“Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather Part III isn’t just a disappointment, it’s a failure of heartbreaking proportions.”
– Hal Hinson, The Washington Post
If the popular narrative is to be believed, The Godfather Part III is an abhorrent film, one that has no redeeming qualities and is so awful that it brings shame upon not only the first two films of the series, but also to America and the entire human race.
In January, a big deal was made when HBO began braodcasting The Godfather Epic, a film that combined The Godfather and The Godfather Part II into a single film told in chronological order, from Vito’s early childhood to Fredo’s death. However, it was not the first time this had been done. Far from it.
I’m a huge fan of The Godfather trilogy, so much so that the prevailing negative opinions about the third film led me to write an entire book defending it and other projects and people I think are unfairly criticized. The Godfather Part II is not only my favorite film of all time, but I truly believe it is the greatest American film ever made. It is perfect in every way.
And it was nearly all undone.
