The Godfather, Part II (1974)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The Godfather, Part II (1974) -- F. F. Coppola

It's gripping like most sequels aren't (and it makes you lament about Coppola's subsequent output).  We pick up a few years later than where The Godfather left off, with the Corleone family now firmly entrenched in Las Vegas.  But Michael (Al Pacino) just seems burdened by responsibilities and mostly he's a drag. Lee Strasberg is pretty great as his crime boss nemesis, however, and John Cazale is heart-breaking as weak brother Fredo.  There are some great set-pieces (in Cuba, in the Senate hearing, and in all those very dark shots by Gordon Willis). We also get to see Vito's early days (with De Niro aping the mannerism of Brando) and these also have a vitality and suspense that makes you wish there was a whole film taking place in this era.  But, in the end, the viewer gets ground down, just as Michael Corleone does (and Part 3 belongs to a very different Pacino).