What I See: Newfound Appreciation for Cinematic Art

Recently I watched the “Baptism and Murder” scene for The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola, analyzing more so of the camera shots and angles with the recent knowledge I gained in Media 150.  The scene, in which Michael Corleone is present with sister Connie at his new nephew/godson’s baptism.  In between the shots of the baptism there are shots of men that are close to Michael Corleone and the his family business that are carrying out the orders given by Michael, the assassinations of the heads of families who have done the Corleone family wrong.  In the background of all events, cathedral music plays while the voice of a priest is heard as he administers the baptism.  The back and forth shots of a scene that is holy and family oriented and those that display the brutal murdering of other human beings causes an added sense drama and chaos.  Showing a naive baby and then men being shot to death adds to the shock of the murders committed by the Corleone hit men.  Anticipation is built up for the murders also as the scenes slowly build up to them between the baptism and the display of the hit men preparing for their jobs.  The way this part of the movie was shot is very important to the overall theme of the movie and the battle in which Michael Corleone finds himself once placed as head of his family business, the struggle between family and business.  The cold, stern close up of Michael during the baptism shows us that he is indeed physically at the baptism, but mentally with his hit men assassinating rival family heads who jeopardize his business.