The Godfather Part II

The Godfather Part II went in really with quite the colossal task. It needed to somehow live up to its predecessor, which already had garnered its reputation as an undisputed masterpiece. That was not alone. There was even a bit of hazards, common to sequels, where for example the key cast member of Richard S. Castellano had to be essentially recast, it would seem so many of the character arcs were at an end in the first film. Where was there to go? Well only up in my reckoning though also back. Again just throwing in another facet that could have backfired but did not was the use of the dual storylines the future with Michael and the past with young Vito. Prequels perhaps have a worse track record than sequels, however Godfather Part II proved itself past all challenges or expectations to be the greatest prequel of all time, one of the greatest sequels of all time, and one film that I actually find surpasses the original. Foremost everything that was great about the first film was great again in terms of the acting, cinematography, score, production design, the film is not lacking any single part. Now in the story though Michael's arc might have seemed at the end in the first film, however fact that Coppola successfully continues this is astonishing as he shows what it would mean to become and to continue to try to live as this man as well as a Don in ever changing times. In terms of the story we get a different view this time as Michael deals now outside of the Italian families realms dealing with a different type of evil in Hyman Roth, and a different type set of weapons to be used against him. This while through the examination of his growing isolation as this man as he continues to try to secure his family while becoming more alone in doing so. This is best realized through the most potent aspect of the film with John Cazale as Michael's brother Fredo. Fredo was basically an afterthought in the first film, and it is a testament to the brilliance of Coppola to utilize the minor role for something truly substantial as well as see the talent that Cazale had been able to show even with such limited screen time in the first film. Coppola is able to expand on what come before in every respect using the complexities to naturally continue the story. This is all buttressed by the prequel of the story of Young Vito where Coppola excels in expanding on those underlying themes of the American dream within the story, now finding the immigrant experience in such vibrant detail. He gives a whole another world, another side before the first film that is as interesting and perhaps even more captivating in its depiction of the rise of the young Vito. Again though as much as Coppola succeeds in the grand set pieces, every major character moment, the film is as defined by every minor detail that helps to craft this masterpiece of cinema that is a standard both for any sequel as well as any prequel.
5/5