you saw, and what you think it means."

Indeed, all of his accusations are based on what he sees, not what he hears. And on what WE see, because we are basically in the room with Jeffries, unable to move : all is filmed from Jeffries’ appartment, giving sometimes an impression of choking, but also bringing the viewer in from the start. The side stories of the other neighbours  (music composer, dancer, newlyweds, single woman) also provide for an nice breath of fresh air that break the tension, also highlighting the fact that, when you are not watching your environment, anything can happen.

As usual Hitchcock makes a cameo appearance in the film, I did not spot him and had to ask for the «solution». Some key elements remain unanswered, that may have been a bit frustrating to me and to my movie companion.

  

Nevertheless, I think this is a classic thriller, with impeccable acting : James Stewart is fantastic and Grace Kelly just shines. What a beauty. Special notice of Thelma Ritter, who is thinking and saying all of the things all of the other characters in the film are too polite to think and say themselves.

it is timeless – over fifty years old anf still has not aged a bit. I am just disappointed I waited so long to watch this.

One word for it : delicious. Deliciously stressing, deliciously witty, delicious James Stewart, delicious Grace Kelly.

Lisa: I wish I were creative.

Jeff: You are. You're great at creating difficult situations.

Jeff: [into the phone] He killed a dog last night because the dog was scratching around in the garden. You know why? Because he had something buried in that garden that the dog scented.

Lt. Doyle: [voice] Like an old hambone?

Jeff: I don't know what pet names Thorwald had for his wife

Jeff: Would you fix me a sandwich, please?

Stella: Yes, I will. And I'll spread a little common sense on the bread.

Jeff: She sure is the "eat, drink and be merry" girl.

Stella: Yeah, she'll wind up fat, alcoholic and miserable.

Lisa: Why would Thorwald want to kill a little dog? Because it knew too much?

Les Tontons Flingueurs

Let’s switch to a French movie for a bit. I watched Les TontonsFlingueurs, a must-see French movie dating back to 1963, directed by GeorgesLautner. Brilliant dialogues are by Michel Audiart. It stars Lino Ventura, Jean Lefebvre, Claude Rich, Bernard Blier, Francis Blanche and Sabine Sinjen, among others. It is a myth in french culture.

Apologies to non-french speakers, unfortunately that one’s going to ba hard to translate.

Monsieur Fernand is an ex-con who goes visit his dying ex-partner, Le Mexicain, who is still in organised crime. The dying man leaves him in chage of his business and of his teenage daughter, which is not really appreciated by the gang, some members decide to get rid of him. Monsieur Fernand has to defend himself from a series of comical killing attempts.

I have to admit I had some difficulties getting into the movie, but rapidly got the gist, and it is indeed hilarious. I am not that familiar with French must-see movies, strangely enough, but I enjoyed my time a lot, more and more as the movie was advancing. The greatest scene is when the five gangsters are drinking alcohol in the kitchen. And the ending. And the continuous punching of Raoul by Fernand. Many good scenes. My all time favourite is the shooting scene. I loved it. The language is slang, and sometimes difficult to understand, I have a feeling I may have missed some of the subtleties of the dialogue, so that would call for a second viewing….

Although it has all the features of a gangster movie this  turns out to be a comedy of bad manners involving two factions led respectively by Lino Ventura and Bernard Blier. It is strange to say that it is only restropesctively that I realize how subtle and funny the movie is.

Theo : La bave du crapaud n'empêche pas la caravane de passer !

Paul : Écoute - on te connaît pas. Mais laisse-nous te dire que tu te prépares des nuits blanches, des migraines, des « nervousses brékdones » comme on dit de nos jours

Monsieur Fernand : Les cons ça ose tout ! C'est même à ça qu'on les reconnaît.

Monsieur Fernand : Trois morts subites en moins d'une demi-heure, ah ça part sévère les droits de succession.

Raoul : Mais dis donc, on n'est quand même pas venus pour beurrer les sandwichs.

Raoul : Mais y connaît pas Raoul ce mec ! Y va avoir un réveil pénible, j'ai voulu être diplomate à cause de vous tous, éviter que le sang coule. Mais maintenant c'est fini, je vais le travailler en férocité, le faire marcher à coup de lattes, à ma pogne je veux le voir ! Et je vous promets qu'il demandera pardon et au garde-à-vous!

While I was watching I laughed a little, but thinking about it again, I realise how hilarious this really is : double entendre, irony, plain funny, the movie’s got it all. A real classic that I’ll be happy to watch again.