Tag: drama

The Godfather Part III (1990)

June 10, 2025June 10, 2025 · Leave a comment ·

When it comes to your legacy, you hope that your actions are at least good enough to block out the other actions that you aren’t too proud of. You wish to end it on your terms, with the sunset facing ever forward. Life doesn’t tend to work out like that, but the fantasy is there. In 1990, when Michael Corleone thought he was out, he was pulled back in The Godfather Part III.

Trailer

With Michael Corleone now in old age, the legacy of his criminal actions still looms over him. Now he wants to step aside to provide a peaceful retirement for his family, especially his daughter, Mary. Problems relating to the most unlikely of places risk Michael’s exit strategy. Real-world and fictional tribulations will come to a head. In what would being the final instalment of the Corleone saga.

Trailer 1

The gang films have certainly been upended with the recent instalments, no small part due to the legacy left by the first two Godfathers. There has been a sea of imitators and proteges. III still shows that the franchise can stand on its own. While the tales of the Corleone family were supposed to be wrapped up in part 2, with its prequel sequel combination, financial pressure brought Coppola back in when he thought he was out. It is interesting seeing the later years of the criminal enterprise being shown through the eyes of the Corleone family. Taking both the rumours and stories from the latter half of the century of crime, complained with some good old-fashioned gangster scenes, that are a part and parcel of the genre.

TV Spot.

Despite the decade and a half, most of the familiar faces (who have survived the last two films) make a return. Both Al Pacino and Diane Keaton return to this ultimate send-off. We have some newcomers to reflect the passage of time, like Joe Mantegna, who, if his appearances in The Simpsons didn’t tip you off, is an excellent fit as Joey Zasa. We see Mary all grown up, too. It would have been nice to see Winona Ryder or the late Rebecca Schaeffer, but carrying on from her cameo as an infant, Sofia Coppola steps in as Mary once again.

TV Spot 2.

The Godfather Part III’s biggest issue is that it has to live with following both The Godfather and its sequel. On its own, The Godfather III would have been a perfectly enjoyable entry in a tale about an aged gangster being brought back in. Dealing with both the truth and the legend in the later years of the Cosa Nostra. At least this combination offers some entertainment value and a chance for some newer faces to shine. The franchise does have an ending, not opting to refuse the offer to end on its terms.

TV Spot 3

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Mobsters (1991)

June 5, 2025June 5, 2025 · Leave a comment ·

The rise of organised crime came into its own with the organised part of the statement. Putting together such a system to coordinate the vast network of competing interests and power plays is no easy task, yet somehow, it came to be. In 1991, the tale of those who put the organised back in organised crime, in Mobsters.

Official Trailer 1

Following the rise of Lucky Luciano, and the infamous members of the Italian and Jewish gangs, mobsters including Bugsy Segal, Frank Costello, and Meyer Lansky. From their plucky origins on the crowded New York streets, to working with the established figures of the prohibition era crime. Their clashes with the old ways of doing things and their new ways may lead to innovations in the way that these mobsters operate. Putting the rise of the organisation into organised crime, and chronicling the origins of the Five Families system.

Official Trailer 2

With the critically acclaimed Bugsy on one side and Touchstone’s Billy Bathgate on the other, 1991 would prove to be an interesting year for films depicting the gangsters of yesteryear. Still, the rise of The Commission is as intriguing a topic for a film as ever. Even if you’re getting a little tired of seeing Tommy Guns and the rise and fall of those who use said Tommy Guns. There are flashes of style and brilliance in this telling of these mobsters, but also numerous scenes of guns, death, and violence that come with the territory for films like these.

TV Spot 1

Christian Slater leads as Lucky Luciano, taking over from Stanley Tucci from Billy Bathgate, still turning heads after his stint in Heathers a few years back. Alongside him is McSteamy himself, Patrick Dempsey, as Meyer Lansky. It is clear that this film is loaded with heartthrobs, putting customers in seats based on star power alone, but the assembled cast does well in their roles. There are other power players, including the late great Michael Gambon and F. Murray Abraham, representing the older guard of the pre-organised crime families. They all come together to help tell this story of the Mafia before it took hold in the heart of U.S. popular culture.

TV Spot 2

Mobsters demonstrates the plucky ingenuity of its subject by trying to be leaner and meaner during the making and the presentation. Slater et al. manage to turn heads as both the infamous Lucky Luciano and the other founding members of The Commission. The rise of this modern way of Organised Crime is an interesting subject for a film, and one that feels rare in a genre that feels well-trodden in media. While there may have been stiff competition for mobster films in the early 90s, if you were considering any other films, forget about it.

TV Spot 3

Billy Bathgate (1991)

June 3, 2025June 3, 2025 · Leave a comment ·

Coming up to a century since the figures depicted walked the earth, the media has been awash with tales of gangsters. Organised syndicates of mobsters have been turned into living legends, with films like The Godfather and Goodfellas, dosing the cold, hard reality of their lives, lost in their depictions. Their crimes fuel their “cool factor” amongst the impressionable. In 1991, years after the events depicted in a film showed the rise and fall of one criminal empire through the young eyes of Billy Bathgate.

Trailer.

Poor but talented, Billy quickly builds up a relationship with local mobster Dutch Schultz. Doing odd jobs for his syndicate and reaping the lifestyle. Tensions are rising between the pressure from prosecutors wanting to make a name for themselves, rival gangsters looking to expand into Schultz’s operations, and disloyalty in Schultz’s ranks. Donning the name, Bathgate, temptation will also come into Bathgate’s way in the form of Drew Prescott and dealing with the unpredictable nature of Schultz. Will Bathgate find his payday at the end of his criminal career?

TV Spot.

Mobster fever was certainly in the air in the early 90s, perhaps due to the success of Goodfellas and, to a lesser extent, the Dick Tracy film. But between Bugsy and Miller’s Crossing, the competition was cutthroat for films about organised mobsters. Most of the film is told from the titular Billy’s perspective, so we are treated to a lot of shots of him reacting to the highs and lows of mobster life and the whims of Schultz. It is interesting also seeing how all that gets upended with the inclusion of Drew into the mix, sworn to protection by her ex Weinberg, who disappeared one fateful day in 1935. That being said, it is a mob film, and you will have a certain expectation of certain set pieces that they will provide. Billy’s trials through the highs and lows of mobster life will more often than not hit those marks.

Another TV Spot.

Touchstone managed to assemble a compelling cast to tell this story, the film blending real-life gangland figures with fictional characters to help drive the narrative forward. Nicole Kidman is as charming as ever as the gangster’s moll and femme fatale, Drew Prescott. It feels like hardly any time has passed since her time in that tense boat-based thriller, Dead Calm, some few years earlier. Steve Buscemi is here decades before his success as Nucky Thompson, as is Bruce Willis, who feels born to play Bo Weinberg. Even though his presence in the film is brief, he still oozes the cool customer persona that served as his Bruno character. But eyes are on Dustin Hoffman as Schultz, you never quite know what character will be in each scene, from charismatic talker to dangerous psychopath, all in the blink of an eye.

Trailer.

Billy Bathgate, although following the usual conventions of these mobster films, does tell an interesting tale of Schultz right before his fall. Blending its truth and fiction, with an impressionable youth serving as an audience surrogate, tells its crime doesn’t pay message entertainingly. If you like those tales, this is yet another example of a slice of the Cosa Nostra. While there is no shortage of crime films, the tale of Billy Bathgate is unique enough.

Official Trailer.

Inchon! (1981)

April 17, 2025April 17, 2025 · Leave a comment ·

The various global conflicts throughout human history have spilled countless gallons of blood, but have also given us many tales of heroism, where quick wits and nerves of steel have helped change the course of battle. The media tends to love this, spending myriad hours retelling these stories. In 1981, with strong financial backing, Director Terrance Young attempted to retell the lives of those involved with The battle of Inchon!

With the destruction of World War 2 behind it, the Asian front is in a precarious position. Ideological differences and foreign influences have split the Korean peninsula in two. Both sides want reunification with them in charge. That is, until six years later, after receiving backing from the Soviets, the North Koreans launched an invasion force that pushed the South to the brink of extinction. If Operation Chromite can be made a success, the fight to retake the peninsula can begin.

