Seven Samurai (Shichinin no Samurai) (1956)
99%RT Audience Score: 97%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 2 Oscars
5 wins & 8 nominations total
Arguably Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, The Seven Samurai is an epic adventure classic with an engrossing story, memorable characters, and stunning action sequences that make it one of the most influential films ever made.
If you’re looking for a movie that’s got it all, then The Seven Samurai is the one for you. This flick is a total masterpiece, and it’s easy to see why it’s considered one of the most influential films of all time. The story is totally engrossing, the characters are unforgettable, and the action sequences are absolutely stunning. Seriously, you won’t be able to take your eyes off the screen. It’s like a rollercoaster ride, but with samurais instead of loops and drops. So if you’re in the mood for an epic adventure classic, then you need to check out The Seven Samurai. Trust us, you won’t regret it.
Production Company(ies)
Toho Company,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Izu Peninsula, Shizuoka, Japan
MPAA / Certificate
Not Rated
Year of Release
1956
-
Color:Color
Black and White -
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.33 : 1
-
Runtime:3h 28m
-
Language(s):Japanese
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Nov 19, 1956 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 5, 2006
Genre(s)
Action
Keyword(s)
Action, Japanese, epic, adventure, classic, samurai, protection, bandits, village, battle, memorable characters, stunning action sequences, influential films, Akira Kurosawa, directed by, Shinobu Hashimoto, Hideo Oguni, Sojiro Motoki, Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Yoshio Inaba, Seiji Miyaguchi, Minoru Chiaki, Daisuke Katô, reviewed by, Peter Bradshaw, Marjory Adams, Helen Bower, Jean Yothers, Mildred Martin, Wanda Hale, Michael Roemer, Dennis Harvey, Brian Eggert, Jack Parr, Hortense Morton, George Yoshinaga, MPAA rating, Columbia Pictures, box office, gross USA, $271.7K, budget, mono, flat, 1.37:1, action sequences, humor, pathos, masterpiece, three and a half hours, entertainment, horror movies, MCU movies, Netflix series, TV premiere dates, Fandango
Worldwide gross: $346,258
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $4,295,720
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,217
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 468,454
US/Canada gross: $318,649
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $3,953,200
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,874
US/Canada opening weekend: $15,942
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $197,778
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,671
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): ¥125,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Takashi Shimura – Kambei Shimada
Yoshio Inaba – Gorobei Katayama
Seiji Miyaguchi – Kyuzo
Minoru Chiaki – Heihachi Hayashida
Daisuke Katô – Shichiroji
Shinobu Hashimoto – Writer
Akira Kurosawa – Writer, Director
Hideo Oguni – Writer
Sojiro Motoki – Producer
Director(s)
Akira Kurosawa
Writer(s)
Shinobu Hashimoto, Akira Kurosawa, Hideo Oguni
Producer(s)
Sojiro Motoki
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 2 Oscars
5 wins & 8 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (91) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (91)
The glorious vigour and strength of this film is presented with such theatrical relish and flair: its energy flashes out of the screen like a sword.
October 27, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
There are many excellencies in [Seven Samurai]. The acting of the men who are unknown to American audiences but whose talents are obvious; the careful building of suspense; the realism of the battle scenes… [and] the beauties of the countryside.
May 4, 2021
Marjory Adams
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
[Seven Samurai ] rates my unqualified whoops of approval.
May 4, 2021
Helen Bower
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
Those who enjoy a good wild Western will find this picture to be great sport.
May 4, 2021
Jean Yothers
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
The film is much too long — two hours and 21 minutes. But at the end of that time, one has not only come to know its people intimately, but is prepared for the message to the effect that it is always the soldier who loses.
May 4, 2021
Mildred Martin
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
Responding to his sensitive, knowing direction, the actors have given inspired performances. Revealed in [Seven Samurai] is Kurosawa’s talent for putting violent action on the screen, making it terrifically exciting to audiences.
May 4, 2021 | Rating: 4/4
Wanda Hale
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
One of the finest films ever made.
July 6, 2022
Michael Roemer
The Reporter
Seven Samurai is never dull, and it provided a model for future action movies in many ways—from its “assembling the team of fighters” narrative stretch to the proto-Peckinpah use of slow-motion in brutal action sequences.
March 28, 2022
Dennis Harvey
48 Hills
Seven Samurai is a spectacle of the human spirit, an interplay of hope and questions about the way of the world, and finally, an epic in which ideas and action converge with a remarkable, vital scope.
March 21, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Absorbing as the story itself is it’s the tremendous resourcefulness of Akira Kurosawa’s direction (and probably his writing) which makes the picture a real work of art.
May 12, 2021
Jack Parr
Winnipeg Free Press
The picture pyramids to high tension as traps are set for the anticipated marauders… Keystone of the drama is marvelous acting.
May 4, 2021
Hortense Morton (Screen Scout)
San Francisco Examiner
The outstanding feature of the picture is the photography. At times the camera angles are sensational.
May 4, 2021
George Yoshinaga
Shin Nichibei/New Japanese American News…
Plot
A veteran samurai, who has fallen on hard times, answers a village’s request for protection from bandits. He gathers 6 other samurai to help him, and they teach the townspeople how to defend themselves, and they supply the samurai with three small meals a day. The film culminates in a giant battle when 40 bandits attack the village.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Fresh Kernels doesn’t provide any goofy or funny comments about the film or its cast.
Akira-Kurosawa.jpg
99%
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
99%RT Audience Score: 98%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 7 Oscars
21 wins & 43 nominations total
The Shawshank Redemption is an uplifting, deeply satisfying prison drama with sensitive direction and fine performances.
If you’re looking for a movie that’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, The Shawshank Redemption is your ticket to happiness. This flick has got it all – drama, heart, and some seriously talented actors. The director really knows how to tug at your heartstrings and make you root for the underdog. And let’s not forget about those performances – they’re so good, you’ll forget you’re watching a movie and start feeling like you’re right there in the prison with them. So if you’re in the mood for a feel-good flick that’ll leave you feeling like you can conquer the world, give The Shawshank Redemption a watch. You won’t regret it!
Production Company(ies)
Castle Rock Entertainment,
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Release Type
Streaming, Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
127A Smithfield Road, Frederiksted, Virgin Islands
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and prison violence
Year of Release
1994
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 22m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Sep 1, 1994 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 21, 1999
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, John Sandler, directed by Frank Darabont, written by Frank Darabont, produced by Niki Marvin, drama, uplifting, prison drama, sensitive direction, fine performances, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Kevin Maher, Zaki Hasan, Harper Barnes, Duane Byrge, Gene Siskel, Michael Clark, Matt Brunson, Allison Rose, MPAA rating R, prison violence, language, Columbia Pictures, SDDS, Dolby A, Stereo, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, Flat (1.85:1), Stephen King, novella, human spirit, banker, wrongfully convicted, killing, wife, lover, Shawshank maximum security prison, friendship, Red, set design, costume design, Thomas Newman, emotionally evocative, powerful message
Worldwide gross: $28,884,504
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,436,973
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,267
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 6,372,625
US/Canada gross: $28,767,189
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $58,199,630
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,010
US/Canada opening weekend: $727,327
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,471,474
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,236
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $25,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $50,578,134
Production budget ranking: 788
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $27,236,325
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): -$19,377,487
ROI to date (est.): -25%
ROI ranking: 1,535
Morgan Freeman – Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding
Bob Gunton – Warden Samuel Norton
William Sadler – Heywood
Clancy Brown – Captain Byron Hadley
Gil Bellows – Tommy Williams
Director(s)
Frank Darabont
Writer(s)
Frank Darabont
Producer(s)
Niki Marvin
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 7 Oscars
21 wins & 43 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Nominees
All Critics (82) | Top Critics (23) | Fresh (75) | Rotten (7)
A beloved, incessantly revisited, stone-cold classic.
March 18, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Kevin Maher
Times (UK)
TOP CRITIC
Cinematic alchemy of a kind that’s all too rare, propelled by a supremely talented cast, a sumptuous score by Thomas Newman and a first-rate script and direction from first-timer Frank Darabont.
October 1, 2019
Zaki Hasan
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
A tough, complex story [told] with clarity, compassion and considerable dramatic force.
September 22, 2019
Harper Barnes
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
TOP CRITIC
In the lead roles, both Robbins and Freeman are outstanding, layering their performances with snippets of individuality: Their small, daily sustenances and minor triumphs are wonderfully inspiring.
September 23, 2016
Duane Byrge
Hollywood Reporter
TOP CRITIC
This is an engagingly simple, good-hearted film, with just enough darkness around the edges to give contrast and relief to its glowingly benign view of human nature.
September 22, 2015 | Rating: 3/4
Dave Kehr
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
Simply marvelous entertainment.
January 16, 2013 | Rating: 4/4
Gene Siskel
Chicago Tribune
TOP CRITIC
Unmarketable upon box office release, Darabount’s masterpiece tanked and seemed destined to obscurity. Only after the video release, did ‘Shawshawk’ reap the praise it so richly deserved. Is it one of the greatest films ever made? Without a doubt, yes.
October 24, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Michael Clark
Epoch Times
The most overrated movie of all time still offers much to enjoy.
September 17, 2021 | Rating: 3/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The entire cast of this movie is terrific with Robbins and Freeman leading the way.
September 14, 2021 | Rating: 4.5/5
Allison Rose
FlickDirect
It doesn’t matter how we think we remember the moments, how they look now, in this edition, will force a shift in memory that we’ll most likely be grateful for.
September 13, 2021
Douglas Davidson
Elements of Madness
A masterclass in pretty much every category. An incredible script, wonderful direction, gorgeous score and phenomenal performances by Freeman and Robbins. Cinema doesn’t get any better than this. [Full review in Spanish]
May 25, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Fico Cangiano
CineXpress Podcast
The film has a wonderfully structured script.
March 26, 2021
Sarah Brinks
Battleship Pretension…
Plot
Chronicles the experiences of a formerly successful banker as a prisoner in the gloomy jailhouse of Shawshank after being found guilty of a crime he did not commit. The film portrays the man’s unique way of dealing with his new, torturous life; along the way he befriends a number of fellow prisoners, most notably a wise long-term inmate named Red.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins both received critical acclaim for their performances in The Shawshank Redemption.
Frank-Darabont.jpg
99%
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
99%RT Audience Score: 96%
Awards & Nominations: Nominated for 3 Oscars
26 wins & 69 nominations total
A legendarily expansive and ambitious start to the sci-fi saga, George Lucas opened our eyes to the possibilities of blockbuster filmmaking and things have never been the same
Holy space balls, have you seen Star Wars: A New Hope? George Lucas totally blew our minds with this epic sci-fi adventure. It’s like he took all the coolest things from every space movie ever made and mashed them together into one epic masterpiece. And let’s not forget about the special effects – they were out of this world! It’s safe to say that after this movie, the bar for blockbuster filmmaking was set sky high. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and hop on board the Millennium Falcon for a wild ride through the galaxy. May the force be with you!
Production Company(ies)
Lucasfilm,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
Sidi Bouhlel, Bouhlel Sdada, Tunisia
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for sci-fi action/violence
Year of Release
1977
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):English, Sanskrit
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1977 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 6, 2005
Genre(s)
Adventure/Action
Keyword(s)
starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, George Lucas, Gary Kurtz, Adventure, Action, Fantasy, PG, box office, budget, reviewed by Tom Shales, Molly Haskell, Richard Combs, Perry Stewart, Helen Frizell, Colin Bennett, Tony Vandenberg, Brian Eggert, Cory Woodroof, Marina Hirsch, Sarah Brinks, Tony Black, directed by George Lucas, written by George Lucas, produced by Gary Kurtz, Star Wars Saga, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, C-3PO, R2-D2, Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance, Darth Vader, Jedi, The Force, lightsabers, space battles, John Williams, iconic, groundbreaking, legendary, epic, pulpy, exhilarating, unforgettable, fun, smart, childlike wonder, fully realized universe, sci-fi, blockbuster, film history, cultural phenomenon, fan favorite, classic
Worldwide gross: $1,027,082,707
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,445,952,837
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 593,887,987
US/Canada gross: $474,544,677
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $2,516,202,359
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2
US/Canada opening weekend: $64,820,970
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $343,703,524
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $11,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $58,325,859
Production budget ranking: 699
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $31,408,475
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $5,356,218,503
ROI to date (est.): 5,969%
ROI ranking: 16
Harrison Ford – Han Solo
Carrie Fisher – Princess Leia Organa
Alec Guinness – Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
Peter Cushing – Grand Moff Tarkin
Anthony Daniels – C-3PO
Director(s)
George Lucas
Writer(s)
George Lucas
Producer(s)
Gary Kurtz
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for 3 Oscars
26 wins & 69 nominations total
Academy Awards
Oscar Best Achievement in Art Direction Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Costume Design Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Editing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Winners, Oscar Best Achievement in Visual Effects Winners, Oscar Nominees, Oscar Original Score Winners, Oscar Winners
All Critics (135) | Top Critics (51) | Fresh (125) | Rotten (10)
The greatest kids’ picture for adults since “The Wizard of Oz.”
