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The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone Blu-ray Review

“The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone” improves the third installment.

“The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone” (AKA the new version of 1990’s “The Godfather Part 3”) doesn’t change the story. Director and co-writer Francis Ford Coppola and writer Mario Puzo’s finale still finds an aging diabetic Michael Corleone attempting to go legitimate by going into business with the Vatican Bank all while he takes Vincent (Sonny’s illegitimate son) under his wing to potentially become the next Don. Alas, the past seems to catch up with Michael as he can’t escape violence and people out to get him including Joey Zasa and someone else pulling the strings. Other subplots involve Michael and Kay’s relationship, Michael’s daughter Mary developing a romance with her cousin Vincent, and Michael’s son Anthony wanting to become a singer.

The classic quote “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in” really sets the tone for the whole movie as Michael is forced to confront his mortality, mistakes, and past in the third and film entry in The Godfather trilogy. With the hotly anticipated “The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone,” however, we get a new version that has been re-edited, trimmed, and given the original title. Viewers can also expect a different beginning and ending. So, how does this new version of what is essentially an epilogue fare? Simply put, this is the version to see from here on out. 

While I do have a fondness for the ending of the original cut with Michael slumped over dead, this new streamlined version flows better. Yes, the two fatal flaws are still present with a miscast Mary (played by a monotone Sofia Coppola) and George Hamilton replacing Robert Duvall (whose presence is sorely missed), but the ‘Coda’ feels more like, well, a coda. Personally, I never minded the Academy Award nominated third film to begin with even though it was always the weakest part of the trilogy, but this new cut may very well redeem the movie in the eyes of its detractors. Even with its issues, there’s so much to admire here with Michael’s internal and external turmoil and his attempts to make amends with Kay, Al Pacino’s fantastic performance as Michael, Andy Garcia as the violent hothead Vincent who undergoes great change (easily the best of the new characters), and the full circle approach to the storytelling. The ‘Coda’ really does a better job at showcasing the film’s strengths.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 How does it look? The Blu-ray is the perfect combination of the grainy original print feel with the new and improved hi-def look.

Audio Track: Dolby TrueHD 5.1. How does it sound? This 5.1 track offers up a nice, clean audio track.

Extras include a Digital copy and a new intro by Francis Ford Coppola

December 7, 2020 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Al Pacino, Andy Garcia, Francis Ford Coppola, Mario puzo, Sofia Coppola, The Godfather Coda: The Death Of Michael Corleone Blu-ray Review, The Godfather Part 3