Ten Movies "Everybody" Saw -- Including Me: The Godfather (#2)

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Amazing the difference in how I feel today after walking at the fair and how I've felt after an hour of therapy. No comparison. I mean, my legs ache like I've walked five miles, but they aren't hurting as if I have a pinched nerve or something. Now that the culprit has been identified I can move on to other things...such as this next movie on the list of films that "everybody" has seen, including me. #2: The Godfather Thanks to this movie we have a phrase in popular culture: "Make him an offer he can't refuse." There are people who don't like this film (I see it on "overrated movies" lists). I understand, because all art form tastes are subjective. But, for me, there's so much in this movie to enjoy. It is visually stunning, having the look of the 1940s. It has elements of humor (Luka Brazi's rehearsal of his line to Don Vito, which he blows and says as "ever-ending loyalty" instead of never-ending) and romance (truly, more Michael and Apollonia than Michael and Kay) behind a good old-fashioned crime story. The movie (and book on which it's based) has a lot of basis in reality. It's obvious that Johnny Fontane is based on Frank Sinatra, and Moe Greene is based heavily on Bugsy Siegel. And, of course, there really was a "five families" conglomerate of mafia families. And, of course, there's trivia: there's a Hogan's Heroes connection here. Albert S. Ruddy, the producer of the film, was one of the creators/producers of the 60s TV series. You're welcome. You can't miss this movie if you have the AMC channel, because they show the trilogy at least twice a year (or, they used to...I haven't had cable in over a year, so I don't know if they still do). It's brutal, beautiful, and brilliant....worthy, in my opinion, of every accolade it's received. The Godfather Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Released in 1972 Here's Fish (Abe Vigoda) leaving to sleep with the fishes late in the movie: