The Rewatchables: ‘The Godfather Part II’ With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan, and Brian Koppelman

Published 2022-01-04; 2:33:24 by the feed.

Awards and segments (97)

Most rewatchable scene

  1. pick Senator Geary negotiating with Michael ('My offer is nothing')
    “Senator Gary scene for me.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:24:55
  2. pick Hyman Roth tells Michael about Moe Green and Las Vegas
    “Second scene, Hyman Roth brings up Mo Green to Michael Corleone.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:48:37
  3. pick The three-part Havana sequence, including the banana daiquiri with Fredo
    “Next, we watch both the three-part Havana sequence.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:55:26
  4. pick Michael realizes Fredo betrayed him ('I know it was you, Fredo')
    “The three-part of anisequence, Michael realizes Fredo betrayed him.”
    Bill Simmons · 0:57:55
  5. pick Vito kills Don Fanucci on the rooftops during the festa
    “Um, next scene, veto killing Don Finucci.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:00:57
  6. pick Fredo versus Michael in Tahoe ('I was passed over')
    “Next scene, Fredo versus Michael.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:03:57
  7. pick Kay tells Michael the miscarriage was an abortion
    “Well, speaking of betrayal, the abortion scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:07:17
  8. pick Vito kills Don Ciccio
    “Vito kills Don Chiccio.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:14:03
  9. pick Connie asks Michael to forgive Fredo, ending in the hug and the look at Al Neri
    “We did Connie asked Michael to forgive Fredo.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:15:24
  10. pick Tom Hagan and Frankie Five Angels' last scene (the Roman emperors story)
    “Tom and Frankie's last scene.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:15:32
  11. pick The final three deaths: Roth, Frankie in the bathtub, and Fredo in the boat
    “And this must all end. Three, two more rewatchable scenes, the final big three death, where you have the incredible high degree of difficulty Hyman Roth murder, which hold that.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:19:34
  12. pick The flashback ending at the Corleone table where Michael says he enlisted
    “And then the flashback ending is the last one I have.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:20:34
  13. pick Kay's abortion scene, which he says he rewatches constantly
    “Just every, every couple days, I just fire up the abortion scene.”
    Brian Koppelman · 1:07:46
  14. floated Vito comes home after being fired and sets the pear on the table
    “When he just puts the pair down when Vito puts the pair down on their on his wife's table, you know, and sits down and they just silently eat the thing and he gives her a kiss.”
    Brian Koppelman · 1:01:49
  15. pick Clemenza and Vito stealing the rug
    “I really love the Clemenza and Vito stealing the rug scene.”
    unknown · 1:22:08
  16. pick Vito and Don Roberto (the door business)
    “It's the Don Roberto scene.”
    unknown · 1:22:29
  17. pick The Senate hearings where Pentangeli recants and his brother appears
    “The Senate hearings when Pentangially comes out and then his brother comes out.”
    unknown · 1:23:42
  18. pick The Havana sequence, specifically Michael and Fredo at the cafe
    “I think I'm going to go with the Havana sequence.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:25:04
  19. pick Fredo and Michael at the end in Tahoe ('tell me a day in advance')
    “I have Fredo and Michael.”
    unknown · 1:25:21

Ebert review · The hosts read Roger Ebert's original review of the film.

  1. pick The Godfather Part II: Ebert gave it 3 of 4 stars, praised Pacino and Coppola's mood and period, faulted the flashbacks, and the hosts say he later re-reviewed it as a 4-star movie.
    “And now Godfather, 3 out of 4 stars.”
    unknown · 0:18:38

Oscars (who should have won) · Who should have won or been nominated at the 1975 Oscars.

  1. winner Al Pacino as Michael Corleone: Should have beaten Art Carney for best actor.
    “It makes me so mad because you said Pacino's giving maybe the greatest screen performance in the history of screens on a movie that everyone saw and was really popular.”
    unknown · 0:33:31
  2. pick John Cazale as Fredo Corleone: Should have been nominated for best supporting actor.
    “So Kazale doesn't get nominated, which is, it's in the, I think the biggest Oscar travesty of all time is Pacino not winning for this movie.”
    unknown · 0:36:50

Dion Waiters Award · Small role, big impact.

