Posts

The Godfather Part II at 50

Image
Al Pacino is brilliant as Michael Corleone.  The new "Godfather" emerges and he is tragic. The Godfather Part II is the greatest motion picture sequel ever made.  It is so great that it surpasses the original film.  It has the distinction of being the only sequel in film history to win the Best Picture Oscar following its prior film ( The Godfather ) also winning Best Picture.  In this review I'll try to explain why. The movie is unique in its narrative structure, simultaneously telling two interconnected stories: the continued saga of Michael Corleone (played brilliantly by Al Pacino) and the origin story of his father Vito Corleone (portrayed by a very young Robert De Niro in his breakout role.  His classic Taxi Driver performance would come two years later). What makes The Godfather Part II particularly remarkable is how it expands on themes from the first film while becoming its own, distinct film, offering a profound exploration of family, power, and the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Kendrick Lamar's GNX: Channeling Nietzsche's Power and Style (and other stuff)

Image
Kendrick Lamar with his 1987 Buick GNX.  I love the minimalism here. I have been impressed with the music of Kendrick Lamar since I got into 2017's DAMN. back in 2019 . I was definitely late for that party but better late than never, right?  His Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) didn't really impress me . But, I was on point (kinda accidentally) when GNX , his latest album, dropped with minimal fanfare on November 22, the anniversary of JFK's assassination (which is probably just coincidental). I was captivated by it for a couple of days but then had to refocus and finish my originally preferred interest in the music of Florence Price . But even while working on that I would sneak in some GNX now and then. The juxtaposition of Kendrick with Price is rather symbolic of the bizarre way my mind works most of the time.  Ah, dichotomy. I was introduced to GNX through a 1-minute teaser video that really caught my attention, mostly for its marvelous, powerf...
Post a Comment
Read more