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Reviews by Matt Heffernan <matt@filmhead.com>
This week my picks are
Xizao (Shower)
(1999 - 
) and
The Godfather
(1972 - 
).
The first film this week is a rare example of an independent
film from China. Pu Cun Xin stars as a Southern businessman
who goes home to his father's bathhouse in the North. He finds
that his father (Shu Xu) is now much closer to his retarded younger
brother (Jiang Wu). The story is about the conflict between
modern, industrialized (and therefore Westernized) China and the
traditional life in the provinces. Shower is a beautiful, quiet, funny
film with some wonderful performances and a memorable bunch
of characters.
Full review from August 7, 2000
The theme of a prodigal son conflicting with tradition is nothing new. In fact, the second film is the most famous example ever made. Based on the novel by Mario Puzo, The Godfather tells the epic story of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), who falls in with the Mafia family led by his father (Marlon Brando), despite his intention to make it in the world legitimately. Hailed by many (and rightly so) as one of the greatest American films ever made, Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece is a brilliant combination of operatic drama and intense violence. It won several Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Brando). It was followed by an incredible sequel that also won a Best Picture Oscar, but the original was never overshadowed. The Godfather is an immortal treasure that continues to garner acclaim, including a #3 ranking in the American Film Institute's all-time list.
For more information, visit the Internet Movie Database:
Xizao (1999)
The Godfather (1972)
Here's some merchandise for sale at
| Shower (1999) - English subtitles | -- VHS |
| Shower (1999) | -- DVD |
| The Godfather (1972) | -- VHS |
| The Godfather (1972) | -- VHS Widescreen |
| The Godfather Collection | -- VHS |
| The Godfather Collection | -- VHS Widescreen |
| The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo | -- Hardcover |
| The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo | -- Paperback |
| The Godfather, a novel by Mario Puzo | -- Audio Cassette |
| Francis Ford Coppola's Godfather Trilogy, edited by Nick Browne | -- Hardcover |
| The Godfather Legacy, by Harlan Lebo | -- Paperback |
| The Godfather: Soundtrack | -- Compact Disc |
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