Godfather Phase

When there's something I really like, I get fixated upon it. Obsessed with it for a good period of time. This obsession is usually triggered by an event, a game, movie, song, or some form of art. I call them phases, and I often find myself going from one to the other. I get home from work and this certain phase that I am in, is my escape from reality! Such as a Batman phase, or an Opera phase, or a French Culture phase, or a World Cup phase. I think the best way to really appreciate something is to take it in over a period of time. Well over the past month now it's been a Godfather phase. I've always enjoyed the series (perhaps not 3 as much) but ever since I came upon the game, I've submerged deeper than ever into the series.

The game is incredible, and a highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates the series or just some good gaming. It's set up just like Grand-Theft-Auto, with free-reign to do just as you wish. Its set in New York City in the 1940s, just like the movie, with a very detailed map of the neighborhoods (Brooklyn, Little Italy, Hell's Kitchen, Midtown, and even Jersey)... The graphics are amazing really capturing that 1940s appeal, from the cars, the clothes, the buildings, and so forth. Then comes the actual game-play sending you on missions all throughout the city, where you can high-jack cars, and whack big enemies from the movie. The object of the game is to gain respect by exhorting businesses, taking over rackets, and defeating the other rival families. The game has practically all the original characters from the movie besides Michael Corleone. It's quite an addictive game, and even once you complete all the missions, you can continue to play through tons of side-missions.

So The Godfather has always been a favorite of mine. One of my top ten favorite movies of all time. So I gotta ask myself, what exactly is the appeal. Well here it is: First most it's the setting. 1930s, 1940s, 1950s... Back in the era of "sophisticated cool"... Sure it was a time of depression and war, but lets face it they just had style back in those days. Whether you were a corrupt politician, a crooked cop, a sly journalist, or a mafioso everyone seemed to have character. The suits, ties, and of course the trade-mark fedoras. Then there was the music, the swinging jazz and the big bands, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong. And the Golden Age of Hollywood with big name actors like Humphrey Bogart and Rita Hayworth. The Godfather manages to intertwine all of this appeal
into a story set in New York City.

Beyond the story and the setting of the Godfather is the phenomenal on-screen cast that was assembled. Starting with Marlon Brando as the Godfather himself, Vito Corleone, who created an Oscar-worthy character. The Don's hoarse voice, has become a trademark symbol of the Godfather. He was also portrayed by Robert DeNiro in the second film, this time showing us the roots of the Vito, which also won DeNiro an Oscar. Then there is my favorite character Tom Hagen, the family's consigliere, played by Robert DuVall, who epitomizes the term "sophisticated cool.. One of my favorite parts in the first film is when Hagen threatens the Hollywood director, and then has the nerve to shake his hand and tell him "I'm a big fan of your movies". Then there is the hot-tempered son, Sonny, played by James Caan. Caan brings great passion to Sonny's role as the under-boss of the family. Then there is the weak son, Fredo, also played magnificently by John Cazale (especially in the second film). Finally there is the young Michael Corleone who takes over the family, played by Al Pacino. Pacino surely deserved an Oscar for his portrayal if not in the first film, definitely in the second film, where he played one of the coldest-hearted villains in movie history.

Yet the biggest appeal to me beyond the cool setting, the amazing story, and the great acting, is an underlying theme that speaks dearly to me... and that's the importance of family. The Corleones have created a family entity, where they conduct their business through an extensive network of family ties, and they make sure they stay loyal and respectful to one another. Sure this theme is completely demolished in the second movie when Michael has his brother Fredo killed. Yet even with this one major event, the Godfather series is all about family!


I leave you with some classic Godfather lines:

"...I'm gunna make him an 'offer he can't refuse..." Don Vito

"Narcotics is a piece of the future. If we don't get a piece of that action, we risk everything we have." Tom Hagen

"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man." Don Vito

"Whatya gonna do? Nice college boy, eh? Don't wanna get mixed up in the family business? Now you wanna gun down a police captain because he slapped you in the face a little bit, huh? Whatya think this is, the Army, where you shoot 'em a mile away? You gotta get up close like this... badaBING! You blow their brains all over your nice Ivy League Suit. C'mere... you're taking this very personal." Sonny

"My father taught me many things... keep your friends close, but your enemies closer." Michael

"We're part of the same hypocrisy senator. But never think it applies to my family." Michael

"I know it was you Fredo. You Broke my heart. You broke my heart." Michael

"I'm your older brother, Mike, and I was stepped over! I can handle things, I'm smart, not like everybody says. Not dumb, I'm smart, and I want respect!" Fredo