The main selling point of Inchon is the film’s depiction of the many perspectives of the people involved. I say many perspectives, but the film doesn’t focus on the North much. From the high decision-makers trying to plan Operation Chromite, to the lowly troops and civilians who lie in the balance, Inchon shows the human struggle in all avenues affected by the titular Inchon landing. In almost a similar perspective to the hit dramedy M.A.S.H. However, if you want to see plenty of daring action scenes, Inchon still has you covered.

The story behind the film might be more infamous than the film itself, with lots of figures you wouldn’t expect financing a feature film lending 40 Million, a lot of money for a film back then. But you can see that investment is reflected in the talent assembled. The film casts Laurence Oliver as General McArthur, who campaigned in the region during W.W.2 and whose expertise is called on again here. You also might recognise the original Shaft himself, Robert Roundtree is here too. Terrance Young, who you might remember from some of the more iconic ’60s James Bond films, was picked to direct this film. Robin Moore, who wrote the novel that The French Connection was based on, wrote a large part of the script too. Along with Jerry Goldsmith providing yet another iconic score.

While this infamous film is hard to find, and its reception is still talked about to this day, Inchon is more than just the fascinating story of how it came to be. If you do find a copy, watch it because you can. If the gathering of big names doesn’t impress you, then the opportunity to see some more perspectives on the Korean War, outside M.A.S.H. The tapes are circulating, still making sure that as far away as the film was from the battle, you can still see Inchon!

Gods and Generals (2003)

April 8, 2025April 8, 2025 · 1 Comment ·

In any conflict, there are winners and losers, this cannot be helped of course as that generally is how conflicts tend to resolve themselves. Whether you were right or wrong doesn’t really matter, or may not even be truly knowable, but the debates will echo on long after the cession of any hostilities, long after any surviving member can rebuke the argument. In 2003 to follow up on the cinematic epic of Gettysburg over a decade ago, Ted Turner and others chronicled some of the tacticians of the losing side in Gods and Generals.

Following the life of Civil War belligerent, Stonewall Jackson, Gods and Generals focuses on the Civil War largely from the Confederate’s perspective. Almost immediately after the initial attack of Fort Sumner, we learn how he got the name Stonewall and his actions up until his death after the Battle of Chancellorsville. Gods and Generals threw a spotlight on General Lee, and selected few tacticians of the Civil War.

Focusing almost exclusively on the runners-up of the Civil War, Gods and Generals feels like the call and response to the other Civil War epic Gettysburg a decade earlier. Attempting to show the South’s Secession solely from their eyes. While, there have been many factors offered towards why the South did try to break away a century and change ago. The film has characters with the almost flowery poetic language used to justify their actions, it might be a tough pill to swallow as the causes and motivations of the war are heavily debated to this day. Yet if you want to see some of the greats of cinema take on these characters, Gods and Generals gives you another chance.

Sans the great Martin Sheen, a lot of the cast of Gettysburg do return, albeit playing new roles. General Robert E. Lee is Robert Duvall, but among him are such titans acting like W. Morgan Sheppard. Stonewall himself is Stephen Lang, who has recently risen in ranks after playing Pickett in Gettysburg. He is a capable actor, from his time as Freddie in Manhunter to his recent appearances in the Avatar films as the Colonel. Depending on what version you watch, you might also get extended footage of one John Wilks Booth, a valued player on Sondheim’s musical, and noted hater of quote-unquote tyrants. Rounding out the cast of characters in this Civil War play.

You don’t get many epics like Gods and Generals, certainly not ones clocking in at over three and a half hours. However, attempting to match up with the impressive might of Gettysburg might have forced Ted Turner et al down this path. It goes without saying that now is your chance if you watched Gettysburg and developed more of a taste for more epics based around the time. Although there were three books in this trilogy, Gods and Generals couldn’t muster up that much of a demand for the final instalment to be filmed. Although the South’s flirtation with independence lasted officially for only a few years. The efforts to compile the saga to film have gone on a lot longer.

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