Sofia Coppola and The Godfather Part III Disaster

[@BugVlogs]

Few things in this life are as satisfying as knowing exactly which video you’re going to watch during your lunch break at work

[@LoneWulf278]

This spoke to me. 😂

[@ZK2001-n1f]

Literally😂

[@mr.blackhawk142]

NOT as satisfying as THROWING my TV outta the TOP floor window! :P

[@katherinelynch4193]

This came out at 7pm my time, I’m watching it on my train ride home.

[@lenni9669]

This comment is just so relatable that i wish i could like it a thousand times

[@Erasureeraser]

As Sofia Coppola once said that she has more passion in filmmaking than acting so it's good to hear that the criticism for her Godfather III performance didn't destroy her

[@lewis7515]

It destroyed her acting pretentions... Good - and of course she'd tell the world she has more passion in filmmaking than acting: the world has seen that she quite obviously can't act!

[@soaribb32]

​@@lewis7515 But her film making was also not very well recieved many times, unfair or not, The negativity was always there for her no matter what. She's just powered through it.

[@VenusianLissette]

i enjoy Sofia’s work, so I’m very grateful she made the pivot into filmmaking instead. (I’m also very glad she pushed through all the negative stuff, like i said, i love her work-i’m better for having experienced it & i enjoy it lol)

[@lewis7515]

​@@soaribb32 Her films are just so wearisome..... She should be glad of her sneaky Oscar and chill out.

[@Erasureeraser]

​@@soaribb32Most of her movies were well recieved dude, she's literally an Oscar winner for writing Lost In Translation. Now, people know her as a world class filmmaker instead of the person who ruined Godfather III. Because there were way worse reasons why Godfather III was a disappointment than Sofia's performance

[@matwilliams8012]

What killed Part 3 was the studio refusing to pay Robert Duvall his asking price. The trilogy always seemed to be building to a Michael and Tom confrontation so when they lost Duvall, the true heart and emotional centrepiece of the movie (and the trilogy) went with him.

[@pferreira1983]

Pretty sure show that Hamilton didn't replace him. They created a new character to take his place.

[@achildr1]

This was it for me.

[@Sabotage_Labs]

Good point. Duvall is one of a very small number of really good actors. He could have made a huge difference.

[@mattlewis6833]

This is true

[@jpotter2086]

Absolutely a missing piece of the chemistry. The end product has always felt forced to me ... like an exploitation film, which, to me at least, it was.

[@host_theghost507]

If Winona Ryder had stayed in the role of Mary, critics would be talking about how Winona Ryder had ruined The Godfather Part III. The part is so critical to the plot and yet so poorly written, I doubt that any actor could have pulled it off. As you say, Mary was supposed to be a temptress and yet totally naive. Not a good casting for Ryder, who tended to play wised-up ingenues: Lydia Deetz and Veronica Sawyer wouldn't have gone within a mile of Vincent. But it doesn't matter. The film just sags. Michael Corleone's story had already ended-there's no coming back from killing your brother-and Coppola's heart just wasn't in it. The first time I watched the attack helicopter scene, I told my companion, "Omigod he's using one of his movies to kill off another one of his movies." Sofia deserves to move on. Her parents screwed her over. Thanks for another great read.

[@CANNNIBALIX]

i thought something similar, also Winona with her overacting would be comical

[@calamityradio]

That's a good point honestly. It seems like they were hiring Wynona more for being the Hottest Star at the time rather than for actually fitting the role they were going for. It'd be like casting Jenna Ortega if this were made today.

[@DeviantDork]

Nope

[@AlanSideiron]

The movie is so bad even Al Pacino was lousy. Andy Garcia instead of Robert Duval? Garcia almost as bad as Sofia. The whole thing reeks of the desperate money grab that it was. Coppola is a true genius but I think he was right when he said that he never really recovered from Apocalypse.

[@host_theghost507]

@@AlanSideiron I just watched Hearts of Darkness last night, and I believe you're right. I can never get that moment out of my mind when Coppola is more concerned about the impact Martin Sheen's heart attack will have on the budget than he is about the fact that he drove Sheen to that heart attack. I've also seen behind the scenes footage of him calling Winona Ryder a whore during a rehearsal for Dracula, all so he could break her down mentally. To get a shot. Because actors apparently need to be torn to shreds before they can, y'know, act.

[@lacebark2561]

The insight into Life Without Zoe being strongly influenced by Sofia was just lovely. Francis may not have made the best decision for her with GFIII, but collaborating with her on New York Stories shows he obviously nurtured her talent.

[@joshliam1967]

I had no idea Coppola lost his son right before making Godfather III...this episode reminded me of why I love your channel!

[@EyebrowCinema]

An hour of BKR on Godfather? I feel blessed and spoiled.

[@bkrewind]

had to add the eyebrow cameo too!

[@BugVlogs]

A crossover between two of my favorite KZbinrs 😳

[@cuppiesaur]

woman in movie business? nepotism - do better. nepotism SUCKS

[@One.Zero.One101]

I really love the background stories. I never knew any of the inside stories of this issue and it's great getting the full context. Sometimes the production drama is more interesting than the movie itself. That's why I really love "The Movies That Made Us".

[@christopherroa9781]

Tbh the helicopter scene embodies so much of what's wrong with Godfather pt. 3. Its bizarre, feels less intimate and impactful unlike the previous installments in the trilogy

[@kennyscott2376]

And the scene was edited very poorly

[@charlesmeniru5082]

“Helicopter in my gangster movie,unwatchable 😢”

[@jackthehat1093]

I watched part 3 once and that's the only scene I even vaguely remember. A helicopter shooting into an office building like in the Matrix when Neo rescues Morpheus.

[@jackthehat1093]

@@charlesmeniru5082 Yeah it's strange. The series was a realistic drama not an action movie. Gangsters don't use attack helicopters, they use garotte wires, blades or firearms.

[@inactive5501]

Ironic that Sofia was torn to shreds for this role but has since gone on to have the best reputation as a filmmaker of all the Coppola kids

[@mountain85]

But c'mon ?! Replacing Winona Ryder?! For your own ! Why have an audition if you don't want outsiders !

[@A-FrameWedge]

Is that really saying much, she is the best of the worst.

[@inactive5501]

@@mountain85 why are u phrasing this like she did that did u even watch the video that was all francis. also winona ryder was bedridden, it’s good that she got a break.

[@libbybollinger5901]

@@inactive5501it seems to me that comment was phrased like it was directed at Francis Ford Coppola, not Sofia Coppola

[@kopec82]

Best? No no she is ok

[@MineShackle]

This honestly made me kinda emotional. Such a terrible position to be in as a young person. So glad that she was able to grow from it and become who she is today

[@mcolville]

"Distractingly bad" is probably right, but having seen the results of Coppola directing Ryder in Dracula...I'm not sure the movie would be hugely different with the original casting.

[@lakrids-pibe]

Not my favorite Coppola movie. Haha!

[@jenynz5334]

Right? I never saw her as sexy...

[@keenoled]

As someone who thinks Ryder is insanely over hyped, yep. She was good with Cher and in Beetlejuice, and imho done her best to ruin Little Women, Dracula, etc etc etc. Cast her as exactly that one type, don't make her do a character, she can't pull it off.

[@helveeta]

@@keenoled I agree, she is highly overrated! I would rather Sofia in this role than winona.

[@exspiravit6920]

I LOVE that Drac movie despite Her. It overwhelms her until I don't even notice her or Keanu's weird English speak.

[@takenserious4554]

"It would have been good without Sofia" - cut to Al Pacino doing the most ridiculously dramatic, unreal wailing anyone has ever seen.

[@nickrustyson8124]

He was doing the Dunkacino scene and Francis is like, "Good, now that's a great acting, he's a legend, if you laugh at him you don't understand film or act"

[@franko2886]

The scene in the kitchen where he takes a fit is hilarious... so OTT.

