The Godfather is THE American epic film of the late 20th century. The gangster movie, after all, is one of a handful of distinctly American genres (along with the Western and film noir). Moreover, the movie powerfully dramatizes the cynicism of Vietnam-era America, as the power wielded brutally by the Corleone family is juxtaposed with the equally brutal and equally corrupt power wielded less visibly by “official” organizations, like the American government. “Who’s being naive, Kay?”

Aside from the political themes, though, the first two Godfather films are beautifully shot and richly scripted, and the acting and directing are superb.

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