Top Ten Directors

10. Alfonso Cuaron

Notable Movies: Solo con Tu Pareja, A Little Princess, Great Expectations, Y tu Mama Tambien, Harry Potter Prisoner of Azkaban, Children of Men















9. Ron Howard

Notable Movies: Splash, Cocoon, Willow, Parenthood, Backdraft, The Paper, Apollo 13, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, A Beautiful Mind, Cinderella Man, The Da Vinci Code, Frost/Nixon, Angels and Demons
















8. Steven Soderbergh

Notable Movies: Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Out of Sight, Erin Brockovich, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve, The Good German, Ocean's Thirteen, Che, The Informant















7. Christopher Nolan

Notable Movies: Following, Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception















6. Oliver Stone

Notable Movies: Salvador, Platoon, Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, The Doors, JFK, Natural Born Killers, Nixon, Any Given Sunday, Alexander, W, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps











5. Ridley Scott

Notable Movies: Alien, Blade Runner, Legend, Black Rain, Thelma & Louise, GI Jane, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, A Good Year, American Gangster, Body of Lies, Robin Hood
















4. Francis Ford Copolla

Notable Movies: You're a Big Boy Now, Finian's Rainbow, The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Apocalpyse Now, One from the Heart, The Cotton Club, Peggy Sue Got Married, Tucker: The Man and his Dream, The Godfather Part III, Dracula
















3. Martin Scorcese

Notable Movies: Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, After Hours, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, The Age of Innocence, Casino, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island

















2. Clint Eastwood

Notable Movies: Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, Space Cowboys, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby, Flags of our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Changeling, Gran Torino, Invictus, Hereafter
















1. Steven Spielberg

Notable Movies: Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1941, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET the Extra Terrestrial, Twilight Zone, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, The Color Purple, Empire of the Sun, Always, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Hook, Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Amistad, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Saving Private Ryan, AI Artificial Intellegence, Catch Me if you Can, Minority Report, The Terminal, Munich, War of the Worlds, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Lincoln

Top Ten Favorite Actresses

10. Angelina Jolie

Notable Movies: George Wallace, Gia, Girl Interrupted, Gone in 60 Seconds, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Alexander, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, The Good Sheppard, A Mighty Heart, Changeling, Salt

Notable Roles: Gia Marie Carangi, Lisa Rowe, Sway, Lara Croft, Olympias, Mariane Pearl, Christie Collins

Academy Awards: 1 win (A Girl Interrupted) 1 Nomination (Changeling)






"I use to tell Walter, "Never start a fight... but always finish it." I didn't start this fight... but by God, I'm going to finish it!"








9. Kate Beckinsale

Notable Movies: The Last Days of Disco, Serendipity, Pearl Harbor, The Golden Bowl, Laurel Canyon, Underworld, The Aviator, Van Helsing, Click, Underworld: Evolution, Snow Angels

Notable Roles: Nurse Evelyn Johnson, Selene, Ava Gardner, Anna Valerious






"You don't own me Howard. I'm not one of your teenage whores and I'm not some damn airplane!"








8. Scarlett Johansson

Notable Movies: Lost in Translation, Girl with the Pearl Earring, A Love Song for Bobby Long, The Island, Match Point, The Black Dahlia, The Prestige, The Other Boleyn Girl, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Iron Man 2, The Avengers

Notable Roles: Griet, Mary Boleyn, Silken Floss, Natalie Rushman






"I tried taking pictures, but they were so mediocre. I guess every girl goes through a photography phase. You know, horses... taking pictures of your feet."







7. Nicole Kidman

Notable Movies: To Die For, Batman Forever, Eyes Wide Shut, Moulin Rouge, The Others, The Hours, Cold Mountain, Birth, Happy Feet, The Golden Compass, Australia

Notable Roles: Dr. Chase Meridian, Satine, Virginia Woolf, Ada Monroe, Norma Jean, Marisa Coulter

Academy Awards: 1 Win (The Hours) 1 Nomination (Moulin Rouge)




"Dear Mr. Inman, I began by counting the days, then the months. I don't count on anything anymore except the hope that you will return, and the silent fear that in the years since we saw each other, this war, this awful war, will have changed us both beyond all reckoning."








