I actually think that Godfather I, and to a lesser degree Godfather II are above the 'genre' as it were. While it is definitely a 'mobster' flick, I really felt that the films were about the drama of a family, and the surrounding people, being pulled apart at the seams.

I'm not generally a fan of the mafia oeuvre, either. I can see the quality of the films but I don't typically enjoy them. For me, however, it's the first Godfather that stands out as the one I will watch and re-watch. I really think it might be the best-filmed film ever. The quality of light? The shadows? I'm a sucker for something that good-looking. I'm also a sucker for ironic voiceover: boy howdy does the baptism at the end get me every time.

ETA: Erica, jinx!

Your sentiments are mine, in terms of the beauty as well. Ditto that for the ironic voiceover. I just need to sucker J into watching it. He knows my enthusiasm, and he wants it, too. I am not spoiling it with a marathon.

I just saw the movie "Ordinary People" on Sunday (best picture from 1981 I think), which was REALLY good. I guess it seemed really progressive at the time for its positive portrayal of psychiatry when going to therapy was a stigma and therapists were mostly seen as quacks. It was good to see Mary Tyler Moore in a non stereotypical "cold hearted bitch" role... :) Timothy Hutton was actually kinda adorable too (oh man did I identify with him), whereas now I see him as creepy lol.

My primary thought while watching was that I felt like a voyeur to the real life of this family, totally deserving of the award.

Did Gemini Cricket instigate that viewing??

Whose, mine? No, I actually had it from netflix. GC and I played Super Smash Bros. Brawl for 4 hours and never watched a movie :)

Oh, because he insists that film is a biography of HIS family.

It is. It truly is.
Without the suicide attempt.
I'm Timothy Hutton, my dad's Donald Sutherland and my mom's Mary Tyler Moore. There also have been a ton of Judd Hirsches in my life.
:)

I thought that was my family. Or maybe that's Interiors.