Cult Classic Films: A Must-See for Cinephiles

The Godfather(1972)
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Written by Mario Puzo & Francis Ford Coppola

This is a film that has inspired directors, writers, & even actors, and you can clearly see that; the film literally unfolds like a book, and you know you're watching something great from the first scene itself. It starts off with a wedding scene, which concludes in 30 minutes, and then the film forwards, but that sets up Marlon Brando's character and his influence, how much he's respected and feared, and his morals & his principles. It also showcases how much he loves and cares for his family. We get a clear peek at the complete family dynamic & the characters' personalities; it basically sets the tone of the film. There's not a lot of music in the film, except this one piece by Nino Rota that assists the film so well it's one of the constants of the film, and the best use of it is in the final scene. The cinematography is brilliant; it captures the tension between the characters. Coppola used close-ups & long pan shots to capture its characters. It's nearly 3 hours, but you don't feel it. The drama and the politics are so well written by Mario Puzo, and Francis Ford Coppola literally plays with you like at some points, you feel it's predictable, or you think maybe a certain character wouldn't do something like that, but they actually do it. And lastly, the performances—oh my God, Robert Duvall nails the portrayal of the most loyal person in the family, and James Caan is amazing, but I believe the film solely rests on the shoulders of two people, Al Pacino & Marlon Brando. The character arc that Pacino goes through in the film is remarkable; he's subtle with his expressions, but you see everything in his eyes. It's definitely a generational performance. And last but not least, Marlon Brando—what a legendary performance! He plays Vito Corleone; he's wise, he's kind of terrifying, he loves his family, but he also deals with a near-death experience, betrayal, loss of somebody important, and basically sort of a full circle of life, and he portrays every part with full commitment and mastery. When I was watching Brando, I genuinely thought maybe his performance inspired Pankaj Kapur in Maqbool...

I really loved this movie; it's a treat for cinephiles. It really made me happy, and what I would say finally is that I know it inspired a lot of filmmakers, and if you want to make a movie too, this movie will inspire you.

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"A Spiritual Experience"