Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) returns to the screen, preparing to retire and enter the legitimate world, but that isn't going to happen in Francis Ford Coppola's final chapter in the Godfather odyssey tying together the Corleone family, the Vatican, and vast real estate and communications deals. Most of the original cast returns for this installment (excluding Robert Duvall, who apparently wanted too much money) and wears their roles like an old pair of comfortable shoes. It's the new additions that tend to drag the film down a bit. Andy Garcia is good as Vincent, Sonny Corleone's bastard son, but he isn't Caan or Pacino. Eli Wallach is the last old school Don, who acts as friend to Michael, but is actually... But most of the acting wraith in this film goes to Sofia Coppola, who plays Michael's daughter Mary. All I'll say is that thank god she became a director. Seeing her in a scene with Al Pacino is like seeing a Rolls Royce next to a Chevette- it ruins it for you.
Coppola directs this film just like the others. There is a basic blueprint to all these films and if you've seen the first two you'll know what's coming along. The lighting is still Godfather lighting that's been ripped off so many times it will make your head spin, but it still works all these years later. It still feels like a Godfather movie.
The Godfather Part III is not a bad movie. It's actually a very good movie with a great cast. The problem is that it's not a great Godfather movie. It's the lesser of the three and when you compare it to the near perfection of the previous two it looks as bad as everyone believes it is. You must remember that it was still nominated for Best Picture, but this was also the year that another gangster movie was also nominated for best picture and should have won- Goodfellas. (both were screwed by dances with Wolves). Watch it as a stand alone, not as piece to a puzzle or you'll be disappointed.
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