[@Wungolioth]

I saw what was being served from the birthday party scene, the little soft shoe dance, he was phoning it in, he was playing Michael Corleone as a cartoon character, it was a paycheck for him at this point.

[@peterfuentes5893]

I thought the wailing was spot on. People react like that when their child dies right in front of them and it’s their fault. Maybe you’ve never seen someone experience some tragic before but I’ve seen it a few times and people do react that way.

[@takenserious4554]

@@peterfuentes5893 Fair.

[@Advent3546]

I'm glad Sofia didn't lose passion for filmmaking after all this.

[@ian-fm2xc]

She was useless in Godfather 111 she ruined every scene she was in

[@uglybetty8747]

@@ian-fm2xcyeah

[@JanellyChacon]

So exaggerative your really gonna blame an 18 year old for acting in this movie knowing she might've gotten pressured by her famous father to be in it? @@ian-fm2xc

[@julijepp]

​@@ian-fm2xc God, take your opinion somewhere where it hasnt been heard before 🙄

[@ozymandiasultor9480]

@@ian-fm2xc Wow, you discovered hot water...again. Now tell us how good a director she became and we will have the whole story. She is incredible as a director, and that is as much fact as it is that she is not good as an actress.

[@lizd.8655]

My love for Sofia just increased 10 fold after that final quote! I can't believe she was only 18 during filming, it just makes the cruelty and scrutiny she went through all that more heartbreaking. I'm glad she had the support system to protect her afterwards and that she's made her mark on the world

[@noctap0d]

Right? Such a badass, I love her.

[@MrShanester117]

Obsequious

[@czandler9234]

She was 18 , not 8.

[@julijepp]

​@@czandler9234 Yeah this isnt making any point over anyone but yourself buddy

[@Rumkitty2000]

​@@czandler9234Which was even more...intimidating. She may officially be an adult, but she was still a teenager, and the criticism would have even more of an impact as she's just starting to go out on her own, to build a career. Whatever your work as a child, it doesn't count when you're doing your first film as an adult. It's like starting over and the. viciousness of the criticism can be crushing. Good thing we didn't have the internet back then or it would have been even worse.

[@milesbrad9975]

Sofia Coppola went from being dunked on as the "worst performance of all time", to winning an Oscar and earning a reputation as a groundbreaking director for female filmmakers, and an auteur in her own right. Seems obvious who had the last laugh

[@singstreetcar5881]

White privilege and nepotism at work

[@MADEbySOUL]

Sofia won the battle by just continuing being in the industry and creating projects. To have that much negativity pushed on her so young could have paralyzed anyone. Heck, even older people would have a fear of remaining in a field that hurt them so much.

[@cristianacevedo178]

Nepo babies don't have reasons to cry

[@BibliotecaModa]

​@@cristianacevedo178even with all the privielege of the world you would crumble the moment you receive half the hate she received for this.

[@Talisguy]

Nepo baby or no, being an inexperienced, untrained teenage actress forced to take on a key role in a film that your father's career has come to hinge on gives you plenty to cry about. Sure, it's probably not a coincidence that one of the only female directors who's regularly thought of as an Auteur was the daughter of another Auteur, she was afforded opportunities as a creator that most aspiring female directors never would have gotten at her age, but I'm still glad she has more of a legacy than her performance as Mary.

[@smitha5022]

I think what ruined the godfather 3 was the fact that it was made out of desperation.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

the plot was poor

[@susanmorano405]

An incomprehensible plot Bad acting (over acting in some instances) Bad casting- not only Sofia Coppola but George Hamilton

[@phyllishaske2354]

I would of said greed.

[@gbonkers666]

Or they were bored and said, "Let's make godfather 3" and the studio said, "Just take my money."

[@nihilisticbarbie]

the first one was the one that was made of desperation and it was one of the best in history

[@mellowyellow403]

I know the focus was on Sofia’s acting but when I first saw this movie as a teenager I couldn’t get over Mary messing around with her cousin without the movie being based in 1850😅😅😅

[@omnipotentfaces1514]

So weird and gross, especially with her dad behind the camera! Just goes as another example why the film was bad for more reasons than one side character did a bad performance.

[@CarolinaFlorezCoaching]

Update: please read my words carefully as this is a hot topic, so people are likely to misconstrue them. I’m not trying to normalize anything here, just trying to point out why it might have been included in a storyline from a movie taking place after the 1850s. Context. It’s an italian family. As a latina, having crushes and *some* people messing around with their cousins was not strange when we were young. Note: I lumped crushes with “some messing around”, which means I’m mostly talking about crushes not being strange. And “messing around” is a vague term that some of you seem going off the deep end with.

[@andreachaparro3742]

You have to take into consideration that they didn't grow up together. We know to not mess around with our cousins because we learn to see them as almost brothers and sisters - she didn't spend this time with Vincent, so she only gets to see him as a hot guy that people say is related to her😅 But, I get it, it's weird either way

[@penelopephelange]

@@CarolinaFlorezCoaching well it is strange and needs to stop 🤮

[@tessdurberville711]

The upper classes married relatives for centuries (many still do). Especially if there are titles, land or other property and wealth involved. Would you want all of those things going to a stranger? Also, people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, financial and social status seldom have successful unions. It is just simpler to know who you are and where you belong.

[@gabbyb7347]

Please do a video about Madonna's ill fated film career. I would LOVE to see a video with so much empathy and context about that topic which a lot of people find so ficinating

[@johannawigg6921]

What a great idea! I'd be very interested

[@gabbyb7347]

@@johannawigg6921 there would A LOT to discuss regarding the feminism in both Desperately Seeking Susan and A League of Their Own (both directed by women). The misogyny in roles like Swept Away, Body of Evidence and Dangerous Game (all of them written and directed by men)

[@Rumkitty2000]

​​@@gabbyb7347Madonna really isn't a very good actress. The reason she did so well in the two movies you mentioned, plus Evita, is because in all three, she was basically playing herself. In "A League..." it's almost like the part was written *for* her.

[@Talisguy]

​@@gabbyb7347 The misogyny in Swept Away is pretty fascinating, because it's carried over directly from the film it's remaking, which was written and directed by a woman. The original had themes of class warfare that combined...badly with the gender dynamics of the leads' interactions, so I can at least sort of understand how it ended up that way even though it's...very yikes. But the remake is too vapid to have themes, so it comes off even worse.

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

I have only discovered Sophia Coppola as an exciting director and never even knew she was in the Godfather 3. This deep dive was fascinating!

[@ozymandias7372]

U have no idea how bad people criticised her back then. It was referenced in so many shows and movies.

[@user-pl7lr5dn8q]

no ones likes nepo babies thats why

[@leighcochran7303]

Be Kind Rewind is always so intelligent and deeply researched!

[@MICHAEL_MAY_8]

I think a lot of people are missing the point. It wasn't just the inexperience that may have shown itself on the screen. The decision to cast Sophia led to toxicity all over the set. Francis had to bring his lawyers onto the set in an attempt to quell dissension. But that doesn't mean all of the questions simply went away. The actors, the writers, the producers, executives ALL disagreed with the decision and were convinced that it was a monumental mistake. So right from the beginning, the entire film was swimming in toxicity. Right or wrong, this absolutely impacted the entire project. I'm not saying it was the only reasaon for the debacle, but it definitely was a big factor.

[@leighcochran7303]

Francis, if EVERYONE says you're wrong, maybe you should listen.

[@darrenrenna]

I felt that the first cousin romance was more of a weakness of the film than Sofia's performance.

[@sole__doubt]

I said the same thing about season 3 of The Sopranos. The Meadow and Jacky Jr romance is easily the worst writing found in the show.

