Gordon Willis (1931–2014)

A crime boss defends his empire, and flashbacks show how his father got into The Family Business.

It's a fine movie, but I do not understand how people can compare it to the original (much less claim it's better). There's no real protagonist (Vito's too small a character to count, and Michael did all his developing in the first movie and is now just a heartless villain). There's only one scene with any emotional impact (the one between Michael and Kay), and that feels disconnected, like it's been transplanted form a different movie. There's no suspense. There's nothing to get me at all involved in the main story. What's all the fuss about?

Concept: C
Story: C
Characters: B
Dialog: B
Pacing: D
Cinematography: B
Special effects/design: A
Acting: A
Music: B

Enjoyment: C plus

GPA: 2.7/4… (plus d'informations)

Generally, my taste in books is fairly conventional, but I can be flexible about these things.

Gordon Willis` book was probably never going to reach a wide audience, but certainly it deserves it`s reputation as a bizarre, but in many ways compassionate, work of the imagination.

The mood and style of writing vary as the book progresses. In the first section, a character finds an aspidistra growing out of his back, a situation that is to push him to the very fringes of society. His reaction, however, is admirably adaptable -

"Fully grown it`s leaves were pliant and it was possible, by carefully arranging them under a shirt, to dress after a fashion...He did not foresee himself wearing special costume."

The second part concerns the Kilroy of the title, and his period of employment by the avaricious, psycopathic Felix Grunt. Grunt is strangely likeable (to me anyway). I especially like his comments on the fate of a number of decapitated previous employees - "The sharp edges you know. Got the wind up. Panic. Lacked the inner poise. Still, their heads came in handy."

The third part concerns Felicity and Kilroy, who find themselves in an unenviable position, encased in concrete in the base of a statue. Here the writing is almost like a kind of poetry -

"Day breaks starkly. People try to carry out their plans. In the evenng imagination fires hope yet again. Day breaks. Felicity holds her memories like a bomb inside her."

Also interesting is the author`s use of phrases rarely heard in conversation now - "on his tod", "got the wind up" - phrases one used to hear pretty much daily, but now passed from the spoken language.

I do not know, but presume it is now out of print. One wonders whether it`s reputation will fade in time. Personally, I hope not, but that`s me - ever the optimist !… (plus d'informations)