Another Godfather Thread: Best Character

[Blarg]

He does say he's not a man to judge how another man makes his living, so it was okay with him if the Turk did his business on his own, but he wanted no part of it. So you're right that at least he protests in a way that makes it sound like he has no morals on the matter.

I'm not sure if that was his whole take on the matter, or merely a way of saying things smoothly, but I could be wrong. Someone voiced something like that drugs were for animals like n*ggers, and who cared what they did to each other. I kind of thought Vito might be someone on this side of the issue too, thinking it too foul, but you never know. Or at least, I'm not sure. He doesn't seem to have much respect for the garbage king, Battalgia I think was his name? Or for pimping either. But criminal standards are twisted; we know that the Don trafficked in murder.

[craig r]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
He had some standards, reflected in his not wanting to deal drugs and...

[/ QUOTE ]

He told the Turk he wouldn't deal drugs because the cops and politicians didn't really care about victimless crimes such as gambling or prostitution or bootlegging, but would not stand idly by for drug dealing.

If it weren't for those legal and political ramifications, I have no doubt that Vito would've put Tony Montana to shame.

[/ QUOTE ]

But, politicians now don't turn a blind eye to drug dealing is probably what you think. But, now who is being naive.

craig

p.s. I always use that line on my father in law. He tells me that governments don't just have people killed and I tell him, "Now, who is being naive Kay?"

[KaneKungFu123]

[Blarg]

Clemenza was very cool. Really easy to like.

I get a bone for Abe Vigoda just on principle, though, so I like Tessio, too.

I also really liked Tom Hagen a lot. It was hard being deeply in that world and in that family and still never quite accepted. Yet never quite rejected. He's always walking a lot of very fine lines in between different worlds and walking them very well, usually better than he's given credit for.

It occurs to me that he seems like the only character in the story who could have written it.

[ChipWrecked]

Bobby DeNiro as the young Don.

The scene where the neighborhood slumlord is so shitscared he can't get Vito's office door to open makes me laugh every time.

(refers to the superior GFII, which I assume is fair ground here)

[Blarg]

I don't agree it's superior at all, but lots of people do.

I'll put a kind word in for Fredo. He's this half-century's Shemp. Nobody would want to be Fredo, but John Casale really did him well and made him memorable.

[craig r]

I am going to add Michael Corleone "part 2". This was a guy who didn't want to have anything to do with this way of life. He was caring and wanted to "serve his country". But, Coppola does an amazing job of showing the transition of Michael "the good guy", to Michael without a "soul". Most gangster movies don't really do this. Even Goodfellas, Henry's personality doesn't change much from a kid to an adult. I mean, yeah, he gets addicted to Coke, but for the most part stays the same. But, with Michael Corleone, he loved his family, yet was willing to kill his own brother. And his brother was just stupid and weak and Michael could show no compassion for that. So, by "favorite" character here, I don't mean because I admire him or think he is a good guy. It is the transition that makes him great.

craig

Fredo, and it's not close.

[Toro]

Frank Pentangelie aka Frankie Five Fingers in II was a great character.

[MonkeeMan]

"Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter... 's wedding... on the day of your daughter's wedding. And I hope their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty."


Luca Brasi