[@Stiffjab71]

I couldn't agree more although during the last century in some cultures it wasn't felt as odd as it actually is and always was

[@DeeDeeMe]

I completely agree with your thoughts. I really did not like Part 111

[@dustinallison11]

@@Stiffjab71 Muslims still do it to this day.

[@fanofgodjimindiva2497]

Sofia's acting was beyond terrible, I've seen better acting in xxx films, I'm not kidding

[@WilliamMoore-p4g]

She turned out to be the literal poster child to the phrase, "What I really want to do is direct." She is much better at it.

[@lord_oblivion666]

She'd be better as a porn actress than either as director or actress.

[@sole__doubt]

If you say so. My ex gf loved that Lost in Translation movie and I tried to get through it a couple times but its so boring.

[@WilliamMoore-p4g]

Yeah, no explosions, car chases, catch phrases, big big guns?@@sole__doubt

[@douglasmatthew4884]

The movies that she directs all seem like tampon ads.

[@colpul2103]

@@sole__doubt That's kind of unfair. Not that it wasn't to your taste, that is fair, but it wasn't a well directed film with a voice. The cinematography was very good, the editing was very good, the direction was very good. I'm not a huge fan of her movies as an audience member but I can see they are well made with skill and passion, and if those were they type of stories I liked those would be movies I like.

[@foxesofautumn]

I don't think any film has ever been derailed solely by one performance and, if it has, it was not the sole fault of a teenage actress. A better story, a tighter script, a tone that fit the first two better would have gone a long way into seeing the film better remembered. I mean Jar Jar Binks was awful but you don't see people saying he's the reason the Star Wars prequels were disappointing. They know that a lot of things went wrong there. Also maybe we don't attack teenagers in the press, especially over such slight things that weren't even their call?

[@lakrids-pibe]

I don't think *Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets* was ruined by the lead cast. I think the problem was the script and directing, that put a weird emphasis on Valerian as an obnoxiously horny douchebag. It's a visually gorgeous film, a fantastic realization of the comics it's based on, but Valerian himself is not. Luc Besson made a lot of changes to the dynamics between Valerian and Laureline, and its all terrible. People always bring up the lack of chemistry between Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne, people want another *The Fifth Element* with Bruce Willis from 1997 in the lead, but I don't think ANY actor could have saved that mess. Because the script is a mess.

[@willdiesel8431]

People can say whatever they want. That doesn't erase the abuse the man behind the prosthetics had to endure. The prequels weren't needed at the time they were demanded. The Star Wars movies already had their trifecta. The Godfather leaving off at 2 legendary movies would always draw ire for not being complete.

[@snakers716]

It wasn't derailed by that. It was more derailed by the helicopter scene and the unrealism of that. "My lucky coat". People were laughing at how absurb it was.

[@plasticweapon]

the whole movie is bad, and it just shouldn't have been made. it's not about sophia, it's not about duvall not being there, that stuff was just symptoms of an overall problem.

[@plasticweapon]

@@willdiesel8431 the abuse the man behind the prosthetics had to endure? what are you on about? who are you trying to turn into some kind of cause?

[@ZER0PHONIK]

Thanks for the heads up on Mubi! What a fantastic story this is. It's so awesome to see how she was able to persevere. We didn't know it at the time, but when she said "fuck em, I'll show them", she wasn't speaking about this role, she was alluding to where this journey will take her in the end. 32:21

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

Godfather III wasn't ruined by Sofia. It was ruined by Francis. Right from the start. The premise, that Michael was genuinely trying and succeeding in getting out of crime... that changed everything about his tragic character arc. The whole first two films were him breaking bad. And then he had an unearned off screen redemption between the 2nd and 3rd film. That doesn't work.

[@ohauss]

I disagree. Yes, he was breaking bad, but he still felt dragged into it, obligated to do it, because it was his family that was being threatened and nobody else who could save it. That doesn't mean that once he feels the family "business" is safe from external threats, he tries to turn the ship into a direction he feels more comfortable sailing in. Do you not remember the ending scene of Godfather II, where Michael remembers how on Vito's 50th anniversary, he announced he'd dropped out of college and joined the Marines? What's so strange about the notion that he then decides he wants to link back to that?

[@Crumphorn]

Yes, in Godfathers 1 & 2, he slowly descends into icy-hearted sociopathy. In Godfather III, he's a lovable Willie Wonka.

[@robburkins8029]

Michael’s turn away from crime seemed believable- he’s considerably older at the start of 3 and he’s completely alone. Even Vito chilled out in his later years.

[@ohauss]

@@Crumphorn That's plain and simply false. As I already pointed out, at the end of Godfather II, he sits, alone, reminiscing on how as a reaction to Pearl Harbor, he decided that it was his duty to serve his country, and that his country was as important to him as his family. Back then, he was left sitting alone at the table by his family. He came back when they were threatened. He did what he had to do to protect them. Now they're gone, and with them their expectations as to what's right and what duties he has to whom. And that leaves him thinking back of those days when he decided to do what HE thought was the right thing to do.

[@JonSmith-hk1bq]

I don't think there's much of an issue with Michael being racked with guilt. At the end of second movie, he's essentially done away with his enemies and has nothing but time to contemplate the monster that he is. And it's not like he got away with it. In the end, he was destroyed by his decisions.

[@edmann1820]

I agree with Ebbert. The character is 18. Lot's of 18 year olds are a bit awkward as they wrestle their anxiety and a bit fake as they try to hide their true emotions. Her performance, I feel, has real truth. I believe she's half a kid in a new and scary adult world trying to navigate it, because she was. The relationship with her cousin should NOT have great chemistry. The relationship is weird and creepy. For her it's daddy issues. For him it's far darker. People commented that she's not beautiful enough to realistically make Vincent fall for her and blah blah whatever. Vincent wants her because he sees it as a route to securing power. He's a bastard and if he marries her he feels he will be a true Corleone. He also thinks it will secure his status as heir. Both characters do not have true feelings for each other they're both in love with the idea of the other and in Vincent's case what he can get from the relationship.

[@Mjhaider1985]

This is the best comment on a youtube video, ever.

[@edmann1820]

@@Mjhaider1985 Thank you so much 😊 I did think of something else. You could say that their feelings are all about Michael. She wants a stand in for her father and to also rebel so that Michael will give her more attention. Vincent wants to be adopted and have the dad and the belonging to a family he's always craved.

[@singstreetcar5881]

Awkward 18 year old are, the kids from modern family or stranger things, or the kids from the americans. These child actors played the awkward teenage very well Sophia performance was giving its my first day in high-school drama class

[@orangeants]

Anyone who thinks she isn’t beautiful has got to be kidding anyway.

[@neongrey333]

yeah yes yes this

[@archkender]

Thank you for such a beautiful documentary. It was a real pleasure to learn about Francis and Sofia Coppola's history on their various films and I appreciate the humanity you highlighted in all Francis Coppola's panned works. As a father, I can fully appreciate Francis' attitude to grow, nurture, and challenge Sofia's talents, even at the potential cost of his own reputation. It is very unfortunate that Sofia was solely blamed for Godfather III and it must have haunted Francis as well. I'm glad Sofia's other talents pulled through and she was not utterly crushed by the unkind press and critics.

[@EvelynEvieFair]

This was the comment I was hoping to find. People are so cruel.

[@smashedlittlek]

This is exactly what I thought. Thank you for explained it so well!

[@corgeousgeorge]

Woah, the whole son/ Brother dying in a tragic accident and how he was Francis' heir apparent puts a context on this whole thing and all of their careers that I was NOT expecting. Thanks for this outstanding work, as usual.

[@tommywise9128]

The audible GASP I just let out when I saw this was your newest video.

[@ginakearney4146]

Right?! I drop everything when I see a new video from BKR.

[@morganleanderblake678]

A tiny bit, I feel like the Virgin Suicides was the answer to this movie - like, "This is how you direct a young woman."

[@LittleMissLion]

I love how safe she made Kirsten Dunst feel.

[@LittleMissLounge]

Or Lick the Star.

[@ciscornBIG]

Lmao​@@LittleMissLion

[@drtg101we7]

I am sure her father needed instruction on how to direct, it’s not like he’d made any great movies before, right? Stop talking about women in cinema like they are animals or children i.e. that they are in need of extra guidance.

[@Aliasass]

Not as good as her movies tho natural progression​@@drtg101we7

[@charmainearongay6448]

This is truly the epitome of being kind to the rewind. The context to give grace and understanding of this controversy. I love it

[@correypeta]

This isn't about grace and being kind! Give me a break. This is filmmaking and it just needs to be good. If an actor sucks and decisions were made that wrecked a movie, then its just factual. No one owes grace. Other actresses could have been cast! Damn. We don't pay money to watch crap.

[@waywardmind]

People say that no one could have played Mary well, given the script, but c'mon . . . Sofia Coppola keeps *looking directly into the camera* throughout the whole movie. She was insanely out of her depth. Her father should have never pressured her into agreeing to it or sticking with it.

[@Sammyandbobsdad]

Although I felt her performance was lacking, I never once thought it was her fault, she was placed in an impossible position way over her head, a pivotal role in a faulty film, there are lots of things wrong with it that have nothing to do with her. And she is a talented director.

[@domenicv7962]

She was perfectly fine.....get real

[@movieandtheatrelover5587]

Well after winona ryder dropped put he did consider putting madonna and a couple of other actresses before sofia

[@balabanasireti]

​@@domenicv7962 No... get real

[@domenicv7962]

@@balabanasireti get lost

[@nickrustyson8124]

​@@movieandtheatrelover5587Jesus fucking Christ I would love to see the shitshow Madonna would've made, Francis would've be like a Martin Breast

[@1957DLT]

The problem with Godfather 3 is that it was not even a good movie, muchless a good Godfather movie. I can still remember shots and scenes from 1 and 2 as though I were seeing them first time in theater. I cannot even remember if Michael lives or dies in 3. Sofia was not good in this, but she sure as hell didn't deserve the vilifying she took in the press...as though the entire weight of failure for Godfather 3 rested solely on her shoulders.

[@rainespells1273]

Same lol I do not remember a thing about Part 3 and it cannot be her fault

[@KingofCrusher]

Yeah she sucked but the movie just sucked overall. Winona couldn't have saved it.

[@bened22]

Blaming women ... a true classic. An early instance can be found in the Bible.

[@tomfleischhacker3172]

The Godfather 3 shot that sticks out to me is Mary standing on the opera steps with a bullet wound through her chest. The expression on her face…

[@willdiesel8431]

​@@bened22yeah I'm sure her father avoided ALL criticism because of what's between his legs. You need help.

[@dollz4ever]

I can understand where the critics were coming from, her performance is not that great but it adds a sense of realism. Her character is a young woman coming out of adolescence, of course she isn't going to have a lot of sex appeal because she is barely eighteen. The scenes between her and a thirty year old man kissing shouldn't be sexy, it's creepy and in reality shouldn't be so much of a fantasy because her character is being taken advantage of by her COUSIN twice her age.

[@neongrey333]

yeah like she really lays bare that a natural performance is not necessarily a good performance, was just not the thing for this movie

[@gelchert]

Sofia was 18, but according to the series’ timeline, Mary is supposed to be about 25 (she’s born sometime in the mid 1950’s, and Part III is set in 1979). Playing someone considerably older and (ostensibly) more mature would challenge even a lot of experienced actors, so that’s just one more way in which Francis unintentionally set Sofia up to fail.

[@Talisguy]

Madonna was closer to Mary's age, according to the timeline, than Sofia was. Mary was born in 53 and the film takes place in 79, making her 26. Madonna would've been, I think, 31 at the time, five years older. Sofia was eight years younger, at a stage of development where a few years makes a big difference. Coppola probably would've been better going with Madonna. Situations where casting Madonna would've been a better choice are rare indeed, but here we are.

[@mphrdldn]

Carlo Gambino married a cousin. He tapped one of her relatives, Paul Castellano, as the next Don.

[@SilhouetteSE]

TWICE her age, you mean?

[@mkedmusa9416]

Back then.. I loved the Zoe episode.. we could relate to the story in just about every way! This was a fantastic video!

[@ck8671]

Why is Paramount never held accountable for the result of the movie. They didn't want to pay Duvall what he was asking. Coppola wanted another six months to work on the script. Paramount could've put more time and money into it but they didn't.

[@jhhone]

A studio take blame? Are you mad? 😂

[@rxtsec1]

As much as I like Godfather 3 Sofia is the biggest problem of the movie & no Robert Duvall sucks also. However he did do one of my favorite movies Days of Thunder instead. So I guess it's a fair trade

[@willdiesel8431]

​@@rxtsec1and why is that joke of a movie your personal favorite?

[@willdiesel8431]

I'm guessing because Paramount doesn't a whole lot more good than bad. The movie was gonna come out regardless, that wasn't enough to sink the studio so no Mea Culpa.

[@rxtsec1]

@@willdiesel8431 I said I like the movie. I think it's the greatest trilogy of all time. Part 2 is my actual favorite movie of all time and part 1 is my 3rd favorite movie of all time

[@Michael-eq8th]

It's been a while since I initially binged BKR's channel. I've lapsed away from regular viewing, but coming back I've noticed something. The way she delivers context in such patient thoughtful way is so relaxing. I'm only 13 minutes into the video, but I'm really enjoying it.

[@magdn1]

It's funny Coppola parents didn't even ask Sofia if she wanted the part. The mother just told Sofia that she is going to do it, just like scene in Sofia's Marie-Antoinette where Maria Theresia tells Marie-Antoinette that she is going to get married - "get dressed and off you go into the carriage to Cinecittà,... eh France to your doom." So I am not sure how everyone has to come to the conclusion that Sofia has no feelings about being dragged into Godfather III by her father. Meanwhile her entire filmography is full of teenagers that are outright abused by their parents (Virgin Suicides), sold off into bad sitiuations by their parents for the parents' gain (Marie Antoinette, Priscilla), abandoned in a foreign country by their director husband (Lost in Translation (Scarlett Johannsen was 17 when that was shot)), whose parents functionally absent (Bling Ring), total deadbeats (Somewhere) or have totally forgotten about their children who are stuck in a boarding in a middle of war zone. (The Beguiled.) And that's literally her entire feature film filmography. One could get them impression that Sofia Coppola is feeling not great about her father casting her to meet a shooting schedule, ignoring that this would make her an easy scapegoat when Godfather III could not live up to the hype of previous movies. (It was a tall order and Coppola must have known that at any point.)

[@willdiesel8431]

Fair point but most of these posts are written as if she wouldn't have given the proper credit even if she did turn in an acceptable performance. She's had alot of pressure put on her but I think she compartmentalized it and used that to fuel her as a director.

[@mireya6422]

Interesting perspective

[@ezzzii]

such good observations !

[@newhorizon4066]

The general consensus that goes for "she's a bad actress" - is not a fair assessment. Her dad just wanted to "cut to the chase" as movie parlance goes, and short-circuited her path to working in front of the camera by "throwing the baby into the pool" (as someone has commented.) He has done his best though to support her forging a career behind it (the camera.) It's a tremendous help to have Coppola as your last name. Open doors like Charlton Heston parting the Red sea in 10 commandments. Normally newbie directors would not get within spitting distance to big names like Bill Murray, let alone casting him in their first gig. As long as Francis is alive, critics still quake whenever the name "Coppola" is announced... it's Hollywood royalty as far as movie fans are concerned. And as long as Sofia keeps making movies, she'll never have to worry about financing.

