Power can be a prize or a punishment, depending on how you see it. In the Corleone saga, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) and Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia) represent two opposite viewpoints.Michael was born into the family but lived like an outsider for most of his youth. He wasn’t proud of his family name, i.e., until he took on as the Don, albeit reluctantly. Vincent, on the other hand, being Sonny’s (James Caan) illegitimate child, was born an outsider and always strived to be a Corleone. While one kept running away from the family name and everything it represented, the other kept fighting to be worthy of it.The Godfather trilogy gives us two very different character arcs: Michael, the reluctant prince who was compelled to kill his soul, and Vincent, the eager street urchin, who fervently sought to exchange his heart in favor of the crown. Both men are smart and have sharp instincts, but while Michael is calculating, Vincent is temperamental.Their different personalities also reflect in their leadership styles, ultimately define their legacies, and they both pay the price for it.The Reluctant Son vs. The Illegitimate HeirThe War Hero’s BurdenFor Michael, his family name wasn’t a legacy; it was a liability. It was an unwanted part of his life that he couldn’t just shake off. So, when he returns as a war hero, he uses his civic duty as a balancing act against his family duty. You can see this in the first scene, i.e., at Connie’s (Talia Shire) wedding....
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 30 December