The Godfather Part II

1974 • 202 minutes

About this movie

This brilliant companion piece to the original The Godfather continues the saga of two generations of successive power within the Corleone family. Coppola tells two stories in Part II: the roots and rise of a young Don Vito played with uncanny ability by Robert De Niro and the ascension of Michael (Al Pacino) as the new Don. Reassembling many of the talents who helped make The Godfather Coppola has produced a movie of staggering magnitude and vision and undeniably the best sequel ever made. Robert De Niro won an Oscar®; the film received six Academy Awards including Best Picture of 1974.

Ratings and reviews

OK let me start by saying I don't hate this movie I just don't think it quite does as much as the first film did I thought Robert de niro did a good job but one of my main problems is he doesn't really speak in the movie but he did a fine job when he was on showing how Vito became a mobster but surprisingly I think my main problem is they also focus on the other Corleone's which I found boring and I found Pacino's acting too cheesy but overall A- I would say

This film is so unlike part 1 yet equally transcendent. The flashbacks play as a sort of precursor and parallel to Michael's story that make it's social statments even deeper. De Niro is fantastic, as is Pacino. It also features the father of method acting Mr Lee Strasburg. But the real star of the show is Coppola. This is cinema lifted to a level that registers with us on a level that is made only by experiencing it.

The Godfather Pt 2 is the definitive example of the American crime drama. Francis Ford Coppola improved on his original film by reinforcing Michael's descent into the criminal organization his father created while telling his origin story. Robert DeNiro plays an amazing role as Vito Corleone. His story is very captivating. Michael's story is much darker and depressing but the emotions are high. John Cazale and Pacino's scenes are intense and memorable as defining cinema. A must watch.