The Godfather Part II

1974.

#32 / #32

Winner of 6 Academy Awards.

THE GODFATHER PART II follows Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) roughly a decade after the events of the first film. Michael has consolidated the Corleone crime family and moved its headquarters to Nevada. After an attempt on his life, he maneuvers U.S. politics and international business while dealing with a traitor in his own family. The film also chronicles Don Vito Corleone's (Robert De Niro) childhood in Sicily and immigration to New York, where he quickly establishes himself as the godfather.

Eddie: This is the highest ranked sequel on the AFI list, and it easily deserves the honor. THE GODFATHER PART II is just as good as the first one, although this one is far, far darker than its predecessor. While the first film is a movie about family, this one is about power. Michael has made a Faustian bargain, selling his soul for the American dream. Al Pacino turns in the best performance of his career, and Robert De Niro brilliantly balances Brando's portrayal of the Don with his own take on the iconic role.

The performance that steals the show, though, is that of John Cazale, who reprises his role as Fredo Corleone. Cazale plays Fredo with honesty and vulnerability, making him the complete antithesis to his younger brother, Michael. If THE GODFATHER PART II were King Lear, then Cazale's Fredo is Cordelia. (Oops. Spoiler alert.)

Sarah: I don't like this movie as much as the first one. I mean, it is great, and Eddie is right about it, but to me the focus should always be on the family. (My Italian heritage is showing.) The family dynamic is what makes the movie great, and when these parts do come up, I am totally engaged. The rest just reminds me of things I wasn't allowed to ask about when I was younger, for fear of being hit by a wooden spoon.

Why You Should See It: "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners..." Bang.

Annie Hall

1977.

#31 / #35

Winner of 4 Academy Awards.

Alvy Singer (Woody Allen) falls in love with Annie Hall (Diane Keaton). The film follows their relationship through thick and thin, flashbacks and animation, break-up and reunion.

Eddie: ANNIE HALL is one of my five favorite movies of all time. I think that the movie is damn-near flawless. Allen and Keaton are like the positive and negative charges of a battery, electrifying the film with their beautiful interplay. Their stammering and self-consciousness make the movie seem so real. The long takes and the minimal soundtrack, interrupted by direct addresses and metafictional flashbacks - ANNIE HALL perfectly captures the beauty and devastation of love.

The magic number in this film is 2, as in the number of times that Allen shows us the same thing. The film starts and ends with Alvy telling an old joke. The film has two lobster scenes, and the second one is so different from the first, your heart will break (unless you are a robot). Annie sings twice. Alvy makes two trips to L.A. The first is always the set-up, and the second is the heartbreak.

Sarah: Wow. Eddie just showed his soft side. He loves heartbreak more than I love steak and Red Bull.

I feel guilty for not loving this movie, but I just don't love it. I recognize it's cleverness, but I'm not.... enchanted or moved by it. I'm not even delighted by it. The long takes and minimal dialogue put me to sleep faster than a Benedryl. Plus, I get angry that Woody Allen is the lead. He is such an unattractive man and I hate that Hollywood can have fat or ugly or stupid male leads but the women must always be young and beautiful. I guess the disappointment is that I, at some point in the film, want to fall in love with Woody Allen.

But I never do. This is the only movie so far on the list I feel bad for not liking. But, there it is.

Why You Should See It: Even though they're broken up at the time, Alvy rushes to Annie's apartment in the middle of the night to kill a very big spider in her bathroom. This moment has special significance for us, because Eddie once drove thirty minutes to Sarah's house to kill a black widow.

The Godfather

1972.

#3 / #2

Winner of 3 Academy Awards.

THE GODFATHER tells the story of the Corleone crime family, focusing on the third oldest son's rise to take his father's place as Don. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, and Abe Vigoda.

Eddie: THE GODFATHER is one of my favorite movies. I've probably seen it twenty times, and each time, I find something new that enhances my enjoyment of the movie. The performances are all perfection. You can't find a single moment that you'd change.

But the real beauty of the film is its story, based on the bestselling novel of the same name. The story's not about mafia or crime: It's about family. It's inconsequential how you feel about gangster movies. This flick is universal because everyone can relate to having a family, to struggling to live up to the example that your parents have set. (Of course, for most of us, that doesn't involve becoming a mafia boss.) Underscoring the importance of family are the two events that bookend the movie - a wedding and a baptism. Too good. Too solid of a movie to skip. Too great.

Sarah: My family watches this film every year on Thanksgiving. And being Italian, I can relate to the focus on family and food. Eddie already said everything, so I will only add that there are so many life lessons to be learned from THE GODFATHER.

Why You Should See It: Michael (Pacino) tells Fredo (John Cazale), "Don't ever take sides with anyone against the family again." It's a great moment where mafia and family collide.