2:50 a pitch-perfect delivery by Al pacino of the line "It's the way pop wanted it" very cold and calm, like it is what it is, michael's fate is no different than fredo's, everything is previously arranged.
We often see Michael’s trajectory as developing from nice and gentle to cold and ruthless….but this flashback reveals a cold Michael (maybe not ruthless) who already wanted to choose his own way of doing things to accomplish what he wanted to do. The cold, rational and ruthless Michael was always there. He knew how to get things done. And he knew that people always get in the way. And when they do, you have to go alone. Michael reveals that when you remove the people from your life so that you can attain what you want. You will end up alone. He doesn’t even get up to surprise his father on his birthday.
Aside from the gratuitous violence, politics, and corruption portrayed in the "Godfather" series, this moment at the Corleone family dinner table moved me in ways I never imagined. There's surely love here and it's at the dinner table where you see a young Michael slowly, but surely emerging from his father's shadow and becoming his own person (a sterling example at 1:49). A young man stepping out of his father Vito's influence to feel and think for himself, in spite of his father's high hopes and aspirations for his future. Never once did Michael back down and cower from his own ideals, at first, especially in a minor confrontation with his brother Sonny. The second moment that moved me, almost to the point of tears, was a young Vito holding his infant son Michael on a journey to America, brimming with hope and dreams for a better life...and that for Michael. Watching this moment, it makes me sad that Michael chose eventually to follow his family in a life of crime instead of charting his own life path and now lives to regret it.
I feel sad for Michael because he had to do things he never wanted to do but had to do .He is one of the most sad characters in cinema history and was destined to end alone.
SO HAPPY that Marlon Brando had disputes with Paramount and could not come in for a single day shoot for this scene, this scene with Michael by himself on the table makes it 100 x better. Brando showing his presence as Vito Corleone in this film would have overshadowed Michael in this scene.
It's eerie. Connie tells Sonny not to talk about the War but he doesn't listen. Then during Dinner Connie reminds him not to talk Business at the Table because Papa never did. He doesn't listen both times. Then the Shirts Michael & Fredo wear was similar to the one that Bobby Ewing wore on the pilot episode of Dallas.
That stupid person is inherited his father legacy and respected. Meanwhile sonny whom have a big mouth and arrogant behaviour inherited those dirt...and die miserably...
Sonny here reminds me of Trump who thinks those who go into the military are "suckers and losers". There narcissists who think that fighting for strangers makes you and sap and can't comprehend the idea of fighting for something greater than yourself. And the whole deal of Vito pulling strings to get Michael out of the draft is akin to Trump's bonespurs lmao
Everyone is pointing to the ending shot of Michael sitting alone in his yard, but for me the shot of him sitting at the dinner table alone and not wanting to go surprise his father along with the rest of the family because he knows how disappointed and heartbroken his father will be once he tells him about his choice that he just sits there and dreads it, while in the background of that shot is his father’s office and chair reminding the audience of his father. This scene hits so hard for me because my father had expectations for me when I grew up and when I choose to go my own path I could tell in his eyes how heartbroken he was. But after many years of living a good life and raising my own family. I made it clear to my father one day, if he wanted to be part of my life and my grandchildren’s lives that he needs to accept the path I’ve chosen, I thank God every day that he chose to be there. Love you Dad.
No matter how stronger brother is, he is compelled to his sister after all sister is mother's shadow,while The only concern of brothers wants is find a man with character that's it
The movie is a true masterpiece. Michael sitting alone-in reflection-at Lake Tahoe-in the fall of the year-the absolute gorgeous colors-the slow pull in on Michael as he ponders what has happened & what is next. A work of art is understatement.
As great as the first 2 GF films were, it sucks Marlon Brando was such a pain in the ass. He was supposed to be in this scene. But being on brand, he flaked out. As a result they had to shift gears and pretend he was offscreen instead of appearing in the scene. Would’ve loved to have gotten one last scene with the entire family.
