Al Pacino rates the Godfather films
Al Pacino Reflects on Cinema’s Greatest Masterpieces
Legendary actor Al Pacino continues to shine on the silver screen, currently embarking on an interview tour to delve into the rich tapestry of his illustrious career. With major credits like The Godfather, Scarface, Serpico, and Heat anchoring his legacy, Pacino is taking the opportunity to reflect on the art form that defined his journey.
During a recent discussion with David Rubenstein on 92NY’s ‘People Who Inspire Us’, the 82-year-old actor opened up about the prospect of retirement and shared his thoughts on the foundational Godfather saga. He also revealed that he is currently working on a memoir, finding that this stage of life is the perfect time to sort out certain thoughts.
Pacino recently expressed his reaction to the behind-the-scenes look of the Paramount+ series The Offer, which explored the making of the first Godfather film from 1972. He found the revelations quite startling, noting that about half of the series proved to be true, describing the experience as a real shock.
Looking back at the production of the original film, the actor recalled that it was a chaotic endeavor plagued by funding disputes. He humorously recounted the intense atmosphere on set, admitting that after the first day of shooting, he and Diane Keaton got drunk and felt, “This is it, our careers are over. This is a mess.”
Pacino’s position within the film itself was also a source of tension, as Coppola backed him against Paramount’s reservations. Reflecting on his approach to the character of Michael Corleone, he explained that he chose to hold back his true self initially, allowing him to gradually emerge from the background rather than announcing himself as the obvious successor to his father.
This deliberate restraint is what gives the first film its immense dramatic power. The character’s transformation from a relative outsider into the family’s most ruthless custodian becomes far more convincing. What might have appeared as an understated performance at the start proved essential to making that monumental shift believable.
When asked if he felt the sequel, The Godfather Part II, was superior to the original, Pacino offered a nuanced answer. He maintained that he didn’t view it as definitively better, suggesting instead that it offered a different kind of experience. He posited that The Godfather is more entertaining, while Godfather II functions more as an artistic, personal study, a deeper exploration for Francis Ford Coppola.
The structural difference between the two films highlights this distinction perfectly. Released in 1974, Godfather II focuses on Michael’s consolidation of power while simultaneously traveling backward to explore his father’s origins, with Robert De Niro playing the younger Vito Corleone. These narratives offer contrasting perspectives on the same family empire, juxtaposing the outward construction of power against the personal damage inherent in preserving it.
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