Few directors in the history of cinema have received the adulation among their peers that Francis Ford Coppola has. Any director would be happy with just one of these films in their filmography, but today we’re going to embark on the near impossible task of trying to separate the first two Godfather films from the beginning of the 70’s, and one from the end, which encapsulates just how important a period it was in cinema.
Despite their differences, regardless of their quality, the fact that they were all delivered by the same director speaks to just how revered and important Coppola is in the history of cinema.
The Quintessential Anti-Hero
Whatever your thoughts are about Mob films in general, there’s nobody in the business who would deny that Al Pacino’s performance as Michael Corleone is one of the greatest of all time. It is a role that, even half a century later, is celebrated, decorated, and reaching a level that few, if any, actors have been able to replicate.
His journey from war hero to a highly complex and controversial anti-hero keeps the audience on edge. From a directorial perspective, Coppola hits every component out of the park, with remarkable cinematography, actor direction, musical accompaniment, and tension-building.
This applies to every scene he’s in, whether we’re viewing the scenes of Michael as he gets a foot in the door with the big casinos in Vegas, or he is taking a gamble on consolidating his power right across New York.
Back then, of course, the dynamics of the gambling world were very different from those we see today. Casino table games were the lifeblood of the market; they were lucrative and unique. In the modern age, casino table games primarily operate through digital advances and fintech innovations like cryptocurrency and focus on a global audience rather than a localized one.
We’ve seen social media become a powerful force, too, ranging from marketing to walkthrough guides on how to play casino games, as you can see in the link below.
Apocalypse Now clearly deals with a different dynamic, detailing how war impacts people differently, with nobody coming out unscathed, whether it is physically, mentally, or we see the darkness of their characters, warts and all.
Godfather 1 or 2?
It’s a debate that has often split critics, with some of the most revered among them holding differing opinions. For many, the first two films are the only ones worth mentioning, but they stand shoulder to shoulder with the great films of the 20th century.
Mob movies are among the most defining titles in 20th-century cinema; from The Godfather to Goodfellas to Casino, there are too many to name. However, rarely does an Academy Award-winning film churn out a sequel that is arguably even better than the original.
The darker undertones of the second film revolve around Michael’s consolidation of his empire, the perils that come with it, as well as a trip to Italy, which created some of the most picturesque shots we have seen in any of Coppola’s work. It is a coin toss between the two. If I had to pick, I’d go for the second film, but there really isn’t that much in it.
“Charlie Don’t Surf!”
One actor who strings together these three timeless films is the legendary Robert Duvall, whose passing this year led to an outpouring of grief from the cinematic community. While his roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now couldn’t have been more different, it speaks to his incredible range as an actor.
Although all three films have darkness, Apocalypse Now is intense and brutally dark from the get-go. It is a film that highlights the madness and the destitution of the Vietnam War, the incredibly eerie and unsettling vibe that came with the conflict, and the descent into madness of the chief protagonist, Colonel Kurtz.
The madness of the film was matched by the madness on set, with many believing this energy and the chaos surrounding the process helped lift the film to a level of intensity that arguably no war film has captured the perplexity and pointlessness of it all in such a gripping way since.
Final Verdict
If I had to decide, Apocalypse Now would be my pick as Coppola’s Magnum Opus, purely because of how he brought Heart of Darkness to life, even when all the odds were stacked against him. The Godfather is a magical piece of cinema, but it had financial backing, a phenomenal cast, and was based on Mario Puzo’s iconic novel.
Apocalypse Now segues into its own vibe and energy. It is a deeply unsettling film, but it boasts iconic leading performances as well as secondary performances from Dennis Hopper, Robert Duvall, and, to some degree, Marlon Brando.
The rewatch value of all three films is a testament to the quality of the work, and even when weighed against other films of their time, many look far more dated and blander than these three classics. While they stand head and shoulders above most other films in cinema, and it’s a tough task to separate them at all, Apocalypse Now gets the nod from me, but I don’t begrudge anyone who disagrees with this opinion.
