We all have that one work. The one work that bridges the gap between our youthful understanding of the medium and opens up so many new, more mature possibilities. The work that "pops the cherry," if you will. A work that redefines the way you look at a particular medium and sets a benchmark for future works to come. I don't know about you, but I have one such work for each of my favorite media.

For literature, it was The Great Gatsby.

For television, it was Twin Peaks (which I still have yet to finish lol).

For anime, it was Neon Genesis Evangelion.

For music, it was A Night At The Opera.

For videogames, it was Metal Gear Solid 2.

In terms of cinema, the film that accomplished this task for me was The Godfather.

I first saw The Godfather somewhere towards the beginning of my high school career. My parents were restrictive of the films I could watch, and I hadn't seen many R-rated films before I turned 17, but they would make exceptions from time to time, and this was one such exception. I don't even remember fully the first time I saw it, not nearly as vividly as something like A Clockwork Orange. I do remember being in awe of the unapolagetic violence, the rawness of it all. I remember being astounded by the performances of all involved; truly making me feel like I know these characters, characters that have become some of my favorites for all time. I remember Nino Rota's perfect soundtrack, a perfect example of a soundtrack taking you to the world of The Godfather. Most of all, though, I remember The Godfather etching itself forevermore into my consciousness (and literally etching itself into my skin as a tattoo, as of my birthday last year). It was a film that completely changed my perspective on what cinema was capable of. Up until then, most of what I had seen had been PG, mostly Disney stuff, with the only real "fine cinema" stuff being Forrest Gump, Schindler's List, Yojimbo, Seven Samurai, and The Sting. The latter films were probably too mature for me at that age, and I didn't fully grasp their greatness (aside from The Sting). The Godfather was truly the film that changed film for me.

Every time I rewatched it over the years, I came to appreciate the film even more. One of my favorite themes is duality, and The Godfather is a masterclass in the exploration of this theme, and also in the use of duality and juxtaposition to further the themes of changing times and the corruption of that which is good/sacred, including the idea of the American Dream (something that is further expanded upon, and I'd say explored even better, in the sequel). Connie's wedding and Vito's dealings in the darkened study. The cut from Appolonia to Kay. The cheery Christmas music paired with Luca getting himself dressed in his battle gear. The separation between the family and business, as well as personal acts of violence and ones that, in Michael's own words, are "strictly business." Vito and Michael themselves.

Another important theme in the film, in the words of Leon from Renegade Cut, is "the lies we tell ourselves." The way the Corleone Family operates, as well as the other families, is under the pretext of the separation between the personal/family and "business." Interwoven with the theme of changing times is how the families separate the vices of gambling and women from the more "sinister" vice of drugs. Also of note is the usage of terms like "friendship," "business," "offer," and "favor." These are all ways the characters in The Godfather use to lie to others and themselves that their way of life is fine, sometimes even justified. As satisfying as the scene where Carlo is brutally beaten and dragged by Sonny is, despite the reasoning that it was for revenge for what Carlo did to Connie, Sonny is still committing an act that by most ethical schools of thought is morally inexcusable. Or how about all the murders committed that were "just business?" The way the characters try to justify these acts is infinitely interesting to me.

If you were to ask me what the main theme of The Godfather was when I first saw it, or maybe after a few other viewings, I would have said "family." Now, I feel that the idea of "family" in The Godfather is yet another pretext with which the characters use to lie to themselves. Vito says that "A man who doesn't spend time with his family isn't really a man," but that idea of family is another excuse to call oneself a "good man," despite being a murderer. Its one of the big reasons why Michael goes after Appolonia and later seeks Kay again: if he is to build his new, more "legitimate" empire, he needs a family.

Another interesting theme I picked up on was the gender politics of the film. Its interesting to note that most of the scenes involving women are well-lit, while most of the scenes involving mainly or strictly men are dark. I think this could highlight the darker and violent aspects of masculinity, or even the artificial separation between the violent world of men and the chaste, pure world of women. Women can be just as violent as men, but it is society who relegates them to that role and us men to ours.

The changing times is also a prominent theme. Not just the literal passing of the torch from Vito to Michael, but things like the change to drugs as the prominent and profitable vice, and thus the eroding of the old Five Families' way of life. Vito's more traditional running of the business to Michael trying to go legit (more present a theme in the later films). Even Kay, representing the changing woman: a woman who is no longer willing to be completely subservient to her husband and who wants equal part, or at least equal knowledge, in their relationships.

Special mention must be made for what I consider to be the greatest 6 minutes in cinema: the Baptism scene. Its the perfect culmination of this set of themes, that is the duality and the perversion of what is good/sacred. Literally it is the perversion of what is sacred, because its the brutal murder of the enemies of the Corleone family while Michael is standing as godfather for his nephew's baptism. It touches on the theme of the changing times with the settling of all Corleone family business. But most of all, it touches on the theme of lies, since Michael is lying to all by being present at the baptism and being a good Christian family man while also ordering the murders.

And to cap it off, the excellent final scene, where Michael lies to Kay one last time as the son of Vito, and his men pledge allegiance to "Don Corleone." Then the door to the study closes, finally walling off Kay from Michael and closing out the first chapter in the saga.

This is my final logged film of 2018. What a fitting one, too: a rewatch of my favorite film of all time to cap off the year I got heavily into film. Despite meeting new people through film and expanding my tastes more, one thing that remains for sure is my steadfast love for one of the greatest films of all time.

Happy 2019, everyone.