By: Sanjana Chadive

One of my favorite movies is The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, and starring the late Marlon Brando and Al Pacino. The story follows the Corleones, one of the most powerful families in the Italian mafia. Marlon Brando stars as Vito Corleone, the don of the family, and Pacino plays his youngest son, Michael. When the Don is shot and wounded, Michael–who is trying to maintain a normal lifestyle–is swept up in the family business; the rest of the film details Michael’s downward spiral. 

Regarded as one of the greatest pictures of all time,  The Godfather was nominated for eleven Oscars, and won three of them at the 45th Academy Awards. The three awards it won were Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actor for Brando–and rightfully so. The film is well directed and the cinematography is excellent; every scene is perfectly shot. The story does not shy away from displaying the gruesome details of Michael Corleone’s journey. Marlon Brando reached his peak with the portrayal of the aging Don. The Godfather, along with other films of that genre, paved the way for a new realism in Hollywood. Films inspired by The Godfather include Scarface [also starring Pacino] and Goodfellas. The picture is, overall, superb and one to watch at least once in a lifetime.