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Film   Critique 

First Scene in The Godfather. 

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Story Standpoint

 

Scene starts with dark lighting, setting a ominous mood. Everyone is wearing tuxedos, except for a man standing at the desk. A powerful looking man sits at a desk in the middle of the room petting a cat. It seems to be someones wedding. A zoomed in shot shows the eyes of Vito Corleone, who from his seating and positioning you can tell is the main focus. The man standing at the desk is asking Vito to kill people. Vito refuses, wide shot shows three people from the back, not as important as main focus. A long medium shot shows only Vito talking, talking to the man about how he doesnt respect him and he doesn't want Vito’s friendship. Vito makes a point and a lot of information comes from his expositional story, like how his wife is the godmother of this mans child, but he is not friendly to Vito. The man’s face is finally shown, and he asks for justice. Vito says that it is not justice because his daughter is alive and killing people is not justice. The mans face shows clear emotion as he says that Vito should make them suffer the way his daughter suffers. He then asks Vito Corleone, “How much shall I pay you?” This pisses the Vito off. The godfather doesn't care about money, he cares about respect. He gets up, puts down the cat and walks to the corner. He is in darkness, and asks the man “What did I ever do for you to treat me with such Disrespect?” He then walks into the light continuing his thought, saying how if the man (Bonasera) had come to him as a friend the men who hurt his daughter would already be suffering. The man then gives into the godfather’s wishes, showing him respect by asking to be friends calling him godfather, bowing and kissing his hand. The man then is escorted to the door by Vito, and the scene ends.

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SCENE STARTS:

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Technical and Camerawork Standpoint

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dark lighting, ominous mood

zoomed in shot, shows eyes (Window to soul)

Wide Shot, three people shown from back, not as important as main focus

Wide shot shows man, one is asking main focus for help

Main focus petting cat, sign of dominance

zoom in, medium shot shows Vito corleone's (main focus) face, mans back

Slow collected tone shows dominance

Long one take on main focus's face, good for speaking part to show alpha

Vito Makes a point, and camera finally shows other mans face halfway through the scene (Suspense)

Wide Room shot , man asks about money, long dramatic pause

Main focus stands up after sitting the whole scene, becoming menacing

another man in the wide shot gets up and walks off screen (wheres he going?)

Main focus walks into a dark shadowed corner, then walks out of it with hostility

walks out of corner with panning camera following him

Camera shows other man looking scared (Second time on him whole scene)

Shows main focus as alpha dog

The man kisses his hand and shows respect

Two men walk out of lighting, other man leaves. 

Scene Over

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Camera only switches angles 13 times in a three minute scene.

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