May 4, 2022
Tom Shales
NPR
TOP CRITIC
I don’t see how I can come out ahead panning Star Wars, George Lucas’s science-fiction film that has been acclaimed by children of all ages as the Fun Movie of the year.
February 27, 2020
Molly Haskell
Village Voice
TOP CRITIC
Without the simple spiritual convictions of his predecessors, or the philosophical speculations of his contemporaries, Lucas has rather left his audience out in the cold.
December 12, 2019
Richard Combs
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
A boy’s adventure yarn in the most traditional, unabashedly entertaining sense.
December 12, 2017
Perry Stewart
Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com
TOP CRITIC
Oh, the astronomical audiences; oh, the mundane story; oh, the over-cute little robots (one fat, one thin); oh, the vapid actors, the galactic shootouts; oh, the brilliant technology and oh, the boredom of it all.
December 12, 2017
Helen Frizell
Sydney Morning Herald
TOP CRITIC
It’s a “fun movie”, as they say. Meaning that it doesn’t mean anything, it’s a superior, pop plaything to play with, to be innocently enjoyed and thrown away like a four-dollar comic book.
December 12, 2017
Colin Bennett
The Age (Australia)
TOP CRITIC
Star Wars is the best science fiction film that’s come down the pike to date. And every good thing you’ve heard about it is true.
May 23, 2022
Tony Vandenberg
Washington Blade
Star Wars belongs on a short list of important films that have been so saturated into our minds, so ingrained and present in our everyday culture, that watching the film now is almost an empty experience.
February 14, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
The one that started it all, A New Hope (or, as it was known at the time, Star Wars), set a standard and a tone that will forever be imitated, and very rarely replicated.
February 11, 2022
Cory Woodroof
615 Film
As a visual cartoon, Star Wars is resolutely successful, phenomenal in its impact; as an emotional adventure, Star Wars is only bubblegum entertainment, tripping us back into a black and white world where good and evil can fight it out with ray guns.
May 12, 2021
Marina Hirsch
Berkeley Barb
A New Hope is our first step into this world of galactic rebellion against the Empire and the Force versus the Dark Side, so a certain amount of exposition and world building is necessary…
March 26, 2021
Sarah Brinks
Battleship Pretension
It’s far from the greatest movie ever made, but A New Hope-and its sequels-will be remembered, discussed and loved until we’re all living in a galaxy far, far away.
February 16, 2021 | Rating: 5/5
Tony Black
Cultural Conversation…
Plot
The evil Trade Federation, led by Nute Gunray is planning to take over the peaceful world of Naboo. Jedi Knights Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi are sent to confront the leaders. But not everything goes to plan. The two Jedi escape, and along with their new Gungan friend, Jar Jar Binks head to Naboo to warn Queen Amidala, but droids have already started to capture Naboo and the Queen is not safe there. Eventually, they land on Tatooine, where they become friends with a young boy known as Anakin Skywalker. Qui-Gon is curious about the boy, and sees a bright future for him. The group must now find a way of getting to Coruscant and to finally solve this trade dispute, but there is someone else hiding in the shadows. Are the Sith really extinct? Is the Queen really who she says she is? And what’s so special about this young boy?
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.
George-Lucas.jpg
99%
The Godfather (1972)
99%RT Audience Score: 98%
Awards & Nominations: Won 3 Oscars
31 wins & 30 nominations total
One of Hollywood’s greatest critical and commercial successes, The Godfather gets everything right; not only did the movie transcend expectations, it established new benchmarks for American cinema.
The Godfather is like the ultimate Hollywood superstar – it’s got the looks, the talent, and the box office numbers to back it up. This movie is so good, it’s like it’s playing a whole different game than the rest of American cinema. It’s like the Michael Jordan of movies, setting new records and making everyone else look like amateurs. The Godfather is the boss of all bosses, and it’s not afraid to let you know it.
