This is an interesting topic because justifying violence depends on two very important aspects; point of view as well as previous experiences. The classic example of violence being justified via point of view in someone's mind is how Hitler justified the massacre of thousands of Jewish people. We think it to be horrid, crazy even. However we need to keep in mind the fact that previous experience could have lead him to think in that particular manner.
In The Godfather since we are following the story of the Corleone family, we have this tendency to get attached to the main characters. Whether they are good or bad, we’ll form loopholes and be all “well, they aren’t that bad, I mean they didn’t kill him, they just cut off his horse’s head and put it in the bed with him then smeared blood all over him. That’s it they could’ve just killed him!” That was my honest surprising reaction. Additionally, it then came to a point where I found myself just continuously sticking up for the Corleones and Don Vito. When the Don got shot, I felt everyone tense up, including myself. We didn’t, or at least I didn’t want him to die. When watching movies or reading a book, I get to know the character, and if it's a long or gut-wrenching movie, I get really attached to the characters :). Furthermore, my common sense completely disappears and in the end of movies I’ll get emotional and have to remind myself constantly that it was just a movie. How does this relate to the Godfather? Well, Don Vito does horrid violent things; nevertheless, that doesn’t make him a horrid person. It’s just that the violence that he allows to be carried out isn’t just, to my standards (probably our standards).
So is the violence in the Godfather justified? Absolutely not; but nevertheless we like to believe it is because we’ve been following their stories the whole time. It’s all a matter of point of view. Right now the Corleones look right and everyone else is the “bad guys” however with a quick change in point of view, (like when we see Kay Adams’ reaction to Michael’s story) everything reverses. I’m left wondering how I could ever believe the Corleone Family was right.
POST 2: Camera Angles: The Significance of the Door
This topic came up a lot in class and I found it quite intriguing. The door shot is quite significant and comes up multiple times. Now that we've analyzed it in class I'd like to analyze this "filmic device" using my own point of view.
The frequent recurrence of this unique view signifies that Coppola is trying to communicate with the viewer. The most obvious use of the door shot is the successive discrepancy between underground mafia dealings and the outside world. When the Don is dealing with the underground business, all of a sudden everything is serious and dark, ominous. However, as soon as they walk out the door it's all bright and beautiful. There are clear blue skies, a wedding is going on. It's perfect, but under the skin we don't know the full truth which adds even more suspense. Walk back in and it's back to business.
When Johnny Fontane talks to Don Vito about getting the movie deal, and how it means so much to his career, then leaves with Don Vito's reassurance that he will get the deal. They watch him leave and close the door, then speak in hushed tones about what they'll do. Back to the underground business.
Another shot that I really liked, was when Michael goes into the phone booth to find out about his father, the Don and Kay Adams is just stuck outside, with no clue as to what Michael is saying. That's a pretty powerful scene, and it also leads us to the conclusion that Michael is slowly becoming involved with the same family that he told Kay isn't him. But then the camera zoned in so that we could hear what he was saying. It's like being part of the family, reassuring and special but frightening at the same time, it's like getting mixed up with the wrong crowd.
That happens a lot, we are seeing something but we feel as if we aren't supposed to see it...
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