[@mywhychromosome]

@@newhorizon4066Good points, just a note: “Lost in Translation” was not her first gig, that was “The Virgin Suicides”, from ‘99, adapted from the novel

[@JasonTasCreative]

The critics have it completely wrong, her look is perfect for the role, her acting is not very good at all, but what she lacked is charisma, she is overly mechanical and has very little personality, not even small sparks.

[@Hummerbird99]

Several critics said exactly that.

[@osheenyeeha1162]

this would be an awesome double feature with patrick willems' video on francis ford coppola's ouvre all being about his family (including his wine company!) i always thought sofia was so gorgeous in this movie and knowing how much FF cared about fostering their creative partnership makes it kind of touching to me. great video as always!!

[@edpoole1942]

The first one had Marlon Brando, James Cann and John Cazale. The second one had Robert Deniro and John Cazale. They both also had Robert Duvall and career best performances from Al Pacino. The third one had a mediocre Pacino, Coppola and Andy Garcia. It would take more than Winona Ryder to fix that.

[@uglybetty8747]

Well said

[@thewkovacs316]

the plot was terrible there is only one memorable line and the sopranos made sure to point that out i loved how they saw the godfather trilogy as a comedy

[@ThePrinceofHisOwnKingdom]

Mediocre Pacino? F off. He was the best part of it.

[@edpoole1942]

@ThePrinceofHisOwnKingdom and still it is absolutely no where near his performances in the first two. Arguably two of the best performances in cinema history vs a very ordinary performance.

[@ThePrinceofHisOwnKingdom]

@@edpoole1942 That comparison don't make it mediocre. His scream when his daughter died is haunting.

[@IsmailTube999]

The Coppola family is so interesting in retrospect. both Sofia and Francis took risks, dealt with studio pressure and horrendous headlines, and stuck to creating memorable works of art. while box office numbers vary, both of their films will be watched and studied for decades

[@correypeta]

Yeah, well, this risk didn't pay off.

[@TheEnchantedDuat]

Besides Pacino, she made this movie for me. She seemed to embody & enrich Italiano throughout the movie :) Beautiful in her own way and so glad Winona didn't play the role.

[@cassiecarpenter]

Sofia was one of the first directors I ever interviewed when she promoted Virgin Suicides. It’s her most personal film, reckoning with her big brother’s horrifying death by decapitation. She’s not your ordinary privileged nepo-baby.

[@royfr8136]

She is just a plain and simple privileged nepo-baby.

[@natoArtBro4318]

BUT SHE IS

[@claudeyaz]

​@@natoArtBro4318 Everybody in hollywood is... I mean Drew Barrymore's also a Huge huge nepo baby

[@crystaliclake]

How does the Virgin Suicides reckon with her brothers death? I know they kill themselves by hanging, sticking a head in the oven … I forget what happened to the other two in the movie .

[@jackskellington9195]

I’ve seen Barbie dolls with more talent for acting and Sophia Coppola

[@gelchert]

Excellent point about Vincent’s role also being questionably written. Coppola and Puzo openly said they wanted Vincent to be a combination of Vito, Sonny, Fredo, Michael, AND Tom - but that’s impossible given how vastly different all five of those guys were. Andy Garcia did his best, and he definitely deserved that Oscar nomination, but he didn’t have much more to work with than Sofia did.

[@greense65]

I agree. As stated in the video, I found it hard to accept him as Michael's successor.

[@gelchert]

@@greense65 The worst part is that out of all the Corleone men, he takes after Sonny the most (not surprising from a writing standpoint, since Sonny was his father). He wouldn’t have made it to _The Godfather: Part IV_ without somebody whacking him first.

[@greense65]

@@gelchert 👍

[@x77punk77x]

This is sad to me that Sofia was eviscerated at such a young age by critics when her father was essentially drafting her into the role. I don’t understand why Francis Coppola’s purported love of family obscured the fact that this experience and media exposure could easily take a very harsh turn against his daughter.

[@divinepoetry7882]

This was a nepo move that went terribly. Sadly, the industry has not learnt from this at all .Sofia 's rise as a director is not entirely 'in her own right' when she she had her father's funding, production team , free mentoring, never having to struggle to make ends meet and a life time of exposure to contacts, scriptwriters, costumers, performers that only 1% of people have access to.

[@augustalavenderblue7353]

@@divinepoetry7882Pretty much everyone in the entertainment industry succeeds due to unique circumstances, luck, etc. until they start drafting movie stars like it's jury duty that will continue to be the case. She's definitely "succeeded in her own right" now because a Sofia Coppola film is its own thing with a unique and recognizable style and her movies receive critical acclaim, entirely outside of the fact of her being Francis Ford Coppola's daughter. When Sofia Coppola makes a film no one has to preface it by naming her father. Obviously nepo babies receive opportunities much more easily than those without connections but this just proves that the opportunity without the ability behind it still won't amount to much

[@OGRE_HATES_NERDS]

maybe she had a choice in the matter and knew the risk and decided to do it anyway.... i mean anythings possible

[@tomsmith6513]

@@augustalavenderblue7353 If the backlash was that bad then she's definitely "succeeded in her own right" now. She might have suffered for a few years, but if she really wanted to succeed, she would eventually get there. Besides, she was only 18. As for her father, he would have gotten old eventually and become irrelevant. I have heard of the Godfather series, but didn't even know who the actors were.

[@newhorizon4066]

​@@augustalavenderblue7353 "its own thing with a unique and recognizable style and her movies receive critical acclaim" - and "still won't amount to much." There, I just made it short and more importantly, succinct for ya. You're welcome.

[@trstbtvrify]

That mystery disease was Ryder realizing exactly where this disaster was heading, and deciding to get the hell out of Dodge, asap. I'm convinced Godfather 3 was Coppola's revenge against Paramount for making him an offer he couldn't refuse. He desperately did not want to make that movie, and boy, did it show.

[@RockyGems]

4-year-old Sofia’s Apocalypse Now fanart is SENDING ME 😂

[@OasisJones]

Why do people say “sending me”? Sending you where?

[@RockyGems]

@@OasisJones sending into fits of laughter

[@OasisJones]

@@RockyGems Then why is that common line cut off early, simply because it’s common? It just sounds too vague in ways to leave as is even if you know exactly what it means.

[@guidadiehl9176]

Moronic zoomer-speak

[@brundlefly88]

@@OasisJonesit’s just how language evolves. Slang always has existed and always will. It’s not that serious

[@claydogg234]

Sofia Coppola has a delicate, artistic, and mature type of beauty. That being said her casting just wasn't believable. The critics got way too mean though. At least Sofia found redemption with some good directing.

[@kalebanth8323]

Well it gets pretty annoying when the director decides to give his daughter a MAJOR ROLE in probably the biggest trilogy of all time just because she’s his daughter. He could’ve got an amazing actress who actually worked for it who would’ve done great and made the movie better

[@WillFranceschi-tb4zw]

I think Sofia was great with that natural beauty ,when I first saw her in the film at first I didn't like that little snarl age does when she's telling Andy Garcia who she is but then l really looked at her man she' is gorgeous she's truly beautiful

[@newhorizon4066]

@@kalebanth8323 "annoying when ... decides to give his daughter a MAJOR ROLE" - It's called arrogance. Famous folks feel they can foist their perfectly mundane offspring on the "innocent" public and expect us to be stunned by all the "natural beauty and gorgeousness" that Hollywood lighting and make up allow...

[@kevinberry436]

@@kalebanth8323 You clearly didn't watch the video. Winona Ryder was going to take the role until she had to pull out due to exhaustion. He also wanted Julia Roberts and crazily even entertained the idea of having Madonna. There were a few others but he felt they were even less right for the role. Add to all this the fact that Paramount were controlling the timelines and money, so they could not postpone or re-cast, hence why he called upon his daughter.

