To any film lover, The Godfather is considered to be a quintessential classic revered by virtually all as an absolute masterpiece. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola at the beginning of the 1970’s and starring Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, among several others, the picture aimed to capture what the American public fantsized a day in the life as a member of the Italian Mafia and all the grandiose that came wirh ir. Per critics and movie viewers worldwide, it did just that in remarkable fashion and spun off into a trilogy which saw incredible box office success. Now, Director Barry Levinson is looking to delve into the background of the making of this cinematic classic and all that went into it in his new film, Francis and the Godfather, and it looks as though he just cast his leads.
Originally getting the film made was a tumultuous process to say the least, with disputes between Coppola and studio executives well documented surrounding general production of the film. One of the greatest films to ever exist had a chance to never come to fruition, and in his film Levinson looks to capture the process behind The Godfather and, in a more metaphorical sense, the pains that come with making a great movie. To do this, Levison has tapped Oscar Isaac to play Coppola and Jake Gyllenhaal to play infamous producer and studio executive Robert Evans who played a large role in the film.
Isaac almost certainly possesses an aura similar to that of an Italian mobster in the 1970’s, and Gyllenhaal has played such an eclectic variety of roles it is difficult to not imagine him being successful once again. This film comes in the same vein of Disaster Artist, a satirical behind-the-scenes making of Tommy Wiseau’s The Room written by James Franco, except this time with much more tenacity to it. Levinson’s resume is extensive to say the least, and should serve him well in this project – especially if he plans to enlist such a stellar cast.
