The Godfather: Scene Analysis

Michael was brought up in poor project housing that was consumed by drugs, alcohol, and gangs. He was pushed in and out of foster homes forcefully being separated from his mother and siblings. As the movie showed in harsh flashbacks, Michael is deeply affected by the forceful separation from his mother. This constant absence from the mother or other supportive figures leaves Michael unable to make a secure attachment to any strong base. Erikson’s stage of trust versus mistrust is displayed due to Michael’s inability to count on the kindness and compassion of others which leads him to withdraw from his surroundings (p 248). This abrupt memory in life affects Michael in his idea of family and commitment. The harsh environment also kept Michael from attending school, and the times he did there was no support for him to even try in school.

Francis Ford Coppola directed the gangster crime drama film, The Godfather (1972), inspired by the novel of the same name, written by Author Mario Puzo. The film plays out in the beginning how Don Corleone declined to join the narcotics business with notorious drug lord Sollozzo. With this in mind, one of the greatest gangster films created by a man who decided to lead, and not follows. Moreover, explaining the formalist approach for this film which covers an array of elements that include plot structure, camera techniques, editing, mise en scene, and sound. The following film critique will analyze “The Godfather,” beginning by utilizing the formalist approach theory, camera technique and sound gradually introducing additional theories

Leigh Tuohy is the mother who adopts Michael; her character is a caring person which makes her very believable. Parents have a certain love for their child that is indescribable to words in which she displays that well in this movie. You start to learn the characters more when they went shopping for Michael’s cloths. Big mike is the name Michael went by until Leigh learned that he hated that name because of his home life and where the name came from. That was the first time Michael had opened up about his homes life to Leigh. I love the character Michael in this move because of his ambition to aspire in life. Despite the obstacles life put in the way he found a way to overcome them regardless of the people or situation he was faced with. For Leigh, I love the will and courage to go out on a limb for a teenager she didn’t know. The time and money she invested in someone who was not able to pay her back, such a compassionate act of

With his family and his passion for football, Michael has become more of a man. He finally speaks for himself as he did with the inspector lady and speaks for his family as he did when he beat up the gangsters that were insulting his “mother”. He is now more confident than before shown by

One of the greatest films and novels of all time, The Godfather by Mario Puzo is the book that I chose to write my report about. This book falls under the drama and crime fiction genres, due to its dramatic story of people being shot and murdered. The Godfather takes place in New York during the years 1945-1955, right after World War II. Most of the story is written from a narrator 's perspective, save for two points in the book in which the story becomes a first person point of view. One of the themes portrayed in the novel is that family always comes first, even if it isn’t a blood-related family, but a crime family. The novel’s theme is primarily that of loyalty, which is a crucial plot device because some of the Corleone family

There are quite a lot of widespread stereotypes of Italian Americans in “The Godfather” movies which involve characters, Italian foods, family, and violence. Food plays a huge role in The Godfather movies. Characters in the movies are always seen eating Italian food such as pasta. If the directors were not referring to any specific ethnic group than why were all the movies showing characters with Italian names eating foods that were known to be “Italian” foods. Also, violence is a major key in the movie which is also stereotyped to Italian Americans by them being associated with crime and the mafia. “ Thus, rather than helping to overcome the negative image of Italian-Americans fostered by entertainment programming, the media reinforces

John Lee Hancock puts emphasise on the fact that Michael is poor and the Touhy’s are rich and juxtaposes these two central characters repetitively throughout the film. This is done to portray to the audience that a person’s socio-economic status can affects an individual’s capacity to learn and excel at the things he may be talented at, in Michael’s case football. Another aspect which is explored throughout the film is the fact that attitudes towards belonging can change of time this is evident in Michael because at first he was hesitant in staying with the Touhy’s but later transitions into part of their family, Michael makes many transitions throughout the film which include from Illiterate to educated and from disrespected to honourable, this movie has a very motivational aspect to it in that it inspires people to push past any barriers they may be faced with. Michael is quickly accepted as part of the family and creates a connection with them and has a sense of belonging with them this is also done at his school when his football coach strengthens Michaels sense of belonging by describing him as “his son” this makes Michael Ohers feel a part of the group and encourages him to excel without the fear in his mind that he is not accepted in the environment he is faced with.

