The Godfather Part III
Rent & Buy
In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege under his wing.
What critics thought
The third Corleone chapter has always divided critics along a clear fault line: those who find it a flawed but genuinely sweeping conclusion to the saga, and those who see it as a bloated, confused diminishment of what came before. Sofia Coppola's casting drew near-universal fire — even admirers of the film struggled to defend it — while the convoluted Vatican-politics plot and Al Pacino's later scenes drew additional complaints. The 2020 recut 'Coda' won warmer notices but critics largely agreed it was the same film with a better frame, not a rehabilitation.
“There is no way to predict what kind of performance Francis Ford Coppola might have obtained from Winona Ryder, the experienced and talented young actress, who was originally set to play this role. But I think Sofia Coppola brings a quality of her own to Mary Corleone. A certain up-front vulnerability and simplicity that I think are appropriate and right for the role.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“[Another] problem is the casting of Sofia Coppola, who is out of her acting league here. She's supposed to be Andy Garcia's love interest, but no sparks fly. He's more like her babysitter.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“a tedious effort to flog an old hippopotamus into action”
John Simon·National Review
“Here's the news and the ever-so-slight scandal: It's the same damn movie. [...] The one impactful change is the new opening scene”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Crime, Drama
Cast & Crew
Francis Ford CoppolaDirector
Al PacinoMichael Corleone
Diane KeatonKay Adams
Talia ShireConnie Corleone Rizzi
Andy GarciaVincent Mancini
Eli WallachDon Altobello
Joe MantegnaJoey Zasa
George HamiltonB.J. Harrison
Bridget FondaGrace Hamilton
Sofia CoppolaMary Corleone
Raf ValloneCardinal Lamberto
Franc D'AmbrosioAnthony Corleone
Donal DonnellyArchbishop Gilday
Carmine CoppolaComposer
Mario PuzoWriter
Gordon WillisCinematographyThe Godfather Part III
In the midst of trying to legitimize his business dealings in 1979 New York and Italy, aging mafia don, Michael Corleone seeks forgiveness for his sins while taking a young protege under his wing.
What critics thought
The third Corleone chapter has always divided critics along a clear fault line: those who find it a flawed but genuinely sweeping conclusion to the saga, and those who see it as a bloated, confused diminishment of what came before. Sofia Coppola's casting drew near-universal fire — even admirers of the film struggled to defend it — while the convoluted Vatican-politics plot and Al Pacino's later scenes drew additional complaints. The 2020 recut 'Coda' won warmer notices but critics largely agreed it was the same film with a better frame, not a rehabilitation.
“There is no way to predict what kind of performance Francis Ford Coppola might have obtained from Winona Ryder, the experienced and talented young actress, who was originally set to play this role. But I think Sofia Coppola brings a quality of her own to Mary Corleone. A certain up-front vulnerability and simplicity that I think are appropriate and right for the role.”
Roger Ebert·Chicago Sun-Times
“[Another] problem is the casting of Sofia Coppola, who is out of her acting league here. She's supposed to be Andy Garcia's love interest, but no sparks fly. He's more like her babysitter.”
Gene Siskel·Chicago Tribune
“a tedious effort to flog an old hippopotamus into action”
John Simon·National Review
“Here's the news and the ever-so-slight scandal: It's the same damn movie. [...] The one impactful change is the new opening scene”
Owen Gleiberman·Variety
Accolades
Genres
Crime, Drama
Cast & Crew
Francis Ford CoppolaDirectorAl PacinoMichael CorleoneDiane KeatonKay AdamsTalia ShireConnie Corleone RizziAndy GarciaVincent ManciniEli WallachDon AltobelloJoe MantegnaJoey ZasaGeorge HamiltonB.J. HarrisonBridget FondaGrace HamiltonSofia CoppolaMary CorleoneRaf ValloneCardinal LambertoFranc D'AmbrosioAnthony CorleoneDonal DonnellyArchbishop GildayCarmine CoppolaComposerMario PuzoWriterGordon WillisCinematographyRent & Buy