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In 1972, after one of the most chaotic film production processes ever, Paramount Pictures released “The Godfather.” The film later won Best Picture at the 47th Academy Awards and is regarded as one of the best and most important films of all time.

The studio immediately called for a sequel, which director Francis Ford Coppola agreed to after a long negotiation with Paramount executives. But it was unclear how Coppola would continue “The Godfather” author Mario Puzo’s story.

In “The Godfather Part II,” Coppola continues his exploration of morality and villainy in America by showing the rise of young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) against the fall of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). With “Part II,” Coppola challenges the ideas of “The Godfather,” creating an even more complex and nuanced story and expertly examining the fine line between good and evil.

Now 50 years since its release, “Part II” is arguably the greatest film ever, with timeless lessons about the danger of power. We follow Michael Corleone’s rise to power, its corrupting nature and the destructive effects it has on his family.

One of the most compelling aspects of “The Godfather” is that the older Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) has clear rules and a moral code. He never strays from that code and does his best to remain honorable as a strong father and husband.

“A man who doesn’t spend time with his family can never be a real man,” Vito Corleone says.

In “Part II,” we see how Vito Corleone became the leader he is. As an immigrant from Sicily, Vito Corleone has to fight through Ellis Island and New York’s mafia rule of the early 20th century to earn safety and freedom for his wife and young children.

Vito Corleone learns the lengths one has to go to acquire power. De Niro brilliantly captures the menacing patience that Brando showed in the older version of the character. He spent months studying the exact dialect of Sicilian that Vito Corleone would have. De Niro also studied Brando’s acting choices to mimic a younger Vito Corleone.

De Niro’s Academy Award-winning performance perfectly illustrates how the young, patient immigrant earns the trust of those around him to become Don Vito Corleone. Vito Corleone is calculating and resourceful, operating with profound respect, even when he’s committing gruesome crimes.

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From the outset of “Part II,” Michael Corleone doesn’t have the same moral guidelines as his father. He’s ruthless and vicious, doing whatever it takes to get the best deal for himself and his family. Coppola demonstrates the contrast between Vito and Michael Corleone early in “Part II.”

At the beginning of “Part II,” Michael Corleone meets with corrupt Nevada senator Pat Geary (G.D. Spradlin) to get a license for a new casino. When Geary tells Michael Corleone he’ll have to pay a large sum of money, he responds by demanding Geary obtain the license for free, with no bribe. Geary refuses.

Geary wakes up the next morning with the body of a sex worker in his bed. Michael Corleone sacrifices human life for the sheer purpose of sending a message to someone who wronged him. There’s no line he won’t cross.

In “The Godfather,” Vito Corleone threatens someone who crossed him by putting a horse’s head in their bed. Michael Corleone takes his threats to the next level.

As the story progresses, Michael Corleone loses touch with his family, and his world slowly crumbles around him. In “The Godfather,” he’s introduced as an energetic young man recently returning from war. He wants nothing to do with the family business and wants to live a more innocent life. But in “Part II,” he’s been consumed by power and vengeance. He transforms from the first movie’s hero to one of the most evil characters in movie history.

Michael Corleone’s lowest moment in the film comes when his wife Kay Adams-Corleone (Diane Keaton) reveals she had an abortion to avoid raising a child with him. All of his love for her morphs into anger and hatred, and Pacino brilliantly combines heartbreak and horror in his best acting moment in the film. She was once his tether to humanity, but now, she is terrified of the man he has become.

It’s difficult to decide if Michael Corleone is the true villain of “Part II.” He does horrible things to get what he wants and ruins the lives of those around him, but his backstory is tragic. He renounces his dream to continue his father’s legacy, only to be drawn toward darkness in the hope of finding success.

In “The Godfather,” as Michael Corleone takes over the family, Vito Corleone tells him, “I never wanted this for you.” Vito Corleone understands how mafia life consumes you, as it does to Michael Corleone in “Part II.”

Juxtaposition is what makes “Part II” so compelling. We see young Vito Corleone balance his family life as he rises in the crime world, while simultaneously, Michael Corleone loses his entire family in the pursuit of maintaining his criminal empire.

It’s difficult to root for Michael Corleone, but it’s easy to root for Vito Corleone. Vito Corleone came from nothing and worked hard to build a life for his family, never straying from his strict morals. Yet Michael Corleone lost a virtuous life all for his own ambition. Vito Corleone always worked to help those around him, while Michael Corleone actively destroyed the lives of his loved ones.

“Part II” ends with a scene set before the events of “The Godfather,” where Michael Corleone tells his family he’s enlisted in the Marines. Though Corleone is met with ire and confrontation, he’s confident he made the right decision. He was an honorable man who chose loyalty to his country over loyalty to his family.

In the end, that same loyalty leads to his ultimate isolation. In “The Godfather,” Michael Corleone continues his father’s legacy by heading the Corleone crime family. His drive to gain ultimate power for his family costs him that same family.

“Part II” ends with Michael Corleone isolated in his Lake Tahoe home. Everything he once worked so hard to protect is lost. His wife is gone, his sister Connie Corleone (Talia Shire) wants nothing to do with him and his brother Fredo Corleone (John Cazale) betrays the family, so Michael Corleone has him killed.

The concept of good versus evil is a classic storytelling device. It’s generally easy for audiences to distinguish right from wrong and map those traits in a character. In “Part II,” Coppola uses Vito Corleone’s rise and Michael Corleone’s fall to illustrate how even slightly different life experiences can lead two people down different paths of good or evil. Pacino and De Niro perform phenomenally, taking viewers through deep emotional journeys.

Fifty years on, “Part II” is a timeless story, with a new lesson taught in each viewing. It’s the ultimate cinematic triumph and a masterwork from Coppola, De Niro and Pacino. It deserves its place in film history and will be watched for generations to come.

Published on December 10, 2024 at 8:04 pm