Le Parrain, 2e partie

Chef-d'œuvre cinématographique qui porte l'histoire de la famille Corleone aux sphères supérieures de la politique et à des pratiques mafieuses encore plus sombres. Alors que le premier opus suggérait la désintégration de la famille en tant que seule valeur réelle de l'existence des protagonistes, le deuxième, le plus long de la série, lui est entièrement consacré. Une ligne temporelle - sur l'enfance et l'adolescence du personnage le plus magnétique du premier film (Marlon Brando) brillamment interprété par Robert De Niro - présente le l'essence de la personnalité de Vito Corleone à ses débuts à New York, tandis que l'autre ligne temporelle analyse son fils Michael, plus controversé et plus sombre, qui s'est élevé au rang de parrain américain le plus puissant de son époque. Un rôle formidable pour le charismatique et imposant Al Pacino, capable de tout faire en tant que Michael. Plus de personnages, une exploration plus intéressante du fonctionnement du monde souterrain le plus puissant et encore plus de subtilités dans les rebondissements de l'intrigue, composant une mosaïque de pensées glaciale. Avec tout le respect que je porte à Martin Scorsese, il est bon que Francis Coppola reste à la réalisation de cette trilogie. Sa forme plus poétique de narration lui convient parfaitement. (05/06/2022)

Coppola made a lot of money with the first part, and it shows in the second part. A sweeping production design, hundreds and hundreds of extras, but somewhere the emotions have disappeared. Especially in the first half, the storyline with Michael Corleone is rather uninteresting. On the other hand, the memories of Vito Corleone are impressive; it is a pleasure to watch the then little-known De Niro. All my qualms were put to rest with the final act and the emotionally tense ending. The last shot of Michael Corleone's face is unforgettable, a man burdened by a heavy conscience, with wrinkles under his eyes and greying hair, a man who has gained power but lost love. (19/10/2003)

"This is the business we chose." The second part of the brilliant adaptation of an unforgettable book. Taking over the baton from Brando is the duo of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, who are absolutely incredible. No need to add more. Simply one of the best and most essential films of world cinema. (15/01/2007)

I won’t claim that The Godfather II being my 1000th review was a coincidence. It wasn’t, I intentionally saved this anticipated movie experience for this very festive moment. It wasn’t worth much, though. I don’t know whether it was because of the excessive expectations, but the film never managed to pull me into the story, and I also tended to fall asleep due to the incredible runtime. The direction and the performances are flawless, but if Coppola were to film a three-hour long, very faithful adaptation of a parliamentary session with Al Pacino and De Niro, it would also get five stars, right? The sixth place in the top feels very exaggerated to me. (14/12/2008)

This mafia opus confirms its quality in the second part as well. Although Al Pacino is not Marlon Brando, the whole story of one mob family is still absolutely incredible. The five-star rating is indisputable here. Where else will a director offer you a better insight into the life of mobsters than in this film? (04/12/2012)