The Godfather: Part III (1990)

Synopsis

Set in 1979, a 60-year-old Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) is dealing with the consequences of his rise to power. Michael meets with his now-grown children, Anthony (Franc D’Ambrosio) and Mary (Sofia Coppola), at an induction ceremony. They’ve been living with their mother and Michael’s ex-wife Kay (Diane Keaton), who’s since remarried and still resents Michael. At his sister Connie’s (Talia Shire) insistence, Michael agrees to take on his illegitimate nephew Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia). Michael makes deals with the Vatican to pay off their debts for shares in Internazionale Immobiliare to legitimize his business. While this is happening, Mary takes an interest in Vincent, and the two start a romantic relationship. Don Altobello (Eli Wallach) wants in on the Internazionale Immobiliare but double-crosses Michael when he’s refused a share. As Michael reflects on his life choices, he is pulled back into the mafia lifestyle he tried leaving behind.

Review

Despite its flaws, I felt that The Godfather: Part II was a worthy follow-up to the original classic. Unfortunately, The Godfather: Part III isn’t the stellar finale to the trilogy fans were probably hoping for. Before I go into the negatives, I want to highlight the positives as there are good qualities to the movie. For one, the performances are spectacular (for the most part), especially from Al Pacino and Diane Keaton. Also, Andy Garcia does an excellent job playing the arrogant yet loyal Vincent Mancini. Like the previous films, this one explores themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal, reflecting on the past. We see the once determined and ruthless Michael Corleone become a broken man who feels remorseful in his old age. After going through the entire trilogy, it’s interesting to see the character growth of this war hero turned mafioso.

Now, it’s time to address the elephant in the room that’s been discussed since 1990: Sofia Coppola’s performance. Sadly, she is the weakest actor in the movie, with her line delivery coming off stilted and unnatural. Someone like Winona Ryder would’ve done a much better job, but there are some scenes even she couldn’t save. Also, there are so many subplots going on that it’s hard to keep track of what’s happening. Sure, the second film suffered from constantly switching back between the past and present, but it was easier to follow. In this film, you’ve got a plot involving the Catholic Church, finances, family turmoil, rival gangs, and forbidden romance. Even though it’s the shortest one, the movie feels so scatterbrained that it’ll feel longer than it actually is. Overall, while it has many good aspects, The Godfather: Part III is a disappointing finale to an American classic.

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