6. Diane Keaton

Notable Movies: The Godfather, The Godfather Part II, Annie Hall, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, Reds, The Godfather Part III, Marvin's Room, Something's Gotta Give

Notable Roles: Kay Corleone, Annie Hall, Louise Bryant, Amelia Earhart

Academy Awards: 1 Win (Annie Hall) 3 Nominations (Reds, Marvin's Room, Something's Gotta Give)





"La-di-da, la-di-da, la la."








5. Marion Cottilard

Notable Movies: Big Fish, A Very Long Engagement, A Good Year, La Vie en Rose, Public Enemies, Nine, Inception

Notable Roles: Tina Lombardi, Edith Piaf, Billie Frechette, Luisa Contini, Mallorie "Mal" Cobbs

Academy Awards: 1 win (La Vie en Rose)







"Americans want beauties, not me. I'm not the Parisian bombshell they expected. Can you see me as a chorus girl? Where's my feather up the ass? They think I'm sad, they're dumb. I don't connect to them."









4. Kate Winslet

Notable Movies: Heavenly Creatures, Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Quills, Iris, The Life of David Gale, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Finding Neverland, Little Children, The Reader, Revolutionary Road

Notable Roles: Juliet Hulme, Marianne Dashwood, Rose DeWitt Bukater, Iris Murdoch, Clementine Kruczynski, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, Hanna Schmitz

Academy Awards: 1 Win (The Reader) 5 Nominations (Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Iris, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Little Children)





"Meet me... in Montauk..."











3. Penelope Cruz

Notable Movies: The Girl of Your Dreams, Blow, Vanilla Sky, Don't Move, Volver, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Broken Embraces, Nine, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Notable Roles: Raimunda, Maria Elena, Carla Albanese

Academy Awards: 1 Win (Vicky Cristina Barcelona) 1 Nomination (Volver)





"Only unfulfilled love can be romantic"











2. Cate Blanchett

Notable Movies: Elizabeth, The Man who Cried, The Shipping News, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, Veronica Guerin, The Aviator, Babel, The Good German, Notes on a Scandal, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, I'm Not There, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Robin Hood

Notable Roles: Queen Elizabeth I, Galadriel, Veronica Guerin, Katherine Hepburn, Sheba Hart, Bob Dylan, Daisy Fuller, Lady Marian

Academy Awards: 2 Wins (The Aviator, I'm Not There) 2 Nominations (Notes on a Scandal, Elizabeth: The Golden Age)





"I too, can command the wind, sir! I have a hurricane in me that will strip Spain bare when you dare to try me!"












1. Natalie Portman

Notable Movies: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, Cold Mountain, Garden State, Closer, Revenge of the Sith, V for Vendetta, The Other Boleyn Girl, Brothers, Thor

Notable Roles: Padme Amidala, Evey Hammond, Anne Boleyn, Jane Foster

Academy Awards: 1 Nomination (Closer)





"A man's love is worthless. Our mother's loved, look where it got her, a feeble husband. Love is of no value without power and position. If I gave the king a son, he would not be a bastard."

Top Ten Favorite Actors

A few days ago while playing some futbol with the co-workers, we began discussing favorite actors, and I realized I didn't have a strong list. Therefore I decided to put together this well thought-out list of my top ten favorite actors. I like these actors not only because of their great acting, but because of the characters they create, their versatility in roles, and most importantly their style... The Movies in Green are ones I have not seen yet... Coming later will be my Top Ten favorite Actresses and Directors...

10. Kevin Spacey

Notable Movies: Seven, The Usual Suspects, LA Confidential, American Beauty, The Life of David Gale, Beyond the Sea, Superman Returns, 21, Recount

Notable Roles: John Doe, Roger Verbal Kint/Keyser Soze, Lester Burnham , Bobby Darin, Lex Luthor , Ron Klain

Academy Awards: 2 Wins (The Usual Suspects, American Beauty)






"The Greatest Trick the Devil ever Pulled was Convincing the World he didn't exist."







9. Heath Ledger

Notable Movies: Ten Things I Hate About You, The Patriot, A Knight's Tale, Casanova, Lords of Dogtown, Brokeback Mountain, The Dark Knight

Notable Roles: Ned Kelly, Giacomo Casanova, Skip Englbom, Ennis del Mar, The Joker

Academy Awards: 1 win (The Dark Knight) 1 Nomination (Brokeback Mountain)






"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just... do things."