  1. nominee G.D. Spradlin as Senator Geary
    “We have JD Spradlin, who was in one-on-one North House 40, Godfather 2, in Apocalypse Now, in a five-year span.”
    unknown · 1:52:14
  2. nominee Bruno Kirby as young Clemenza
    “Bruno Kirby is young Clemenza.”
    unknown · 1:52:40
  3. nominee Roth's assassin in Cuba (the one-outfit turtleneck guy)
    “Roth's assassin in Cuba, one outfit.”
    unknown · 1:52:43
  4. winner Frankie Pentangeli's brother from Italy: His personal choice: no lines, one look on his face.
    “And then my personal choice for the award for Dion Waiters, Frankie's brother from Italy.”
    unknown · 1:52:48
  5. nominee Mariana Hill as Deanna Corleone
    “I was gonna put Fredo's wife in there.”
    unknown · 1:52:57

Joey Pants Award · The best that-guy actor in the film.

  1. winner Troy Donahue as Merle: Would be thrilled to see him in anything else; the hosts note his real name is Merle Johnson.
    “I have to go with Merle just because I just see if I saw him in anything else.”
    unknown · 1:58:20
  2. nominee Joe Spinell as Willie Cicci
    “We mentioned Willie Chichi.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:58:09
  3. nominee Rocco Lampone
    “We mentioned Merle, Rocco, I have no idea what his name is.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:58:10
  4. nominee Al Neri
    “Al Nery.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:58:14
  5. nominee Janko
    “Um, and and Janko.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:58:15
  6. nominee Dominic Chianese as Johnny Ola
    “Dominic Cheneys.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:58:19

Best overacting · Who went biggest in the film.

  1. pick Michael Gazzo as Frankie Pentangeli: Drunk Frankie at the party.
    “You're going to be mad to drunk Frankie asking for help with the brothers.”
    unknown · 2:00:05
  2. winner Danny Aiello as Tony Rosato: Playing the part to the hilt.
    “It's got to be Danny Iola.”
    unknown · 2:00:37
  3. pick Mariana Hill as Deanna Corleone: Her screaming scene in the woods.
    “I think I think I think Dina Corleone is probably the overacting.”
    unknown · 2:00:41
  4. pick The bongo player at the Cuban sex show
    “The bongo player at the Cuban sex show.”
    unknown · 2:01:14

Casting what-ifs · Almost-castings and recasts.

  1. pick James Cagney: Coppola offered him a part and he refused.
    “Um, Coppola for James Cagney a part in the film, but Cagney refused.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:48:00
  2. pick Peter Sellers: Was also considered for Hyman Roth.
    “Apparently Peter Sellers was also considered for Heim and Rath.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:48:20
  3. pick Richard Castellano as Clemenza: Declined to return after demanding to write his own dialogue; the hosts then debate whether the film is better with Clemenza.
    “After demanding, A, he could write Comenza's dialogue, which is just insane.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:48:39
  4. pick Harvey Keitel as Janko: Recasting couch: a famous actor of the era as Janko.
    “Harvey Kaitau as Jenko.”
    unknown · 2:02:24
  5. pick Joe Pesci as Bruno Kirby's part or Janko: Recasting couch.
    “Could Pesci have done Bruno Kirby's part?”
    unknown · 2:03:04

Picking Nits · Nitpicks of a film they love.

  1. pick Young Vito as Vito Corleone: How does a mute, dimwitted boy end up surviving New York and finding a wife.
    “How does Vito go from being a dimwitted young boy to navigating a voyage to Us Island to surviving in New York for 10 years by himself to suddenly finding a wife?”
    unknown · 2:04:05
  2. pick Clemenza's death explained only by 'that was no heart attack': Throwaway line covering for Castellano's exit.
    “Okay, how to Clemenza die, and then they go, that was no heart attack.”
    unknown · 2:04:53
  3. pick Frankie Pentangeli as Frankie Five Angels: Where did he come from, and how is he suddenly this important.
    “Um, going from Comenza to Frankie Five Fingers, I think it's not the flaw of this movie, because this is the greatest movie of all time, but if you were going to pick it apart, you'd be like, where did this, where did Frankie come from?”
    unknown · 2:05:44
  4. pick Kay asks why the drapes are open before the Tahoe hit: Biggest nitpick: why didn't Kay notice earlier, and who opened them and how (Fredo giving the plans or opening the drapes).
    “First of all, she's been in the fucking bedroom for an hour.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:07:04

Best quotes · Favorite lines.

