The Godfather Analysis

The Godfather Analysis 

The genre that I have chosen for my final project is the crime drama genre and this is one that captures a wide range of different kinds of films from the more art house type of film to the film noir genre of film. The opening sequence of the film “The Godfather” which is an incredibly famous film is a very interesting way to open a film. The first thing that the audience sees is the film title and then the iconography of the hands pulling on puppet strings to show the control of the Godfather and his responsibility and also it is a strange symbol to use because the puppet strings might more typically be associated with the idea of something evil and sinister. But as is typical with the crime genre the audience is meant to see the Godfather as the Hero are at least the kind of protagonist of the film. Again this is typical of the genre because the idea of crime films is that they portray a form of a dysfunctional society and how they the film makers see things. So already the films title is something that is powerful to get the audience thinking. 

The next part of the film is the voice over of a man who is saying “I believe in America” and this is a very iconic line again. The words are very simple and if they stood alone it could evoke all kinds of reactions from the audience the irony of course of the words is that they are said in a slightly italian accent so it shows that there is an italian feel to the film and a way for audiences to associate the film to the stereotypical mafia family. Then the camera beings to zoom out very slowly as the man speaking continues his speech. 

The camera works very slowly to build up tension and suspense and leave the audience guessing about what could happen next. This was also very cleverly done because it makes us wonder who is talking who is he talking to and why is it such a sad story that he tells? This is all to set the scene of the dark and mysterious mafia world and how there is very little light and that the situations that they deal in are very bleak. 

Next a little later on about two minutes into the film the audience are introduced to a second character who is in the room and this character is of course The Godfather. And the audience first  sees him from a behind the shoulder shot which is again about the darkness and mystery. 

As the camera continues to move and there is a change in position  of the camera we see the Godfather is behind a desk stroking a cat which is very James Bond villain like a sign of expectancy. The Godfather is smartly dressed and he wears a red flower in his lapel to show that there is an occasion one that he talks about which is his daughters wedding so even in such an important occasion the Godfather is still working. 

There is a dialogue exchanged between the two characters and the camera shows other characters that are in the room. Then there is a moment when the man is asking for justice by the death of two men who wronged his daughter and then there is the Godfather who says that that is not justice because the daughter is still alive which shows that the Godfather has reached such a high status that he has his own moral code. Even in this dark and dreary world that they inhabit there are still values. 

All that is done in this opening sequence is to build up tension and create the mood of the film the tone that it will carry throughout.