The American films The Godfather I and II directed by Francis Ford Coppola, included mise-en-scene to emphasize certain characteristics and themes during both films. In this essay I will discuss how mise-en-scene was used to portray the lives of the Mafia families in the 1940s and 50s.

With Michael and his circumstances and the welcoming of him in the family this enhanced his

The Johari Window is explained by a model showing the different ways of communication between yourself and others. The Johari Window goes to explain the different types of views of yourself. What you allow people to see, what you don't know that people see, what you don't let people see, and what you and others don't see. In the movie Gran Torino, the character Walt learns to allow people to see him as his true self, and not just how he allows people to see him. Which is explained using the Johari Window.

The hard cuts between such polar opposites as baptism and murder reflects on the contrasts in the main character. Overall, Coppola used this segment to communicate how twisted Michael has become. Michael can no longer distinguish between good and evil or right and wrong. He only evaluates his actions on whether or not they help him. It also shows the changes he has made in the movie. The baptism and

Nolan uses mise en scene to further develop the audience’s understanding and view of the protagonist, Shelby and his psychological struggles in the opening scene of Memento. Followed by the non-linear editing, Nolan uses low key lighting to create a dark and dangerous atmosphere, which shows Shelby as being vulnerable and in danger. However, the dim lighting suggests that Shelby is a murderous man as he is holding the gun. This helps build tension felt by the audience by making them want to understand who Shelby is and to learn why he has killed a man. At the start of the film, the audience does not know his motive and become intrigued as they want to solve the mystery as to why Shelby has committed murder. To further emphasise this, the setting is an empty, isolated room that is low-key lit. this is immensely ominous as all the features carries connotations of death. Shelby is wearing a suit, which suggests that the film is set in modern society. As it is set in the modern society, it accentuates to sense of danger and the ominous feel to the audience as it is seen as illegal and beyond convention to murder. The sense of danger is elevated by the fact that the scene is directly after Shelby has committed murder. It shows Shelby’s unperturbed facial expression and a scratch on his cheek. The cut illustrates that he has endured some physical altercation with his victim. Shelby’s facial expression is rather confusing and rather concerning as he seems emotionless after a

8 When you refer to the narrative of the story, use the present tense, as in the following: “Sammy decides that he can no longer continue to work at the store.” Don’t write: “Sammy decided that he could no longer

The Godfather is a book about a Sicilian Mafia family, the Corleone Mafia Family, centered in New York. While his daughter, Connie, is out enjoying her reception in the backyard, the Godfather himself, Don Vito Corleone and his new son-in-law, Carlo Rizzi are handling business in the Godfather’s office. Along side him are his oldest son, Sonny and Tom Hagen, his adopted son and the family’s lawyer. If you’re unaware of who Don Corleone is, he is the Boss of the Corleone Mafia family. His friends and people he does business with know him as the Godfather. Various people come in and out of the Godfather’s office making different request from him. At this point in time, a man by the name Amerigo Bonasera is looking to do business

The film, American Gangster, directed and produced by Ridley Scott is a drama based on the biography of Frank Lucas. In the movie, Frank Lucas constructs his own business of illegal work after his boss, Bumpy Johnson, passes away. Frank builds a heroin business, following in the footsteps of Bumpy, and becomes the most powerful crime boss in Manhattan. Furthermore, because of Frank’s immoral ways, he gets caught by the police and is sentenced to 15 years in prison. As the movie progresses I form a couple assumptions of what could happen in the short term and long term. First off, when Frank Lucas attains his heroin I believe that in the short term he will succeed. Frank has established a vast amount of insights into the drug business from Bumpy, and from what he has learned he will take in and apply it to his situation. However, all immoral acts will have to be put to an end, so in the long term, Frank’s heroin business will be caught. If Frank’s business is the biggest thing in Manhattan then the police are bound to question where are all the illegal drugs coming from, how, why, and who. The police were already hunting him down so it was inevitable for him to get out of his illegal mess.