by Joseph Davis
When discussing the greatest films ever made, it doesn’t take long until Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather and The Godfather Part II come to mind, and for good reason. While they may not be my favorite films, I can tell you without a doubt that they are some of the best films that I have ever seen (yes, I have seen The Godfather movies despite my Best Ever Challenge reputation). However, when discussing film series that ended with a disappointing conclusion, many just as quickly point their finger towards The Godfather Part III, the only film of the series to not win Best Picture despite being nominated. Now, thirty years after its initial release, Francis Ford Coppola has brought this movie back to the limelight with Mario Puzo’s The Godfather Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, a recut, and the so-called definitive edition of the ending of The Godfather series. However, does The Godfather Coda provide the definitive ending that Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo, the author of The Godfather novel, had initially aimed to achieve?
Before we dive too deep into The Godfather Coda, as I will be referring to it from here on out, we must first address the fact that this is a new version of the third film, as opposed to an entirely new story. Personally, I like Part III more than most, and while I agree that it’s the weakest of the three films, and I feel that Sophia Coppola does leave something to be desired in her performance, I believe that they receive more flak than either deserve and think that its failure to win Best Picture is more to do with the quality of its competition (going against the likes of Goodfellas and eventual winner Dances with Wolves) as opposed to the quality of the movie. While this isn’t the first time a director has decided to go back and created a new version of one of their films, as rather infamously George Lucas has gone back and re-edited parts of the Star Wars movies, this does beg the question: is it worth the time and energy to go back and recut your movie. However, unlike George Lucas adding scenes to the movie that feel unnecessary, Francis Ford Coppola has actually shortened his film by a few minutes, removing some scenes that feel like clutter and an unnecessary return to the previous film. Hence my curiosity as to how different the movie changes and if the changes feel worthwhile to improve the story. Also, unlike Star Wars, where it feels difficult to impossible to find an unedited version of the film, the format I purchased this on (digitally via iTunes) does include the original version of The Godfather Part III, so while Francis Ford Coppola strives for a definitive version of the film, he still leaves the original in what feels to be a way to compare the two, and to let the judgement be for the viewer to decide.
While watching The Godfather Coda, there are some clear differences with the recut version from the original cut of the third movie in The Godfather saga. As promised, there is a new beginning to the movie, as a portion of the film that occurs later in the original film is brought forward, and part of the original beginning is cut from the new film and moved back later on in the film. In many ways this decision actually improves on the continuity to the story, especially with Michael’s plans to buy into the International immobiliare, his dealings with the Vatican, and to finally bring his family into legitimate business and out of the life he had once wanted to avoid. There are other scenes shifted around as well, done in a way to try to make the story cleaner, and honestly most of the time it works, as the film feels to flow better as you travel along the conclusion of Michael Corleone’s story. As you reach the conclusion of the story, the ending is left a little more open than before as we see Michael near the end of his life and allows you to reflect on if the cost of his dealings was worth it.
However, as Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr once said, “the more things change, the more they continue to be the same thing.” While it does flow better, The Godfather Coda fits this old saying to a T. While Francis Ford Coppola does succeed in clearing up parts of the movie in terms of continuity and story, the story itself has not changed. The same beats are there, they hit all the same as they do in the original, they’re just in a different order. It doesn’t break new ground, instead deciding to redraw the map that leads you from beginning to end. What it removes from the original is mostly filler, scenes that while not detracting from the movie also do not necessarily add to it. It also removes one moment that, in my opinion, was actually a very fitting moment near the beginning of the films while leaving one part of the original in the new version that brings the film down in both cases. Granted, this is mostly due to the limitations of using old footage to make a film, which severely limits what new grounds can be broken, but there is nothing significantly different in The Godfather Coda.
So, does The Godfather Coda provide the definitive ending to The Godfather saga? For Francis Ford Coppola, the answer clearly is yes, and honestly, I do have to agree that this version does feel a bit more as a definitive ending of the series. At the same time, I honestly feel like the original cut is the better movie. That doesn’t mean that I necessarily feel that The Godfather Coda is a film to stay away from, I just feel that it doesn’t necessarily add to the story any better than The Godfather Part III initially did upon its release in 1990. While I do believe that The Godfather Coda is worth the watch, I would recommend that you do not come to this movie thinking that it is something new and groundbreaking, but instead approach it as a new version of an old tale. Do this and you will not be disappointed. Now if you will excuse me, I need to see what the two finely dressed gentlemen who just pulled up in a black car want.
Grade: B-