[@Melissa-tw2gp]

A few hours!? Wow. Poor Sofia. She was so young! Also, it’s insane who was considered unattractive in the 90s. A shitty era for any woman in the public eye.

[@GoAsCloseAsYouCan]

There’s lot of hotties from the 90s. This chick wasn’t even a consideration. She was horrid.

[@angellovellie4866]

She didn't ruin a damn thing, if anything she gave you more to look at. I was a kid when I saw this movie and being honest She was the main character I remembered from this movie.

[@domenicv7962]

Exactly.....she made the film !!

[@mrsx7944]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂. You can't be serious

[@mrsx7944]

​@@domenicv7962she really didn't. That would be Andy Garcia.

[@domenicv7962]

@@mrsx7944 TO EACH THEIR OWN, MRS X

[@domenicv7962]

@@mrsx7944 we are done!. Have a good day

[@ttintagel]

I hadn't seen this movie in so long that I forgot Andy Garcia played Vincent. My muddled memory had swapped in Nicolas Cage, which would have made the whole cousins thing so much worse.

[@AlexThe1Menace]

Oh God just the horrible mental image I got reading that lol. Although him biting that guy's ear off would be a very Nic Cage thing to do

[@tessdurberville711]

No problem with a non-Italian playing Italian?

[@AlexThe1Menace]

@@tessdurberville711 considering Marlon Brando and James Caan weren't either, it's just following tradition lol

[@jkhristian]

He did it in The Untouchables as well. Do you blame DePalma?@@tessdurberville711

[@danielachamorro8783]

@@tessdurberville711considering Italians and Spaniards have played Latinos for years…nah 😂

[@mv11000]

That is an excellent observation: the types of actresses initially meant to play the part were so divers, the writing of her part so unspecific, Coppola himself seemed not so sure what his daughter was supposed to be like in the film.

[@Ryan_Winter]

He was, he simply couldn't cast the person he wanted in this role and then he got his wish anyway. The only thing I wonder is:" How does this qualify as a disaster? The 80's and 90's had so many Hollywood films with dilettantes in leading roles, how does this film stand out at all? Further more, given the current state of Hollywood and what we have learned about past Hollywood during the last few years, how is this an issue at all? If the worst thing that ever happened in Hollywood was that a father had cast his daughter, after the first choice for the role had dropped out, then we would be living in a much better world than we actually do.

[@bsheehy94]

Sofia was gorgeous in the movie, the negative comments about her appearance are not only inappropriate but innacurate.

[@mooknick242]

it isn't her looks at all she is very pretty and has the italian look...its her acting. It may have been an unfair situation but there is no getting around her acting is wretched. She wasn't the only one.

[@KLKosi123]

Sofia Coppola is very pretty so I agree comments about her looks are ridiculous. Her acting, however… 😬

[@JaneFleesTexas]

I haven’t seen this video yet, and maybe they’ll mention it, but she is beautiful. It was the way she was acting or delivering her lines in a sneer that made her look so awful. She just didn’t look beautiful in that movie because of her facial expressions (imo). I don’t think Winona Ryder would have been right for the part as originally cast. I wish they would have plucked a talented actor & non-nepo baby for the role.

[@johnr7279]

Correct! The movie was a disappointment but not because of her. In fact, would always rather have seen her than Winona Ryder.

[@OptimalToast]

Inaccurate to you maybe, personally I'm indifferent, I just found her _normal._ I guess that makes me wrong, and so be it.

[@johnfronczek2658]

Despite Sofia Coppola’s acting in “Godfather 3”, she was a great director in “Lost in Translation”. If you haven’t seen “Lost in Translation” yet, you really should watch it.

[@mcolville]

Oh shit, I knew that Gio died, but I didn't know he was basically Francis' protégé. Actually pretty amazing that she developed into her own filmmaker with her own voice and vision.

[@anilomd]

I would have liked to have seen Marisa Tomei play the role.

[@thevoid99]

now that would've been $$$$$$. plus, they should've had robert duvall in the film and in the end. make connie.... the godmother! kay would be consigliere by killing someone.

[@Mdme.X]

👍

[@TESORO-b1x]

I swear, I never thought of her for the role, but she would probably have been outstanding.

[@alexerr_wolf]

George?

[@winslowredcross2835]

You are so right. Marisa Tomei would have been great.

[@jaymanuel3396]

I’m shocked that Coppola was okay with Winona Ryder taking the part, but not Annabella Sciorra? Annabella would’ve killed it!

[@tessdurberville711]

She was too old.

[@rockyracoon3233]

Marisa Tomei would have been perfect!

[@JamesRDavenport]

​@@rockyracoon3233 "Are you suuuuuuuure?"

[@Derek_The_Magnificent_Bastard]

We are talking about a teenage character. Although I love Sciorra she was way too old for the part.

[@johannawigg6921]

​@rockyracoon3233 I think so too

[@ignatiushorstmann2526]

Sofia Coppola’s cool. No doubt about it. I’d argue her handling of the GFIII scrutiny makes her all the cooler.

[@lisainsf]

Sofia was the scapegoat for a movie that didn’t come close to living up to the first two Godfathers. I’ve watched it 3 times and I still don’t understand the plot. The only scenes that make sense are those with Michael and Kay. The rest is ridiculous.

[@JamesRDavenport]

It's not that complicated. The Italy Italian Mafia owns a front megacorpation with the Vatican and basically runs all the Papacy's money dealings. The Corleones wanted to buy that front company out from under them and run it legitimately. The new Pope was a Corleone ally, so he was murdered. The Italy Mafia goes around wacking all of Michael's buddies in Italy, He tries to take revenge through Vincent and Connie, he gets the dirtiest Italy mobsters and their American gangster allies but they get the last laugh when Mary is killed. The Corleones are driven out of Italy, The Italy Mafia still has its claws firmly in the Vatican. Michael won a battle but lost the war, dying retired and broken. The End.

[@nessy9022]

Totally the scapegoat, I can't believe how Andy Garcia got off scott free for his performance, and the hair/makeup on Pacino defied credibility. You're absolutely correct about the plot.

[@kingsethos5108]

The real crime was when Paramount forced theaters to put up $50,000 per print before anyone had ever seen it.

[@VidaBlue317]

Yeah, she turned out okay

[@drmelvindrake]

It’s absurd to lay the failure of Godfather 3 at Sofia Coppola’s door. Her acting wasn’t good, but the script was a disaster. None of the characters or their actions fitted with the nature of the cautious, plotting Sicilian crime family of the first two films. In the first two films Michael was quiet, introverted, controlled and deliberate. In this film he was suddenly an emotional extrovert that liked making speeches. He’s worried his son needs to study law to secure his financial future while his family is taking a billion dollar controlling stake in one of Europe’s largest conglomerates. He doesn’t seem to know his own nephew and then almost immediately makes him his successor. He cautions Vincent not to provoke Joey and then invites Joey to a dinner and humiliates him in front of every mafia boss in America - a dinner in which every mob boss in the America decided it would be a good idea to meet in 5 star hotel ball room with giant windows for all the world to see. Then the villain, who is supposedly trying to conceal his hand, tries to kill every mob boss in America via something as imprecise and as high-profile as a helicopter machine gun attack. After the attack Joey Zaza, instead of going into hiding, wanders around the NY streets like nothing happened. I could go on and on. All of this would be fine for an Arnold Schwarzenegger 90s action movie, but it just didn’t make sense as a Godfather movie.

[@josephconnor2310]

I somehow stumbled onto this channel just now. This is top-notch work. I'll watch more for sure.

