kish b
★★★★☆
The Godfather Part III is the flawed, operatic, unfairly maligned epilogue that still carries the weight of immortality in its bones, even when it stumbles.
Twenty-six years after Michael Corleone told us "Just when I thought I was out…," Coppola drags him back in for one last confession, and the result is a film that swings between Shakespearean grandeur and soap-opera excess, often in the same scene. The first hour is pure majesty: the Vatican reception bathed in golden light, Michael receiving the Order of Saint Sebastian while his soul remains damned, the haunting "Vincent, you’re so much like your father" moments, and that incredible Atlantic City assassination attempt set to Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. When the opera literally overlays the final bloodbath at the Teatro Massimo, with Michael’s silent scream on the steps of the opera house, it’s one of the most devastating climaxes in cinema history.
Al Pacino delivers a career-capping performance: older, sicker, haunted, desperately trying to buy absolution with money and finding out the bill is always paid in blood. Andy García is electric as Vincent—hot-headed, loyal, and dangerous in exactly the right Corleone cocktail. Talia Shire finally gets real meat as Connie, now the Lady Macbeth of the family. Even Eli Wallach shows up and steals scenes like it’s 1960 again.
Yes, Sofia Coppola’s performance is shaky (everyone knows it, she knows it), some of the dialogue clunks, and the incest subplot makes everyone uncomfortable for good reason. But strip away the 90s backlash and what’s left is still a legitimate tragedy: Michael’s final, futile attempt to wash the blood from his hands, only to watch it spill on the person he loves most. That last shot of him dying alone, still wearing those dark glasses, is as brutal and perfect a full stop as the saga could ever have.
Four stars: one for Pacino’s shattered eyes, one for the operatic ambition, one for every perfect set-piece (the helicopter, the opera, the steps), and one because, despite every flaw, it still hurts exactly the way a Corleone ending should.
It’s not Part II. It never could be.
But it’s still The Godfather, and Michael’s final scream still echoes.
8/10. "Our true enemies have not yet shown their faces…" Neither has forgiveness. 🍷🙏🖤
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
11/17/25
Full Review
Estefania O
The Godfather Part III feels like a faded photocopy of greatness — solemn, tired, and too aware of the legacy it can’t live up to.
Rated 2/5 Stars •
Rated 2 out of 5 stars
11/11/25
Full Review
Blu B
It's Good but I hesitate to call this a classic honestly following the previous two. It's solidly made all around. Pacino is probably the best thing in this and gives a consistently engaging performance the entire way. He's great. Vincent is hit or miss at first but the more he stops the whiny street brat thing the more I like him. Sofia Copella in this....is all over the place. Sometimes her acting is terrible, other times boring, other times good, and hit or miss in others. Everyone does a good job though. Great production value and direction. This has the look and feel of the first two. But I don't know it feels like it's trying to emmulate the same look but in a 90's way with like some actresses having 90's style hair in a 79' setting. It's out of place. Than there are some scenes which go on too long specifically the opening and closing scenes. It feels like sometimes it's trying to emmulate the other two by going to previous locations or mimicking certain scenes which are good but you wish it would do it's own thing. Than there are some stuff like the whole Vatican and Empire building subplots which I felt were kind f farfetched and out of place. You could probably get rid of that stuff and just keep it solely on the family and more grounded dealings. When this focuses on the relationship dynamics it's pretty darn good and has consistent flashes throughout of being on par with the previous ones. But that's it....flashes. Nothing consistent. The actual mafia crime dealings and double crosses and all isn't bad but not as strong. It feels like it has trouble at times trying to tie all these intricate subplots together into one cohesive narrative. To it's credit it never feels bloated but just a slow burn the entire time. It can feel like a bit of a slog though at times. The slow pacing helps alot to let idea breathe and settle even if they don't connect that well. The heicopter scene also feels out of place for a Godfather movie but wasn't bad. It's just hard to get very interested or engaged. I didn't have that problem at all with the other two. It just doesn't really have anything the others didn't do better. You can easily watch the first two alone no problem and skip this. But if your a big Copella fan, fan of any actors here, really want to complete the trilogy, or love crime dramas than sure give this a shot. It's good but at the same time disappointing. It's such a strange feeling I have towards this.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/24/25
Full Review
Daniel A
I sincerely don't think this movie is as bad as people say it is. I believe that it let people down much because of the expectations the public had when it was released. It's a good movie. But a few aspects of it definitely bring it down to a whole level below the 2 first ones.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
10/15/25
Full Review
Romas M
Greetings from Lithuania.
"The Godfather Part III" (1990) is the weakest film in the "The Godfather", but still a solid and very watchable film on its own. Its strengths lies in very good performances by all involved, especially by Andy Garcia. This film as well as its latest version "Coda", it a bit draggy movie due to its big plot revolving around Vatican, and for me it is just a bit to boring. Film which is at the end of the day about mafia and family has very little about mafia, but a lot about family this time. And it is his weakness in my opinion. The supporting characters are just way less interesting this time around.
Overall, "The Godfather Part III" is a very watchable and still a solid film on its own. It does show aging Godfather who comes in terms with his past, and the tragic finale for me was always films highpoint. A good, but unnecessary movie in the otherwise great trilogy about a family.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/16/25
Full Review
Adam M
I'm gonna get burned for this one, but hear me out. THE GODFATHER PART III is obviously no match when compared to its predecessors; the rich themes of the American experience in the first two films have been largely set aside, and Sophia Coppola's performance (the director/father's last-minute replacement for Winona Ryder) was justifiably pilloried. Robert Duvall declined participation over money -- and his character was integral to Coppola's original script, which had Tom Hagen killed at the film's midpoint, and launched Michael's crusade for revenge. Little doubt the film that would/should have been held considerable promise. But no film with that kind of pedigree could have possibly lived up to such high expectations. The GODFATHER III that eventually came to be is admittedly flawed, even ponderous at times, but it is also beautifully crafted, heartfelt, and has moments of absolute brilliance. Michael Corleone, now 60 but sickly and looking ancient, sets out to legitimize his family empire by striking a near billion dollar business deal with the Vatican...while coming to terms with a new generation of mafioso. Corruption is everywhere; the film cleverly ties in real-life events of Vatican financial scandals and the premature death of a new pope. Through it all, though, is Coppola's focus on family -- and the family empire's eventual downfall. Al Pacino, in one of his all-time best performances, imbues Michael Corleone's search for redemption with a deeply moving sense of regret, weariness, sentimentality, and even dashes of humor. The film wanes a bit after the first hour, but is more than redeemed by a spectacular final act that remains one of the highpoints of the series. And then there's that ending -- where even the great Michael Corleone must finally pay the price for his many crimes, and face a merciless comeuppance that was long overdue. Michael's final scream -- at first silent, then shattering, set to the Intermezzo of Cavalaria Rusticana, and followed by a montage where an elderly Michael reflects on those he's loved and lost, is one of the powerful scenes I've ever seen, and a perfect end to the greatest film series of all time.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
09/13/25
Full Review
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