The Godfather is flawless. It's a perfect movie.
The script, the photography, the behavior. The casting is impeccable. Considering how they went around and around about who should play what and the opinions Coppola had to listen to and suffer through before he was allowed to have the actors he wanted, it is impeccably cast to a person. There are moments that hold up as the greatest examples of film acting ever. I see new things and feel it deeper every time I watch it. It simply gets better and deeper and more perfect with age.
Also, if I'm being honest - and why shouldn't I be honest about this, what's to lose? - I watch this film whenever I'm experiencing doubt about what I'm doing as an artist. It reminds me of what I aspire to, the kind of commitment and execution I want to emulate. Because it's so accomplished on so many levels that I always walk away from it feeling better about myself. It makes me forget the petty nonsense that comes with being in the profession, the petty personalities and the fear and aggressive stupidity it's riddled with. It reminds me of what's possible, not what is lacking. And I'm not talking about the story, that's something else for another discussion. I'm referring to the execution of it, the story *telling*.
"Leave the guns..... take the cannolis!"