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"The higher I go, the crookeder it becomes."

-- Michael Corleone (Al Pacino)

Let's be honest, was a third Godfather film ever going to live up to the two masterpieces of cinema that preceded it? Quite simply, no, but that didn't stop Francis Ford Coppola trying, some eighteen years later.

The saga picks up with Michael (Al Pacino) attempting to go legit via the Catholic Church. Unfortunately, he soon discovers religion isn't all that honourable, either (as we should all know), and things start getting that little bit more complicated, and he finds himself being drawn back into the world of organised crime against his will.

For three quarters of the movie, Part III it isn't all that bad. I found the conflict of interests between the Don and his son Anthony (Franc D'Ambrosio) -- who wishes to pursue a career in music -- quite intriguing. Pacino's performance, as always, is highly convincing as the mafia boss desiring to come clean and put his family first; some may consider this premise little far fetched, especially seen as though it contrasts his monstrosity of the previous films, but I thought it was pretty well executed.

What truly ruins Part III, however, is its supporting characters. Sofia Coppola, for one, is truly awful in her role as Michael's daughter; while Andy Garcia as Vincent Mancini, the illegitimate son of Michael's brother Sonny, seems to think he's some sort of tough guy out to inexplicitly "whack" anyone that crosses his path -- and somehow, for all his idiocy, he manages to replace Michael at the head of the family. So, the new Godfather has become a contemporary hot-head out to get an ASBO, then? Nothing like ruining the franchise and trying to get everyone wound up.

I've seen worse films, but with the seemingly-impossible-to-avoid-comparisons with the first two, III pretty much treads over old material and its characters (Pacino aside) will annoy you more than anything else. I won't spoil the ending for those who haven't seen it, but let's just say rather than soaking up the tears in your hanky you'll either be in a fit of extreme laughter or blowing your top in sheer anger -- it's a quite pathetic way to end the series.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2008.