The Godfather (Part I)

The Godfather, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a 1972 Oscar-winning American crime-epic. The film was based on Mario Puzo’s novel of the same name. Credited by many as having one of the best casts ever, it starred Marlon Brando in the title role of the Italian-American, New York-based Crime Boss,  Vito Corleone – the “Don”, or “the Godfather” – and Al Pacino as the leading character, Michael Corleone. The Godfather has had a lasting impact on the film industry. It is frequently cited as the best film ever made and features in the Top 10 of lists of the same name. It’s success spawned two sequels (the Godfather II and III), which were both highly acclaimed. On IMDB’s list of the Top 250 films ever, the Godfather and the Godfather II are ranked as 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The film mostly focuses on the life of Michael Corleone, son of the Don, who is a reluctant outsider to the ‘family business’ of crime. When the violence between New York’s mobster-families grows out of hand, Michael is drawn in to the business. Unwittingly, Michael finds himself becoming entangled in events until eventually he emerges as the ruthless leader of the Corleone family business. The acting in the film is outstanding, but particular credit must be given to the exceptional portrayals of the Don, by the incomparable Marlon Brando, and Michael, by the outstanding Al Pacino.

The film was an inspiring success and for a time the highest-grossing film of all time. It was nominated for 10 Oscars and won three: Best Picture, Best Actor (for Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay. The Godfather  has gone on to have a lasting impact on cinema. It’s sympathetic portrayal of mobsters as characters with real psychological depth made it stunningly original in the genre of crime films. It’s penultimate scene – the christening – has gone down in legend and was notably pastiched in George Lucas’ Star Wars III, when Anakin joins the Sith and the Jedi are assassinated. Several quotes have also gone down in legend, such as the Don’s: “I’m gonna make him an offer he can’t refuse”, which was voted one of the most memorable quotes in the history of cinema. Many of the films scenes have been parodied in other films – not even films of the genre – and across TV, such as in the Simpsons – which is a testimony to its influence and awesomeness.

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane is a 1941 American-drama film, directed by Orson Welles, who also stars in the title role of Charles Foster Kane. The film was nominated for Academy Awards in 9 categories and took home the Award for Best Original Screenplay. Citizen Kane is widely credited as being one of the best films ever made and is particularly famous for its innovative cinematography and filming techniques, as well as its excellent music and awesome screenplay.

The film opens with the death of Charles Foster Kane, whose final word to the world is “Rosebud”. The next day the press set out to unravel the meaning behind this mysterious parting word and in doing so, they unravel to the audience the story of how Citizen Kane became an immensely rich and powerful newspaper magnate. His story unfolds through a series of interviews and flashbacks.

The film explores the themes of legacy, love and happiness. Kane sets out in his career in the publishing world with good intentions of social service. Gradually, though, he turns from the idealistic plans of his youth and becomes corrupted by the pursuit of power. He dies sad and alone in his immense and isolated Florida estate, Xanadu.

Citizen Kane received a positive critical reception upon its release but was not a Box Office hit; in fact, it was not until years later that its popular appeal grew.  It sparked controversy at the time, because it was believed that the inspiration for Kane was the media tycoon, William Randolph Hearst, who reacted angrily to its supposed depiction of his life. Welles insisted that it was not a total portrayal of Hearst’s life, rather that certain aspects of his character had been borrowed to shape the fictitious Kane and had been synthesised with aspects from other media tycoons he had come across.

Nonetheless, Citizen Kane has gone on to be remembered as one of the Best Films Ever Made and is considered to be a masterpiece. The film’s narrative is well crafted and keeps you asking questions right up until its famous conclusion. It is definitely one to watch if you have not seen it already.

Casablanca

Casablanca is one of the best-loved films of all time. It is classic romantic drama, directed in 1942 by Michael Curtiz. The film went on to win 3 Academy Awards, including Best Picture in 1943.

The film stars Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine, the cynical owner of the nightclub Rick’s Cafe Americain in the city of Casablanca. The film is set in WWII, when Casablanca was a popular destination for refugees seeking to escape to the United States. When Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), the wife of the resistance leader Viktor Laszlo (Paul Henreid), arrives in Rick’s club, he is confronted with a dilemma. Rick is the only man who can assist their passage to freedom, thus helping Laszlo to continue his work in resisting Nazi Germany. However, he is also influenced by the will of the police – who want Laszlo stopped from reaching America at all costs – and by his own emotional bitterness towards Ilsa, the woman who broke his heart in Paris at the start of the war.

The film has grown in popularity. It continues to make Top 10 appearances on most lists of outstanding films, such as 100 Best Films Ever Made. Film-makers often cite Casablanca as an influence.

The film also has a selection of celebrated quotes:

“Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine”

“We’ll always have Paris”

And its ending line, which has become famous: “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.

It also has one of the best movie insults ever:

Ugarte: “You despise me, don’t you?”

Rick: “Well if I gave you any thought I probably would.”

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump was released in 1994. It is an Academy-Award winning comedy-drama, directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Tom Hanks as the title character. Zemeckis and Hanks went on to win Oscars for their roles and the film won the 1994 Best Picture Award.

The story chronicles several decades in the life of Forrest Gump, a simpleton from Greenbow, Alabama.Forrest has a low IQ of only 75, but he is a charming character and is devoted to his loved ones and his duties. Forrest Gump ends up travelling to different places around the world and meeting many historical figures. Unwittingly, he helps to influence popular culture and he experiences a lot of significant 20th Century historical events first-hand.

The film has been commended for its originality. It is combines a well-balanced mixture of comedy, emotion and important life truths, set against an epic historical backdrop. It is famous for its many quotations (“Life is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get”) and several of its scenes are iconic, including especially the scene in which Forrest runs across America.

The film is an inspiring tale told by an innocent man. It is definitely one to see.

2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey was released in 1968. It is an Academy-Award-winning epic science fiction film, directed by Stanley Kubrick and co-written by Arthur C. Clarke. It is inspiring because of its sheer awesomeness. The scientific accuracy and stunning graphics are to date some of the best in film-making history. It’s soundtrack is justly famous. It is remembered as one of the most influential films ever made.

The film chronicles a series of encounters between mankind and extra-terrestrial life, in the form of several mysterious black monoliths that seem to be influencing human destiny. Beginning with the dawn of man, it focuses on the evolution of humankind to the race of humans living in the space-age (in 2001), whose encounter with such a monolith on the moon leads them to launch a mission into the stars.

Awesome really is the only word to describe what ensues (although ‘confusing-in-a-yet-inspiring-sort-of-way’ may also be an appropriate description towards the end). In spite of this, the graphics are insane. You cannot help but be inspired by Kubrick and Clarke’s vision of the space-age.

It is worth watching almost just to see HAL, the sinister super-computer in control of the mission into space, voiced exquisitely by Douglas Rain.