The Godfather glorifies the Mafia by showing us their strong family ties, fierce loyalty, and sacred religious beliefs. The gangsters are attractive and likeable, so we are sympathetic towards them. The story is given to us from the “family’s” point of view. We are shown their strengths and weaknesses, their joys and sorrows. We can relate to them; we care for them. We are able to see them as human beings, rather than evil monsters, at least until the old Don dies. The film criticizes the Mafia by showing the darker side- the murders, the beatings, the lies, and hypocrisy.
We respect the old Don Corleone, played by Marlon Brando, for his honesty, sense of fairness and justice, his great love for his family and friends, for his code of ethics, and because he is a reasonable man. He may occasionally make someone an offer they can’t refuse, but we can forgive for this as none of his victims are innocent. They are all somehow willingly involved with the family, which is never referred as the Mafia, and almost seem to be getting what they deserve.
The family reveres their children. The old Don believes a man must spend time with his family. I was struck by a comment made by a gangster on his way to kill an enemy- “ Be careful of the children when you’re backing out of the driveway.” How can a cold-blooded killer be maternal as well? Another scene that tugged at my heart was when the old Don died while playing with his grandson in a tomato patch. You have to love the Don. The old Don does not seek vengeance when his oldest son is killed. He wants to keep peace between the Mafia families in New York. He has seen Mafia wars before. We respect his for this, for saying that the killings stop now. However, the Don is old and ill after being gunned down in a street, and a son must take over.
The youngest son, Michael, becomes the new Don. We like Michael too, he is educated, a war hero, soft-spoken, almost shy. Underneath this exterior, Michael has evolved into something cold and evil. We begin to see the family for something it really is. Scenes of the new Don at his godchild’s baptism, alternate with shots of violent murders being committed simultaneously by members of the family. Michael had ordered that the heads of the other Mafia families be killed. That this is carried out during a very formal religious ceremony truly shows us the hypocrisy of their lifestyle. Michael goes on to kill longtime associates of the family, even his own brother-in-law. He begins to lie to his wife and others. As she is shut out of the family business at the end of the movie, we are too. We don’t trust the new Don. We see the Mafia for what it is-an organized group of controlling, cold-blooded killers with no conscience. The movie becomes very critical of the Mob at this point, showing us that the new Don does not follow his father’s moral code and that the Mafia is indeed a nasty business.
Castaway
I recently saw Castaway, a Robert Zemekis film, starring Tom hanks. I believe that it was intended to be a blockbuster, as well as a work of art. This film proves that the two are not mutually exclusive. Our text lists three criteria for determining a work of art. That the object is made by an artist, that it was intended to be a work of art and that recognized experts agree that it is a work of art. Our personal perception and participation also lead us to determine whether an object is art.
I believe that Castaway succeeded in its attempt to be seen as a work of art. The people involved in making the film are certainly artists; Robert Zemekis, Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, and Don Burgess are all at their best in this project. I believe that it meets the second type of criteria as well, as it intends to be art. It is obvious that a lot of time and care went into making this film a wonderful and unusual work of art. I've read reviews by movie “experts” and they do not all agree on the merit of this film, so the third criteria is unclear.
The main character, Chuck, is the sole survivor of a plane crash and ends up on a deserted island until his rescue four years later. The start of the film shows us that Chuck is a people person. He works for Federal Express, traveling to offices around the world giving motivational pep talks. He is a workaholic and thrives on it, though it sometimes interferes with his relationship with his girlfriend.
Chuck is having Christmas dinner with his girlfriend and his family when he is called away to Malaysia. Before leaving, he gives his girlfriend a gift in a small box that appears to be an engagement ring. Though they don’t have much screen time together it is clear that they are happy and in love. His girlfriend endears herself to us and we care about her and their relationship.
Chuck takes off in a FedEx plane that has trouble due to a storm over the South Pacific. The plane crashes. The filming of this disaster is unique, frightening, and real. Chuck ends up as the only survivor in an inflatable raft alone in the dark sea. An arial shot of the raft bumping in to a deserted island shows such vulnerability and smallness that we can feel the aloneness and loneliness.
Chuck is devastated by his isolation. A small picture of his girlfriend becomes his inspiration to survive, his lifeline to the real world. FedEx boxes from the plane form and incongruent picture as they wash up on the empty beach. For over an hour we watch as Chuck learns how to survive on his own. There is no music, no human interaction, almost no dialog, but our attention is held due to Hank’s superb acting. At one point, Chuck paints a face with his own blood on a Wilson soccer ball that was in one of the FedEx boxes. He calls the ball Wilson, keeps it near him, and talks to it. His loneliness desolation and desperation are felt. To Chuck, the island is not a tropical paradise, it is a prison, separating him from his work and loved ones. The island is beautiful and the cinematography of Don Burgess makes us feel that we are there as well. But, there is no joy, no spiritual awakening, and no fun. Chuck is never at peace or at one with the island. He is fixated on getting off the island and going home.
Chuck eventually builds a raft and using a port-o-potty that has washed ashore as a sail, sets out on the rough seas with Wilson hoping for rescue. Chuck becomes hysterical when Wilson is lost at sea, underlying how lonely and isolated he feels. He survives and is rescued by a passing ship. On arriving home, Chuck finds that his girlfriend, his love, his inspiration has married and has a daughter. We think they may reconcile, but in the end, it does not happen. While on the island, there was one FedEx box that Chuck never opened. A package with angel wings on it. Chuck personally delivers this box to the sender, meets the sender and we are lead to believe, if we want to, that they are going to fall in love. After all the fear, loneliness, longing and depression, finally the film ends with a glimmer of hope of the joy to come.
This film moved me, held my attention, surprised me, and at times, took my breath away. This is not only entertainment, this is art.
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