Throughout cinema history, plenty of filmmakers have had notably prolific years. Take a look atSteven Spielberg, for example, who hadJurassic ParkandSchindler’s Listboth come out in the same year. Now, that doesn’t mean they were both made at the same time, but there can’t have been that long between production on one and Spielberg working on the other, and he did something similar in the year 1997, which saw the release ofAmistadandThe Lost World: Jurassic Park. But enough about Spielberg…Francis Ford Coppolapulled off something similarly impressive in 1974, with one film of his winning Best Picture at the Oscars that year, and then another film of his released that year winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes.
But wait, there’s more! Before those two, Coppola directed what might well be considered the greatest gangster movie of all time, and then, later on in the same decade, he more or less redefined what a war film could be. Francis Ford Coppola was on a whole other level during the 1970s, and though hemade interesting films before then, andsome (really) interesting ones since then, it’s his 1970s output for which he’s most well-remembered.And, sure, ranking four masterful films is a difficult task, but not nearly as difficult as making all these great movies so close together. So, the following intends to highlight the great decade Coppola had in the ‘70s, with his four movies ranked, starting with the great and ending with the undisputed all-timers.
4’The Conversation' (1974)
Starring: Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield
Paranoia is the name of the gamewithThe Conversation, which is technically the “least compelling” of the Francis Ford Coppola movies that came out in the 1970s, but it’s still pretty phenomenal. It only suffers in comparison to a handful of other outright masterpieces. Also, it’s a good deal more low-key and intimate than the other films he directed during this decade, as all of them can belabeled epics in one way or another(in terms of runtime, especially, and with how much ground is covered and how many characters are featured). WithThe Conversation, it’s mostly about a single surveillance expert, and the way he unravels psychologically when he starts to believe the people he’s listening to might well be getting targeted for murder.
Gene Hackmanis as phenomenal as alwayshere, in that lead role, showcasing what he can do – and how he can command the screen – even when playing a quieter or seemingly more reserved character. Things burn slowly throughoutThe Conversation, and though it’s intense, it’s far from an action movie.Still, it keeps the tension crackling throughout, and the psychological journey the central character goes on is compelling. You do feel the tension and unease of it all, even when separated by a TV or movie screen, and much of what this film has to say about surveillance, voyeurism, and security (or lack thereof) still holds some relevance all these decades on from release (distressingly so, even).
The Conversation
3’The Godfather Part II' (1974)
Starring: Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton
And speaking of noteworthy movies that came out in 1974 and were directed by Francis Ford Coppola, here’s the more well-knownThe Godfather Part II. This one won Best Picture at the Oscars, whileThe Conversationwon the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, which is a remarkable double whammy. Also, another soon-to-be-mentioned Coppola film also won another Palme d’Or, and a further yet-to-be-mentioned Coppola movie won another Best Picture Oscar. All that stuff in the intro about this being his decade… yeah, none of that was exaggerating. Coppola was on absolute fire here.
It’s even a bit more than just a sequel, considering there are enough dramatically interesting flashbacks here to also make The Godfather Part II work as a pretty damn great prequel.
Oh, yeah, back toThe Godfather Part IIspecifically. It feels weird to have to rank it not at the very top, but there are two movies Coppola made in the 1970s that are just better, somehow. What is amazing aboutThe Godfather Part II, though, isthe quality of acting throughout, the way itwades into deeper and darker territory thematically, compared to the first movie, and the fact that it satisfies in such anundeniably strong way as a sequel. Well, it’s even a bit more than just a sequel, considering there are enough dramatically interesting flashbacks here to also makeThe Godfather Part IIwork as a pretty damn great prequel. It’s a movie that builds on the Corleone family, their history, and the criminal world they inhabit with ease. Also, even if they don’t interact, havingbothAl PacinoandRobert De Niroat the top of their respective games in the one movie? That’s got to count for something (well, it counts for a lot, more specifically).
The Godfather Part II
2’Apocalypse Now' (1979)
Starring: Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando, Albert Hall
Apocalypse Nowhas an overwhelming amount of things going for it, standing as maybe Francis Ford Coppola’s biggest, grandest, and most ambitious single film (though it’s sure got some competition in that regard). It is, at least initially, about one man being tasked with finding a Green Beret Colonel who has gone rogue, and could be causing problems somewhere in the jungles of Cambodia; enough problems that he apparently needs to be terminated with extreme prejudice. The journey to find this Colonel is a long and haunting one, though, withApocalypse Nowinitially showing a certain amount of realismwhen it comes to its Vietnam-set combat scenes, all before taking on a decidedly more surreal and uncomfortable feel as the target of the mission gets nearer.
Essentially, what it amounts to is a long, grueling, disturbing, and intense war film that makes you, as a viewer, feel a little like you’re going mad – or at least collapsing a bit psychologically – alongside the also-troubled main characters.Apocalypse Now, therefore, isn’t an easy watch by any means, but what it’s able to do as a piece of cinema is remarkable. The stories about this film’s production are pretty much just as interesting as the film itself, and it might well even be something of a miracle thatApocalypse Nowexists in any form (let alone the multiple cuts/editions that are out there and can be watched).It’s got a phenomenal cast, too,though Coppola might shine the most here, as an individual, given just how effectively he was able tocapture an intense creative vision.
Apocalypse Now
1’The Godfather' (1972)
Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan
It wasn’t the first gangster movie, by any means, and nor was it anywhere close to the last. But, more than 50 years on from its release,The Godfathermight well be the greatest of all gangster movies, orat least the safest pick you’re asked a question along the lines of, “Hey, which movie about old guys shooting each other because of disagreements that spiral out of control is the best?”This film introduces the Corleone family, and much of it revolves around the question of what will happen to the family crime empireonceMarlon Brandon’s Vitoages out of the role.He has a few sonswho could succeed him, but none seem like perfect matches. And, this is seen as something of a problem/weakness, which means other gangsters see the Corleones as potential targets.
There’s a lot of crime-related drama going on here, butThe Godfathertells its excellent,dramatic, and expansive story with surprising ease. You get a good idea of who everyone is, you feel strong emotions when big things happen, and then a satisfying conclusion is eventually reached… though, asPart IIshowed, there is also a little more story to tell after the door closes (literally) in this one. Otherwise, saying anything elseabout this movie that counts as praisewill just be parroting the sorts of things so many other people have already said. Yes,The Godfatherreally is that good, it’s the best thing Coppola ever directed, and it feels like it might well be timeless. If you had to try and convince someone to watch more gangster/mafia movies, and you could only pick one, this (or maybeGoodfellas) would be your best bet.
