Francis Ford Coppola has no attachment to two of his best movies: “I don’t really care”
Is it possible that anyone could make not just one, but two of the best movies in cinema history, but then not be that bothered about them at all? Surely they would be proud to have their name attached, to be the man or woman who directed a true classic? Well, not, it seems, if you happen to be Francis Ford Coppola.
That may be simplifying things to some degree, however, like many creatives, Coppola has gone back and forth over the 54 years that have passed since he brought the world the first Godfather movie, on occasion seeming dismissive about the epic that regularly tops lists of the greatest films of all time, but then in later years admitting he is proud of what he achieved.
Back in 1991, however, he was in the direct firing line of the ire of critics and audiences who were particularly unhappy with the long-awaited third part of his winding mafia tale, The Godfather Part III, which brought back Al Pacino and paired him not just with Andy Garcia but Coppola’s own offspring and future director Sofia.
Although the final installment in the story has since had its criticism revised somewhat and is now seen as a worthy part of the puzzle, if not anywhere near the standards of the seminal first two films in the early 1970s, at the time the feedback was fiercely scathing from many quarters, with much of the anger aimed at the supposedly nepotistic casting and Sofia Coppola’s subsequent performance, which even now will regularly pop-up on ‘worst acting ever’ YouTube videos.
It sent Coppola senior onto the defensive, leading him to become outwardly dismissive not just about Part III but the entire franchise, and at the time, he would open up to film writer George Hickenlooper about the issues he had with studio heads while trying to make the movie, who raised issues with Sofia’s casting and the budget, saying: “They made a big commotion, but I knew she was right for the part so I did it because that’s what I wanted to do. You know, the whole reason I did Part III was to try to regain my audience. It’s the audience who loves The Godfather pictures – I don’t really care about those movies.”
Adding, “For 13 years, I said that I didn’t want to do another sequel, but they kept asking me, ‘Will you do it?’ They kept sending me these stupid scripts, so when I agreed to do it, they still weren’t really ready for me to do it the way I wanted to.”
Evidently still on the defensive about the reaction to Part III, Coppola went on to complain that he wasn’t able to include footage he had reshot in the middle of making the film, because of pressure from studio executives for the movie to be ready in time to make the lucrative festive season in cinemas, calling what he was being asked to put together a ‘miracle’.
On release, some critics were kinder to the film than many audiences were, with the movie picking up seven Oscar nominations, but without any wins. In fact, rather unfortunately, the only two major awards the film did win were two of the notorious Golden Raspberries, both for Sofia Coppola for ‘Worst Supporting Actress’ and ‘Worst New Star’.
The film was then rereleased as a recut version in 2020, which is now widely seen as the best way to enjoy it.
