Analysis of The Godfather Movie - Essay Example

The impact the film had on American cinema has been noted by many critics and it received academy awards for best picture, best acting, and best screenplay. The Film Registry has selected this film to be preserved in its national archives and it was noted by the American Film Institute as the second greatest film produced by Hollywood after Citizen Kane.

The story of the film is quite complex but there are several themes that run throughout the film with regard to the action and the dialogue. The importance of family has been noted as a central theme even though the film does glorify crime and violence to achieve certain ends. However, considering that the film is essentially a crime drama, it is difficult to object to that being a part of the action since that defines the genre of the film itself. Of course, crime-related films had been made before The Godfather came to the scene but instead of glorifying them and eventually showing their downfall to send the message that crime does not pay, this film humanizes criminals.

Undoubtedly, the characters are all involved in shady dealings and are certainly not upright citizens but the manner in which they are shown to have a deep psychology and how they take interest in their own families and their wellbeing gives them a human touch. This allows the viewers to empathize with the family which appears to be struggling to keep up with changing times. The crime business moves from the hands of one generation to the other and even though there is change, some things and certain values remain the same for the family.

In fact, the value of the film and appreciation for the artistic values held within has been noted by quite a few critics. Universally, the film has received positive reviews and is often at or near the top of lists made of the greatest films of all time. Not only have other critics paid their respects to The Godfather, other films, television shows and even cartoons have taken inspiration from The Godfather with parodies, satires, and even remakes of the story. This homage to the film crosses cultural and international barriers as even Bollywood has made films that pay homage to The Godfather and the story described within it.

Therefore, it is easy to conclude that The Godfather is not only one of the greatest films ever made, but it will also continue to inspire audiences as well as future generations of filmmakers to create works that can challenge its position as a new classic of cinema. Read More