Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire

The story is set in 1979 when, before retiring, an aging Michael Corleone tries to go legitimate by entering respectable real estate and communications deals, but is slowly drawm back into the world o...( read more  read more... )f organized crime against his will.

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79% liked it

273,375 ratings

Critics

66% liked it

53 critics

R, 2 hrs. 30 min.

Directed by: Francis Ford Coppola

Release Date: December 25, 1990

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DVD Release Date: May 24, 2005

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Stats: 12,963 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (12,963)


  • September 7, 2009
    The Godfather part 3 isn't as bed as everyone says it is but when you compare Marlon Brando's heart attack in the vineyard scene and Pacino's falling off his chair scene, its clear that its on a different level and could have been a hell of a lot better.
  • June 29, 2009
    Knowing that this is the film that everyone seems to love to hate...I went into this determined to keep an open mind and to judge it on it's own merit. And I can honestly say that it was not easy.

    Sadly what could have been a substantial and really solid end to the trilogy, i...( read more)s ultimately only mildly satisfying for the most part.

    While once again the set design, music, costumes and (most of) the cinematography are truly exceptional...some of the editing and writing was a little week in my opinion. And at times it the story felt a little "pieced together" and not in a good or interesting way.

    And now for the biggest problem of all. I hate to write this because I know it's been said before, but I have to say it..."what the hell was Coppola thinking when he cast Sofia in the role of Michael's daughter Mary"?

    It is painfully obvious from her first scene that (aside from looking the part)she was horribly miscast and painfully out of place (as an actress) amongst the rest of this (mostly) stellar cast.

    I started out very forgivingly, hoping that she would get better as the story progressed, but it just NEVER happened. It was SO bad that I couldn't help but wonder: "Did her father (Francis Ford Coppola) not see how bad she was?" and "DId he keep trying for a "better take" and these are the best out of hours of footage?". It really is puzzling!

    Now it would be different if she had been in a lesser role, but "Mary" is a pivotal character and could have been a very powerful and defining role for a better actress. But sadly "Mary" ends up being the albatross around the neck of this film.

    Now I've come to love Sofia as a director and think that she has done some impressive work as a director and that great things can be expected from her in THAT arena. I suppose we can be greatlful in the knowledge that perhaps the harsh reviews of her performance here helped to "push" her in the direction of directing?
  • March 19, 2009
    Testing review through flixster's Facebook connectivity on the iPhone. Pretty cool! Btw, this movie sucked!
  • February 12, 2009
    Sofia Coppola single handedly ruins this film. This in itself is quite an achievement.
    The Godfather Part 3 shows Michael as an older man, and the sins of his past are haunting him in full force. Despite his attempts to create a legitimate business, the mob world never leaves h...( read more)im, and he is thrust into a plot involving corrupt Vatican officials and his sister Connie, who has become far more evil than she was in the previous films.
    The Godfather Part 2 seemed like a great film hurt by its ambition. The Godfather Part 3 is a film where its ambition actually saves it. I'm not sure if I completely understand how everything in the plot falls into place. It feels rather disjointed.
    I say Sofia Coppola single handedly wrecks this film because she plays, I think, the most important character in the entire film. Michael loves her like no other. He says he would burn in hell just to keep her safe. But Sofia never brings any sense of likability to her character. She recites dialogue as if she had just read it off the page, and her reactions feel rehearsed, phony, and cringe-worthy. We never can relate to her character. At the climax, when she is killed, we don't feel the sense of despair, the horror, the loss experienced by Michael that I know Francis Ford Coppola wanted us to feel.
    The final scene shows Michael ready to die in his garden. His father Vito died in a similar fashion. The difference is that Vito died respected, and was in the middle of playing with his grandchild. Michael dies alone, with no one near his side. His tragedy has come full circle.
  • February 7, 2009
    Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) returns to the screen, preparing to retire and enter the legitimate world, but that isn't going to happen in Francis Ford Coppola's final chapter in the Godfather odyssey tying together the Corleone family, the Vatican, and vast real estate and commun...( read more)ications deals.

    Most of the original cast returns for this installment (excluding Robert Duvall, who apparently wanted too much money) and wears their roles like an old pair of comfortable shoes. It's the new additions that tend to drag the film down a bit. Andy Garcia is good as Vincent, Sonny Corleone's bastard son, but he isn't Caan or Pacino. Eli Wallach is the last old school Don, who acts as friend to Michael, but is actually... But most of the acting wraith in this film goes to Sofia Coppola, who plays Michael's daughter Mary. All I'll say is that thank god she became a director. Seeing her in a scene with Al Pacino is like seeing a Rolls Royce next to a Chevette- it ruins it for you.

    Coppola directs this film just like the others. There is a basic blueprint to all these films and if you've seen the first two you'll know what's coming along. The lighting is still Godfather lighting that's been ripped off so many times it will make your head spin, but it still works all these years later. It still feels like a Godfather movie.

    The Godfather Part III is not a bad movie. It's actually a very good movie with a great cast. The problem is that it's not a great Godfather movie. It's the lesser of the three and when you compare it to the near perfection of the previous two it looks as bad as everyone believes it is. You must remember that it was still nominated for Best Picture, but this was also the year that another gangster movie was also nominated for best picture and should have won- Goodfellas. (both were screwed by dances with Wolves). Watch it as a stand alone, not as piece to a puzzle or you'll be disappointed.
  • November 23, 2009
    One of the best performance of Al Pacino... He"s so great...
  • November 22, 2009
    Not as powerful as the earlier Godfathers but still.
  • November 20, 2009
    Great movie, but Sofia Coppola should never have been cast to replace Winona Ryder.
  • November 18, 2009
    favour of mine,thousands time watch it...!
  • November 14, 2009
    disappointing, but still one of the best

Critic Reviews


January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

It is, I suspect, not even possible to understand this film without knowing the first two, and yet, knowing them, Part III works better than it should, evokes the same sense of wasted greatness, of mi... full review

View more The Godfather, Part III reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • kotaybam2005
    May 21, 2009
    the best movie of all times
  • santikita
    March 19, 2009
    this movie is my life .i love it very much is the most beatiful films of al pacino
  • LadyVanishment
    April 21, 2008
    I really loved it totally enjoyed it wonderful film full of great cast .. total wonderful talent..
  • nclsantamaria
    October 26, 2007
    This movie has to be better then part 1 and 2 it has so much more action and i loved it!!!!!!!!
    i think ill watch it again lol

    if u havent seen it u should you wont regret it but its kinds tricky with all the characters so pay attention to it cause it ROCKS!!!!
    cya
  • JBond007
    July 10, 2007
    Too many people have been too hard on this move.... I have to say that in terms of story, it was quite strong and it was an excellent continuation of the 'The Godfather' saga. Yes, Sofia Coppola was terrible, but minus the scenes with her and you have one of the best gangster movies ever made.
    The conclusion to this movie, is absolutely one of the best that I have ever scene and definitely develops an emotional wallop. It stays with you for a long time, after it's viewing. A great conclusion to a phenomenal series.

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