"The Godfather" and "Goodfellas"

Paper Summary:

"The Godfather" (Francis Ford Coppola, 1972) and "Goodfellas" (Martin Scorsese, 1990) share common elements of theme and characterization; however, the two films differ in regards to tone, direction, and cinematography. The paper shows how both movies address the nuances and complexities of Italian Mafia life from the perspectives of the criminals. It examines how the directors of each of these films portray concepts of family, tradition, culture and religion without neglecting to graphically display the insensitivity, violence, greed and corruption that pervade Mafia life.

From the Paper:

"Coppola and Scorsese employ vastly different camera and filming techniques. The Godfather is famous for its large, panoramic images like that at the beginning of the film during the wedding. Moreover, the director pans the camera in scenes like the only in which Sonny is shot. In The Godfather, camera angles are instrumental in providing perspective, as in the first scene with Don Corleone behind his desk in his home, as well as the scene in which Michael shoots the crooked cop in the restaurant. Goodfellas contains more close-up shots, especially of Henry Hill."

More papers on "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas":

• Comparison Essay # 3938 : "Gangster Films and their Evolvement"
• Persuasive Essay # 62521 : "Media and the Mafia"
• Film Review # 114657 : "Emotional Range in Gangster Films"

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