Everyone talks about The Godfather. It’s a cultural icon. It doesn’t exactly need defending. But the degree to which it diverges from American cinema in its time cannot be understated. Parts I and II tell an epic story in a style and with an aesthetic that stood out in a remarkable way. And it is necessary to think of the two films as a singular work, even though the progression of the second in terms of its storytelling is obvious. Francis Ford Coppola’s work in the 70s, when you can see the high quality version offered on Blu-Ray, feels like it could be made today, rather than other films from the era that immediately come off as dated.
Apocalypse Now is another example of this contemporary yet timeless feeling these movies are imbued with. While the extended Redux version waters down the tightness of the original movie a little bit, the atmosphere that is sustained over the course of this Vietnam War story is eerie and captivating, alien and familiar. It’s hard to even put a finger on what makes these movies feel so alive, making it hard to take your eyes off of them. But talking about them doesn’t come close to measuring up to the visceral understanding achieved by watching them. They have a way of leaving people at a loss for words.
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Published: Jul 30, 2013 03:41 pm