[@donaldduck7461]

Godfather 3 wasn’t just Sofia. It was Andy Garcia & the change in Michael’s character

[@thewkovacs316]

garcia was way over the top....but i blame coppola for that

[@teeahtate]

Exactly, it was the writing mostly for me.

[@donaldduck7461]

Garcia, should have been unpredictable but cold. One minute he's a hothead then turns calm & calculated. It ended at 2 with that beautiful scene, when Michael is remembering the family at the Don's birthday. @@thewkovacs316

[@donaldduck7461]

Kay being introduced back was a no, no. Eli Wallach was the best thing in 3 @@teeahtate

[@chuckz2934]

All of that plus what was up w Pacino’s hair? All in all, horrible, no but a lousy movie and for so many reasons

[@ccgrey8731]

This was the role I believe actress Rebecca Schaeffer was up for. She was waiting for a script to be delivered to her apartment before her audition when a stalker showed up at her door and shot and killed her.

[@1957DLT]

Oof, I don't remember that bit of gossip, but how awful her attack was.

[@b-zoneonroku2020]

Schaeffer was CAST in the role but was murdered days before shooting and Sofia was essentially drafted to replace her, not entirely of her choosing.

[@Purplenpinkk]

Actually, Winona Ryder was supposed to play Mary and dropped out at the last minute due to health reasons. Coppola then replaced her with his daughter.

[@sarahakm]

I feel this part was kind of cursed with how hard it was to cast (with Ryder dropping out, Schaeffer's death, Roberts being busy, etc.). Honestly I think Sofia was picked not just because of nepotism but because she was there, warm & breathing.

[@6Haunted-Days]

@@b-zoneonroku2020no she wasn’t what TF…..let’s not just make stuff up….she hadn’t even read for the role I’d love to kno how she got the role. She was a nobody in a silly forgetful sitcom. You don’t know how Hollywood works now or in 1989.

[@johnconway9882]

Tickets $7.50. Those were the days! 0:01

[@howiemandel5787]

What’s funny is you know everyone was still complaining about how insanely expensive movie tickets were getting 😂saying stuff like ”remember when it used to be $3”

[@Hummerbird99]

You have to adjust for inflation.

[@DavidVanLigon]

I feel like I was the only kid who watched Faerie Tale Theatre! It was my bible growing up. Love the shout out. I hope more people watch them.

[@eredmond5345]

I also watched!! I kept trying to get someone, ANYONE, to remember this show.... all I got was blank stares

[@leila7524]

I loved that show as a kid! So nostalgic

[@lona8862]

I am in the life without Zoe section and I just say wow. Your channel is amazing. Great work

[@KarlieStarrSings]

On a happier note, I now have a new found respect for Sophia Copolla. Not only did she bravely take on such a daunting task of playing a prominent role with little to no want of doing so, let alone with lack of acting experience. She took the backlash like a champ and persevered in her passions head-on. I don't blame anyone who would chose leaving the industry after that. She is absolutely inspiring

[@deltamagnet]

I did not want to watch this...and yet I am so glad you posted it. When "Virgin Suicides" was released I saw it in the theater three times. I took a new friend to see it with me each time. The attention to the set design and music specifically floored me. And it is among Kristen Dunst and Josh Hartnett's finest hours. I knew she had a pedigree...but not how hard she worked with her family, on "dilettante projects" and the sacrifice she made by taking the role of Mary in Godfather III. Thank you for this reading of Sophia's narrative.

[@robertgoyette5863]

GREAT topic!! Funnily enough my parents didnt know shire was francis' sister until I told them at thanksgiving this year. Its really fascinating that ANOTHER widely derided coppola performance-keanu in dracula-has a direct link to ryder. Johnny Depp was originally cast but when he and ryder broke up the part was recast. Personally i think Gio's death had an even bigger impact on sofia's films than francis'. The theme of a dreamy childlike world being infiltrated and upended by tragedy is one thats tracks through basically all of sofias movies. Given her age when he died and the tragic circumstances it seems like an obvious reading of her work, but ive never seen anyone make an argument for it, sticking w/ the 'poor little rich girl' narrative instead.

[@beejls]

There was only one good performance in that awful Dracula movie, Gary Oldman. Even Hopkins was bad.

[@ginapiroli6136]

I know, but I still love that movie!

[@dougspidermanhappy]

@@ginapiroli6136me, too. My friend was dating Roman Coppola’s bff during the filming of that movie, and she would tell me the bts scoop. She went to dinners thrown by FFC. I should watch the directors commentary; the things I heard are probably mostly on there. I remember he had the actors staying on his property, and he placed them in ways that would show up on screen in their performances. I think he isolated Keanu Reeves? And built camaraderie for the men whose characters were close.

[@kazaloolovesgames]

​@@beejls Yeah. Keanu gets all of the shit for that admittedly miscast role but Winona Ryder was bad as well. I've always thought that.

[@kostajovanovic3711]

I'll keep that in mind, Gio's tragic death, once I watch her films, seems like an interesting lens to analyse her films from

[@muntahassan6384]

That intro is better than the godfather part 3

[@blue2134]

😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@hipstereagle6050]

Seeing her mother Eleanor in interviews you can tell that Sophia speaks like her. Which is funny seeing how much louder Francis is when speaking in interviews and directing

[@LogeenthLive]

I'm honestly so grateful that Sofia Coppola didn't let The Godfather III get to her. She knew what her calling was, and goddamnit was she good at that calling. Imagine what we would have lost had she called it quits after that performance, which you honestly cannot blame her entirely for.

[@georgem2334]

It's rumored that actress Rebecca Shaeffer was going to read for the part of Michael's daughter the day she was murdered by an obsessed fan. She could have done a great job in the role.

[@darkaneurysms8633]

Originally, Rebecca Shaffer was going to audition for the role also, but unfortunately, she was murdered before she even received the script.🥺

[@WOTArtyNoobs]

It was because she was expecting the Godfather script to be delivered that she opened the door to the stalker. She told him never to come back, He went away, had breakfast, then returned and shot her in the chest.

[@darkaneurysms8633]

@@WOTArtyNoobs That sounds about right, it's still a senseless tragedy. RIP Rebecca Shaffer.🌹

[@smashedlittlek]

As an Italian woman, Sofia was more appropriated than Winona. Sofia has such an Italian face. And I personally appreciated her in the role.

[@TeddyKGB12]

The giant schnoz? Her whiney, raspy, voice?

[@MrARhodes]

Feel the same. 'im just "can't/won't" picture Winona in that role (no dis sis). Sofia although new, did her thing. Critics can be "rigid".

[@RealMACGamer]

I respectfully disagree. She was the worst part of that movie

[@TeddyKGB12]

@@MrARhodes BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@TeddyKGB12]

@@luckylatella9908 BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

[@Armen567]

That was an excellent documentary. Solid job.

[@KDSima]

I lost my middle daughter in July 2020. It was so devastating. To realize other, famous people have experienced the same loss does help one feel less tortured,

[@taptap2446]

i am so sorry for your loss. grief is an ongoing process and i hope it gets better for you

[@KDSima]

@@taptap2446 Thank u.

[@n1ck1930]

Misery loves company

[@KDSima]

@@n1ck1930 I am not sure I would say misery “loves” company. But it helps to not feel. punished.. if that makes sense?

[@olazurawska5862]

I wish you strength, I am very sorry for this unimaginable loss of your loved one. take care

[@chrisparkes]

BKR, your videos are like sitting down to chat with someone who loves films as much as I do. You are my favourite channel, thank you 🙏🏼

[@soaribb32]

If Madonna was on Godfather we would've never gotten Vogue, thank God they dodged the bullet.

[@bhikkhu]

This was an amazing analysis.

[@DanielPerez-pw1sr]

The role and experience def shaped her to be a pretty fearless and ambitious filmmaker. I’m proud of her for really forging a path of her own esp considering the immense shadow of her father and family.