Production Company(ies)
Paramount Pictures, Alfran Productions,
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Forza d’Agrò, Messina, Sicily, Italy
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1972
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Mono
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:2h 57m
-
Language(s):English, Italian, Latin
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Mar 15, 1972 Wide
Release Date (Streaming): May 11, 2004
Genre(s)
Crime/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, Diane Keaton, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, written by Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, Mario Puzo, crime, drama, box office success, budget, reviewed by Steven D Greydanus, Jason Bailey, Jake Cole, Danny Leigh, Richard Roeper, Adam Kempenaar, Erick Estrada, Matt Brunson, Stephen Silver, Michael Calleri, gangster film, American Dream, American capitalism, 50th anniversary, Paramount Pictures, R rating, mono sound mix, flat aspect ratio
Worldwide gross: $250,340,098
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,986,954,882
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 19
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 216,679,922
US/Canada gross: $136,381,073
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,082,459,586
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 12
US/Canada opening weekend: $302,393
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $2,400,100
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,183
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $6,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $47,622,132
Production budget ranking: 833
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $25,644,518
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $1,913,688,231
ROI to date (est.): 2,612%
ROI ranking: 37
Al Pacino – Michael Corleone
James Caan – Santino “Sonny” Corleone
Richard S. Castellano – Pete Clemenza
Robert Duvall – Tom Hagen
Sterling Hayden – Police Captain McCluskey
Director(s)
Francis Ford Coppola
Writer(s)
Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, Mario Puzo
Producer(s)
Albert S. Ruddy
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
Won 3 Oscars
31 wins & 30 nominations total
Academy Awards
All Critics (149) | Top Critics (47) | Fresh (145) | Rotten (4)
Now half a century old, Francis Ford Coppola’s revered New Hollywood masterpiece has one of the best-known final shots in film history – but it almost had a much more Catholic ending.
April 8, 2022
Steven D. Greydanus
Catholic World Report
TOP CRITIC
Skepticism of American exceptionalism is far more commonplace now than it was when The Godfather was first released. But the fragility of the American Dream was revealing itself as the illusion it had always truly been.
March 19, 2022
Jason Bailey
The Playlist
TOP CRITIC
The Godfather films have set home-video standards for decades, and that trend continues with Paramounts astonishing 4K restorations.
March 18, 2022
Jake Cole
Slant Magazine
TOP CRITIC
As the doomy burnish of Gordon Willis’s photography captures the darkened souls of the Corleones, the effect is flat-out mesmeric.
February 24, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Danny Leigh
Financial Times
TOP CRITIC
The Godfather is the most memorable, most influential, most quoted, most beloved, most discussed, most imitated, most revered and most entertaining American movie ever made.
February 23, 2022
Richard Roeper
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
There is simply not a character introduced or exchange of words or looks that doesn’t inform or add.
February 10, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Adam Kempenaar
Filmspotting
TOP CRITIC
… Villains and criminals that fulfill the American dream with complete disregard for the American way. A contradiction that engenders gods. [Full review in Spanish]
June 24, 2022
Erick Estrada
Cinegarage
A cultural milestone.
March 26, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
The Godfather is as much about America, and the American experience, as any other great movie is (50th anniversary)
March 25, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
Stephen Silver
Tilt Magazine
50 years after its release on March 24, 1972, The Godfather is now and forever, one of the greats.
March 17, 2022
Michael Calleri
Niagara Gazette
An engrossing metaphor for American capitalism, watching the film on the big screen emphasises the majesty of Coppolas work.
March 11, 2022 | Rating: 5/5
James Luxford
City AM
It is a gangster film without any of the pity and hatred we might feel towards such aliens in our midst, because it recognises that in all of us there is the ignition towards power and criminality.
March 7, 2022
Tom Hutchinson
Liverpool Echo…
Plot
The Godfather “Don” Vito Corleone is the head of the Corleone mafia family in New York. He is at the event of his daughter’s wedding. Michael, Vito’s youngest son and a decorated WW II Marine is also present at the wedding. Michael seems to be uninterested in being a part of the family business. Vito is a powerful man, and is kind to all those who give him respect but is ruthless against those who do not. But when a powerful and treacherous rival wants to sell drugs and needs the Don’s influence for the same, Vito refuses to do it. What follows is a clash between Vito’s fading old values and the new ways which may cause Michael to do the thing he was most reluctant in doing and wage a mob war against all the other mafia families which could tear the Corleone family apart.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Godfather features an all-star cast including Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, and Diane Keaton.
Francis-Ford-Coppola.jpg