That’s why Al Pacino likes part one better than part two

Al Pacino became world famous with the role of Michael Corleone in “The Godfather” from 1972. Since then, the Italian-American, then 32, has been considered the most famous cinema mafiosi alongside Marlon Brando and Robert de Niro. The first two “Godfather” films by Francis Ford Coppola (based on the novel by Mario Puzo) are considered two of the best films of all time and are at the top of several rankings. Now, in an interview at NY92, Pacino, now 82, has explained that – and why – he favors the first part of the Godfather series over the second.

When asked by David Rubenstein if he liked The Godfather Part II better than the first, Pacino replied, “No, I don’t think so. I really think he’s more – what would you call it – artistic or something… I don’t know. I don’t want to downplay it and be overly modest because I’m starring with Bob de Niro, but at the same time it’s a different film.” “‘The Godfather’ is more entertaining. ‘The Godfather II’ is a study, it’s for Francis [Ford Coppola] very personal,” Pacino continues. “‘The Godfather’, which I’ve seen again recently, always has two or three things happening in a scene. You are always in the middle of the story. You don’t know what’s going to happen next, that’s storytelling, that’s really storytelling at its finest. ‘The Godfather II’ is linear in a way and different in a way, dark, slow moving. But it’s a great film, I have to say.” It’s interesting that Pacino describes Part 2, which works with flashbacks, as linear.

The first “Godfather” (1972) of Francis Ford Coppola’s mafia trilogy was nominated for eleven Oscars (of which he won three), the second (1974) was nominated for the same number – and won six awards. Both were awarded “Best Film”, for part two Coppola also received the director’s Oscar.