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How was Al Pacino not the lead actor in The Godfather?
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:20 am
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:20 am
It's mindboggling how he only got a Best Supporting Actor nomination for that film. He had more screen time than Brando and played the most important character in the film. I also thought he gave a better performance. Michael was also a much more difficult character to play and Pacino had to completely transform himself as the character changed over the course of that film. Pacino said he was pissed off about not being submitted for Best Lead Actor and I don't blame him one bit. That was a screwjob of epic proportions.
10
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:27 am to Bench McElroy
I've argued this with a friend of mine for 25 years 
Brando was obviously the bigger name and as my friend says he's the "title" character. It could be the producers submitted Pacino as best supporting to not have him up against Brando. But if you only had 1 in Best Actor, it should have been Al with Brando as Supporting.
Brando was obviously the bigger name and as my friend says he's the "title" character. It could be the producers submitted Pacino as best supporting to not have him up against Brando. But if you only had 1 in Best Actor, it should have been Al with Brando as Supporting.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:29 am to Bench McElroy
Times were different.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:42 am to SEClint
It was just business. Not personal.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:46 am to H-Town Tiger
Brando was definitely the bigger name at the time, but I always thought that Michael was the main protagonist of the series. Maybe less so in the first movie than the second, but it was still his story. I think that it is the story of his ascension and eventual corruption.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 11:54 am to Bench McElroy
I always thought Brando was the main character as the plot was centered solely on events that were occurring with him.
But I would really argue that they were both the main character. In a three hour epic, you're probably going to end up with multiple main characters.
I mean try to pinpoint the main character in LotR. Is it really Frodo? I mean, he is carrying the ring, but Gandalf and Aragorn are both extremely important as well with just about the same amount of screen time.
But I would really argue that they were both the main character. In a three hour epic, you're probably going to end up with multiple main characters.
I mean try to pinpoint the main character in LotR. Is it really Frodo? I mean, he is carrying the ring, but Gandalf and Aragorn are both extremely important as well with just about the same amount of screen time.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 12:00 pm to Bench McElroy
Can't really disagree. Although Brando killed it in his role.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 12:02 pm to Peazey
quote:
ut I always thought that Michael was the main protagonist of the series. Maybe less so in the first movie than the second, but it was still his story. I think that it is the story of his ascension and eventual corruption
i don't think there is any question, but espeically the first movie, it is Michael's story.
As for the Academy Awards, they put the bigger name in the Lead Actor category.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 12:13 pm to H-Town Tiger
quote:The title refers to both. Vito is the GF throughout the film, then Michael, who "didn't want to get mixed up in the family business", succeeds to the title
Brando was obviously the bigger name and as my friend says he's the "title" character
quote:I don't know the details, but I believe Pacino boycotted the Oscar ceremony after learning he would be in the supporting category
It could be the producers submitted Pacino as best supporting to not have him up against Brando
Posted on 7/21/15 at 1:36 pm to Bench McElroy
Brando made Pacino an offer he couldn't refuse.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:04 pm to constant cough
This. Free Carnegie Deli Reubens for a year.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:20 pm to Peazey
Same reason Liotta got snubbed for goodfellas....yet dNiro got nominated
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:22 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
I always thought Brando was the main character as the plot was centered solely on events that were occurring with him.
his character stays the same through out the entire movie. Its an amazing performance but there is little growth.
The story three acts revolve around changes in Michael character. act 1: ends with him shooting the cop. Act 2: his wife being bombed thus returning to American to replaces his dead brother and aging father. Act 3: you know how it ends
This post was edited on 7/21/15 at 2:23 pm
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:23 pm to Bench McElroy
Vito was not only the main character in The Godfather - he was mentioned in almost every sentence, and certainly in every scene, even those in which he was not present.
Clearly Michael is the lead character in Godfather II and Godfather III (which I cannot recommend the third film to anyone, but the most die hard purist who insist on watching it for completeness, but it is really a pedestrian film compared to the masterpieces that were the first 2 films).
Clearly Michael is the lead character in Godfather II and Godfather III (which I cannot recommend the third film to anyone, but the most die hard purist who insist on watching it for completeness, but it is really a pedestrian film compared to the masterpieces that were the first 2 films).
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:25 pm to StringedInstruments
quote:
Is it really Frodo?
Yes. Frodo is unquestionably the main character in LOTR - although, there is significant sharing with the "major" supporting characters.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 2:58 pm to Ace Midnight
He didnt have all the hype back then like he have now. Things change over time.
This post was edited on 7/21/15 at 2:59 pm
Posted on 7/21/15 at 3:03 pm to Bench McElroy
quote:
He had more screen time than Brando and played the most important character in the film.
Because Brando is Brando. And pretty overrated.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 3:12 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
Frodo is unquestionably the main character in LOTR - although, there is significant sharing with the "major" supporting characters.
My kids watch LotR and fast-forward through the Frodo parts. He was a whiny bitch.
Posted on 7/21/15 at 3:12 pm to Artie Rome
quote:
Because Brando is Brando. And pretty overrated.
There is a lot of retconning going on with this - yeah, Brando got pretty diva-ish - especially after this film in particular - even so, he was great in Apocalypse Now, much later.
But, when he was on, Brando could deliver A+ performances, guaranteed to generate imitators and change the way people view movies.
His Vito Corleone in The Godfather put the "method" school of acting front stage center and changed the way lead roles were cast and acted - that's how significant and important this role and his performance was. Overrated in some things? Yes. Overrated in The Godfather? Absolutely not.
This post was edited on 7/21/15 at 3:13 pm
Posted on 7/21/15 at 3:44 pm to Ace Midnight
quote:
he was mentioned in almost every sentence, and certainly in every scene, even those in which he was not present.
but the story is about Michael's transformation from "Nice college boy that doesn't want to get mixed up in the family business" to ruthless mafia Don that ultimatly put "the family" ahead of his family. He is the protagonist of the story.
Putting Brando in the lead actor category is fine, justifable for the reasons you said, leaving Pacino out is what was stupid.
This post was edited on 7/22/15 at 9:12 am
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