[@greense65]

Sofia Coppola is absolutely beautiful in GFIII. I don't know what all this talk that her character is supposed to be some bombshell or vixen or whatever is about. She seems like a real girl. Fitting in with that, I found her understated performance natural for a shy, sheltered girl the age she was playing, including when being pursued by a very good-looking man who was quite a bit older than she is.

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

"Real girl" was what I felt too. I share your sentiments. It is all bs. what people write. They mix up other reasons for their dislikes with her actual performance.

[@YtuserSumone-rl6sw]

The 1. problem with the audience was the first cousins relationship plot. The 2nd problem was that she was Francis daughter. The 3rd problem was they didn't like much anything in the script. Sofia was at the very least ok in the part, but imo. she was good. It was good that she wasn't a big name and she played it in a more natural "girl next door" way than the other suggested actresses would have.

[@greense65]

@@YtuserSumone-rl6sw I agree with both your comments. (And Winona Ryder, Julia Roberts, or Madonna in that role? Any one of them sounds like the casting for one of those parody remake jokes, like in the old Bill Murray movie "Scrooged"--"And Mary Lou Retton as Tiny Tim!")

[@MaryamofShomal]

As a lifelong Coppola diehard, my gripe with Godfather III was the story didn’t capture that same essence as the first two films, NOT that he cast his daughter. Actually, after watching this, I’m happy that he chose her for the role. The way that you explained it, at least, it sounds like it was what Coppola as a human being needed in that moment. As far as I’m concerned, the man gave us Apocalypse Now and Godfather I & II so he’s more than earned the right to make whatever the hell he wants. So thanks to you and this lovely breakdown, when I have my annual Godfather marathon later this year: this time, I won’t skip Part III ☺️🤗🫶🏽 FWIW Sofia is much better behind the camera, anyway. Virgin Suicides was hauntingly beautiful, a damn good film.

[@aishabintabubakr4944]

I actually think that Sofia's not so stellar performance made it better. She played the role of soneone who was innocent in the affairs.

[@ceceliajudith6122]

Love this video! Answer all my questions and more❤️❤️

[@newwavex8665]

Ah, "Child on Boat", was my favorite character on godfather

[@robbiepluta1358]

Can I just say what keeps me coming back to this channel is the frank but sympathetic way that Izzy discusses actresses she covers. She doesn’t shy away from their short comings or disappointing performances, but she provides context of the behind the scenes complications and their own personal investment in the projects. No actor wants to deliver a bad performance, and knowing the context behind Valley of the Dolls, Mommie Dearest or Godfather pt. III makes me appreciate the massive number of variables that can impact an actor’s performance.

[@yumeluna2171]

sofia's life and casting as mary corleone, as well the general reaction to it, is the most sofia coppola event to ever sofia coppola. also, can we talk about how roger ebert has constantly been ahead of the curve in recognizing actress' talents and liabilities. like why was he the only male film critic who actually showed respect to women and their efforts in the film industry?

[@gelchert]

Not just actresses - Ebert was also one of the only critics who seemed to recognize Nicolas Cage’s talent, and consistently praised him even during the rougher parts of his career.

[@willdiesel8431]

It largely depends on what you consider respect. I find it hard to believe he was the only one to show deference to the likes of Helen Mirren, Dame Judy Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, Debra Winger, Kathy Bates etcetera at all. Bringing gender politics into this was really quite typical of you yet you never bothered giving examples of your own to prove your point.

[@yumeluna2171]

@@willdiesel8431really quite typical of me? you don't even know me lol. i never said that he was the only person who recognized the talents of the actresses you mentioned. besides sofia, i really only had brittany murphy in mind. also, i really don't think it's super political or radical to imply that it was uncommon for male film critics to praise actresses when it wasn't the popular opinion to do so. the hypercritical bosley crowther being one of the most influential film critics of old hollywood and his sexist disdain for actresses like joan crawford is what i had in mind for someone with a lack of respect towards women in film

[@willdiesel8431]

@yumeluna2171 that's why typical is used as a generality. I'm not even sure why I'm bothering. The likes of Joan Crawford and other golden age movie actresses made their bones and it wasn't necessarily due to their looks. They had the chops and considering Hollywood was even more male dominated then, the blokes really didn't have a choice in giving credit to all time great performances. This isn't up for debate 🤣

[@FrMZTsarmiral]

Very insightful video. My family used to watch The Godfather all the time and everyone would always just blame the lesser quality of Part 3 as just "lol nepotism" regarding Sofia Coppola, it wasn't until years later that I learned how the story behind that casting choice was more complex than that.

[@aidangreen7006]

*AMAZINGLY* thorough and well-made video! I thought I knew all there was to know about Coppola’s life and career leading up to the decision to make PART III and cast Sofia, but your essay really opened my eyes to a ton of ancillary factors I hadn’t even considered. You’ve got yourself a new subscriber!

[@jimlang7461]

I think Sofia did a fine job. The real problem with Part III is the writing, which is just not up to the level of the first two.

[@Ishbikes]

I mean who man who played Tom Hagen, said it best. *Since it was goin to be a third movie, which was obvious for money. I felt why shouldn’t I get paid as well?* He wasn’t there because they only wanted to pay him 500k-1 million while Al Pacino was getting 3-4 million. He didn’t like he was getting 1/3rd of what Al was getting.

[@oli19827]

That’s still a shit Ton of money and Duvall being back would’ve been a plus for the film

[@dfoleyusa]

Couldn’t agree more. The critics seemed to take out their frustration on an easy target to avoid the real confrontation - the rather tepid plot.

[@muppetb.lansing8374]

Mmmmm, OK. I find the acting quite lacking, more than the writing in this case

[@jeffschueler1182]

I agree. It was a weak screenplay and some of the plot elements were just not believable.

[@thomasbirdeno]

I've spent so much of my life learning about film from the male perspective. I feel young again, in love with film history again, because BKR has given me another set of eyes in which to devour this great artistic love of the movies.

[@brendanmeaney2272]

This work is like watching art describe art making art. Very fine and distinctive, well done!

[@maesterzen1046]

Saw the title and ignored this video… then saw it was by you and knew I had to watch it. Thank you for this.

[@NUBF]

Here i am, lying on my couch, childless, eating pickles and vaping, and I thought I could not be more ✨blessed✨ This is the kind of niche, slice of movie history shit I know nothing about but LOVE! You fucking rule 🥰

[@neongrey333]

gonna take a guess and ask you to pet your cat for me (i will pet mine for you)

[@NUBF]

@@neongrey333 I’m allergic to cats and have no pets but I am definitely a cat lady in spirit so I’ll still accept

[@radioban]

this is what i aspire to be

[@soozeelaw5057]

❤ Right on!!!

[@manifestgtr]

@@radioban Alone and secretly miserable, lol yes…the “I wanna be an astronaut when I grow up” of the 2020s

[@americanfairy]

I'm surprised that you didn't mention Rebecca Schaeffer. She was being considered for the role of Mary, and was at home waiting for a copy of the script to be delivered, when she was killed by a stalker who had found where she lived. You mentioned other actresses that were considered, and she should be on that list.

[@Trixtah]

There were other actresses who auditioned for the role than the ones mentioned. BKR has mentioned the ones who were talked about in the media at the time.

[@beckigreen]

⁠@@TrixtahRebecca Schaeffer was mentioned a ton in the media about this.

[@FightCommentary]

Rebecca Schaeffer would have had the perfect look for Mary!

[@TeddyKGB12]

Her corpse would have been a better choice than Sophia.

[@TeddyKGB12]

Even after her death, she still would have been better than Sophia.........

[@JFairhart]

Loved Sofia Coppola in her role and performance in GFIII.

[@donna25871]

Well having your lead actress drop out after a few days of shooting must have been very stressful.