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September 14, 2003

blasphemy, Italian style

filed under reviews: film | reviews: television

First of all, Farscape is in fact on television tonight, on the Sci-Fi channel at midnight (east coast) and at nine (west coast). The folks at Sci-Fi seems to get great enjoyment out of frustrating the faithful, and yet we still manage to find Farscape no matter where they hide it. Tune in.

Now, something I've been wanting to say for years. Have said many times to friends. This is about The Godfather (not the novel; I'll say something about that someplace else). The movie attained cult status long ago. Men love to quote from it; whole movie plots have been built around that fact (You've Got Mail is a case in point). Poke the average Joe on the street and he spits out 'take the cannoli. leave the gun'. Italian Americans, especially men, adore this movie. I won't go into the psychology behind that, because it's exhausting.

But here's what I want to say: in two crucial cases, the movie was horrendously miscast. You know it's true. Think about it. Think about the Corleone brothers sitting around the table at a birthday party. Look at these actors. James Caan, tall and blond and curly haired, as the brother of Al Pacino and John Cazale? Uh-huh, not unless Mama Corleone had some secrets of her own.

Luigi Alfonso Lippi Personally I think they would have been much better off giving Sonny's part to my great uncle Luigi Alfonso -- now that's Italian.

And what, I want to know, what Coppola thinking when he cast Diane Keaton as Kay Adams?Granted, this movie was made when Keaton was at the top of her boxoffice arc, but please. One thing I know about Italian men (and I grew up surrounded by them) -- they don't marry women who are taller than they are. Nope. No way.

The combination of James Caan and Diane Keaton are flaws that I just can't get over watching this movie. Instead of The Godfather, try Al Pacino as Lefty Ruggerio in Donnie Brasco. Now that's a well told story.

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September 14, 2003 11:18 AM

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Comments

I agree that a blonde Italian is rather far fetched. I have to disagree with one thing though. Italian men will marry women taller than themselves. I should know, I'm a product of such a union. ^_~

Posted by: Alexa at January 30, 2004 02:59 PM