8. Al Pacino

Notable Movies: The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, And Justice for All, Scarface, Dick Tracy, The Godfather Part III, Scent of a Woman, Angels America, Ocean's Thirteen

Notable Roles: Michael Corleone , Frank Serpico , Sonny Wortzik , Tony Montana , Alphonse "Big Boy" Caprice , Roy Cohn

Academy Awards: 1 win (Scent of a Woman) 7 Nominations (The Godfather, Serpico, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, And Justice for All, Dick Tracy, Glengarry Glenn Rose)






"There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me, keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."








7. Tom Hanks

Notable Movies: Big, A League of their Own, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Road to Perdition, Catch Me if you Can, The Terminal, The Da Vinci Code, Charlie Wilson's War, Angels and Demons

Notable Roles: Andrew Beckett , Forrest Gump , Woody , Captain John H. Miller , Victor Navorski, Professor Robert Langdon , Charlie Wilson

Academy Awards: 2 Wins (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump) 3 Nominations (Big, Saving Private Ryan, Cast Away)



"I Don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental, like on a breeze. But I, I think maybe it's both."










6. Denzel Washington

Notable Movies: Cry Freedom, Glory, Malcolm X, Philadelphia, Courage Under Fire, Remember the Titans, The Hurricane, Training Day, John Q, Man on Fire, American Gangster

Notable Roles: Malcolm X, Coach Herman Boone, Alonzo Harris, John Q , John Creasy, Frank Lucas

Academy Awards: 2 Wins (Glory, Training Day) 3 Nominations (Cry Freedom, Malcolm X, The Hurricane)





"See, ya are what ya are in this world. That's either one of two things. Either your somebody, or you aint nobody."








5. Robert DeNiro

Notable Movies: The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, The Untouchables, Goodfellas, Cape Fear, Casino, Meet the Parents, The Good Shepard

Notable Roles: Vito Corleone, Travis Bickle, Michael Vronsky, Jake LaMotta, Al Capone, Jimmy Conway, Max Cady

Academy Awards: 2 Wins (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull) 4 Nominations (Taxi Driver, The Deer Hunter, Awakenings, Cape Fear)




"I make him an offer he don' refuse. Don' worry"











4. Russell Crowe

Notable Movies: LA Confidential, The Insider, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, Cinderella Man, A Good Year, 310 to Yuma, American Gangster, Robin Hood

Notable Roles: Officer Wendell Bud White, Jeffrey Wigand, Maximus Decimus Meridius, John Nash , Captain Jack Aubry , Jim Braddock, Richie Roberts , Robin Hood

Academy Awards: 1 win (Gladiator) 2 Nominations (The Insider, A Beautiful Mind)



"Three weeks from now, I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so. Hold the line! Stay with me! If you find yourself alone, riding in the green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled. For you are in Elysium, and you're already dead. Brothers, what we do in life. echoes in eternity."







3. Liam Neeson

Notable Movies: Schindler's List, Michael Collins, Les Miserables, Star Wars: Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York, Kinsey, Kingdom of Heaven, Batman Begins, The Chronicles of Narnia

Notable Roles: Oscar Schindler, Michael Collins, Jean Valjean, Qui-Gon Jinn, Alfred Kinsey, Godfrey of Ibelin, Ra's al Ghul, Aslan, Zeus

Academy Awards: 1 Nomination (Schindler's List)






"My father was fond of saying you need three things in life- a good doctor, a forgiving priest, and a clever accountant. The first two, I've never had much use for."












2. Leonardo DeCaprio

Notable Movies: What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Titanic, Catch Me if you Can, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Blood Diamond, The Departed, Shutter Island, Inception

Notable Roles: Jack Dawson, Frank William Abigal Jr, Amsterdam Vallon, Howard Hughes, Danny Archer, William Billy Costigan

Academy Awards: 3 Nominations (What's Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Blood Diamond)






"Sometimes I truly fear that I... am losing my mind. And if I did it... it would be like flying blind."










1. Johnny Depp

Notable Movies: Edward Scissorhands, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Ed Wood, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Sleepy Hollow, Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Public Enemies

Notable Roles: Edward Scissorhands, Edward Wood, Ichabod Crane, Hunter S. Thompson, Captain Jack Sparrow, Sir James Matthew Barrie, Willy Wonka, Sweeny Todd, John Dilinger

Academy Awards: 3 Nominations (Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Neverland, Sweeny Todd)





"I was raised on a farm in Mooresville, Indiana. My mama ran out on us when I was three, my daddy beat the hell out of me cause he didn't know no better way to raise me. I like baseball, movies, good clothes, fast cars, whiskey, and you. What else do you need to know?"