You Can't Refuse

 

"The Godfather" is #5 on my list of all time favorite movies.   So it was a natural that I would sample this new mini-series being offered up on Paramount Plus.  But I never expected that I would love it as much as I do.   

This is all about the making of the legendary film.   But it's not a documentary.  You have actors playing all the principals involved and some of the performances are dead on.  The attention to detail is superlative and very accurate as compared to another "making of" drama/piece of shit called "Being the Ricardos."

Now maybe we shouldn't be surprised by the accuracy.   One of the producers of this mini-series is Albert S. Ruddy who was also one of the producers of the original film.   Yes, he is still around albeit in his 90s.   The screen credit says it's based on his experiences producing "The Godfather."   Are there likely some embellishments?   Of course.   It is still as captivating as all get out.   And provides some factoids that I never knew.  For instance, I was completely in the dark that Ruddy was originally the producer of "Hogan's Heroes."

One of the other main players in this drama is Paramount executive Robert Evans who himself had a documentary or two devoted to himself.   Evans' voice is very distinctive and "Downton Abbey" veteran Matthew Goode nails it in a performance that is bound to win an Emmy.   By the way, if you're wondering why Goode isn't in the newest Downton movie...welp, he was busy making "The Offer."

I have no idea if Miles Teller is completely embodying the role of Ruddy, but he's damn interesting as he fights both Hollywood and Mafiaoso Joe Columbo to get this movie made.   Along the way, you meet all the principals.  Mario Puzo.  Francis Ford Coppola.  A young Al Pacino played by an actor who is a complete doppelganger for a young Al Pacino.  You see how Brando himself fashioned the look of Don Corleone.  You have Colin Hanks played famed Paramount executive Barry Diller.   And Colin looks just like...well...his dad.   But that's a minor quibble because everything else is so damn perfect.

This mini-series is 10 episodes long and one episode is dropped weekly...just the way I like it.   "The Offer" will run through mid-June and it is well worth your time, especially if you're a film geek.   You will want to kiss the ring of all concerned.

Dinner last night:  Salad.