The Godfather Part III (1990) * * * 1/2

Directed by:  Francis Ford Coppola

Starring:  Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Andy Garcia, Sofia Coppola, Eli Wallach

Part III of The Godfather saga begins in 1979 as Michael Corleone donates $100 million to the Vatican.     Michael is older, suffering from health problems, and is divorced from Kay (Keaton).    He is, however, still the head of the powerful Corleone crime family.    He is closer than ever, however, to moving the family into total legitimacy.    What he fails to realize is that his enemies are still looking to usurp him and his past sins will never be redeemed.  

Some of the players from the first two Godfathers are gone, but are replaced by new characters who honor the tradition.    Andy Garcia shows up as Vincent Mancini, Sonny's illegitimate son, who wishes to break into the family business.  He has a serious beef with Joey Zaza (Joe Mantegna), a Corleone family associate who deals drugs (something Michael, like his father, prohibits).  Garcia is supported and encouraged by his Aunt Connie (Shire), who has become more of a player in the family since Part II ended.  She tells Michael, "If you have Vincent, they will fear you."  Michael replies, "They should fear you."  He nonetheless takes Vincent under his wing. 

As in Part II, Michael and his business partners are shot at during an Atlantic City meeting in which Michael wishes to sever his ties with them.    He escapes, many are killed, and Michael charges Vincent with finding out why.   "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in," says Michael.    Just like the Michael of Part II, he doesn't let go of betrayals.    Vincent enters dangerous territory when he begins to fall in love with his half-cousin (and Michael's daughter) Mary (Sofia Coppola).  I guess that this would be sort of incestuous relationship, but I need a ruling on that.  Either way, it's bound to offend Michael and many others.  

Michael's traitor may be in the upper echelon of powerful Vatican cardinals, who see Michael getting in the way of a multi-billion dollar financial deal.    Despite wanting to discover his betrayer, Michael feels the pull of mortality as he suffers diabetic seizures.    He sees Kay, is likely still in love with her, and realizes his past sins can't be bought off by multi-million dollar checks to the church.     The movie's most powerful scene is Michael, confessing to a Cardinal who would be elected as Pope John Paul I shortly after.   He breaks down uncontrollably as he confesses the murder of his brother, Fredo (from Part II).    "I ordered the death of my mother's son,"  he cries.    Not his brother, but his mother's son.   The wording makes that line more powerful.

The Godfather Part III isn't as good as the first two Godfathers, but its goals aren't as lofty either.    It is more interested in tying up loose ends and showing the full effect of the Corleone crime family on the guilty and the innocent.    It pays more attention to plot than does the first two films, which were really a series of subplots outlining an entire theme.    If this film weren't a Godfather film at all, it would still be a worthy look at a tormented man who sacrificed his family and soul for business.    What makes it worse is the sacrifices continue, even as he attempts to disavow his past.