  1. pick Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer
    “Keep your friends close, but your enemy is closer.”
    unknown · 2:16:44
  2. pick This is the business we've chosen: The hosts joke it has been said by every douchebag in every business.
    “Have more douchebags in the world said, this is the business we've chosen than any others who've chosen.”
    unknown · 2:16:59
  3. pick I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies.
    “I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom.”
    unknown · 2:17:38
  4. pick Hyman Roth: been dying of the same heart attack for 20 years
    “Been dying of the same heart attack for 20 years.”
    unknown · 2:18:00
  5. pick Let me wet my beak
    “Let me win my beak. Don Finucci?”
    unknown · 2:18:17
  6. pick I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother's alive: Called the most savage line.
    “Uh, and I also really love, um, I don't want anything to happen to him while my mother's alive.”
    unknown · 2:18:22

Unanswerable questions · Questions the film leaves open or the hosts can't settle.

  1. pick Did Pacino actually hit Diane Keaton in the abortion scene?
    “Did Pacino actually hit Diane Keaton in the abortions?”
    Bill Simmons · 2:19:04
  2. pick Was Michael justified in murdering Fredo?
    “More an answerable was Michael justified in murdering Fredo.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:22:16
  3. pick Would Fredo have betrayed the family again if Michael had let him live?: The hosts mostly say no; he seems relieved to be back fishing.
    “Let's say Michael lets Fredo live.”
    Brian Koppelman · 2:22:25
  4. pick Was Cazale better than De Niro in this movie?
    “Are we sure? Kazel wasn't better than De Niro in this movie.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:25:30
  5. pick Did this movie create the Hail Mary in football?: Bill claims the 1974 film named the Hail Mary before Drew Pearson's catch.
    “Did this movie create the Hail Mary in football?”
    Bill Simmons · 2:25:38
  6. pick Is the chronological saga the best way to watch the two films?: Hosts say no, the back and forth is essential.
    “Last, last unanswerable.”
    Bill Simmons · 2:27:14
  7. pick Was Pacino bitter that De Niro became Brando's heir?
    “This is a related, unanswerable question and it's relevant because of the Irishman.”
    unknown · 2:31:10

What if it were made today · Could it be remade today, and how.

  1. pick A 10-episode Netflix remake: Brian answered with a flat no.
    “Could this be remade as a 10 episode Netflix show?”
    Bill Simmons · 2:18:49

Who won the movie · Who came out of the film best.

  1. winner Francis Ford Coppola: Confirmation he is one of the ten most important filmmakers ever.
    “For me, it's the same as one, which is Coppola, which is just like confirmation of one of the 10 most important filmmakers in the history of the medium.”
    unknown · 2:29:56
  2. nominee Robert De Niro as young Vito: Announced himself as the next major movie star.
    “The only other answer is, I think 2 other answers are De Niro, because De Niro announced himself as the next major movie star.”
    unknown · 2:30:05
  3. nominee Lee Strasberg as Hyman Roth: A teacher who held his own against Pacino.
    “But Lee Strasburg, because there's always this question about whether a teacher can really do it.”
    unknown · 2:30:19
  4. winner Al Pacino as Michael Corleone
    “I vote for Pacino.”
    unknown · 2:31:02
  5. winner John Cazale and Robert Duvall: The soul of the movie.
    “I want to go a little bit of a zag and say, um, Kazal and, um, and Duval.”
    unknown · 2:32:25

Hottest take · The host's boldest take.

  1. pick Kay Corleone as Diane Keaton: Kay is a badly constructed character; Sean and others disagree.
    “She's the worst character.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:10:04

Worst character · The weakest character.

  1. winner Kay Corleone
    “Kate Corleone is terrible.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:15:12

What ages the best · What holds up best.

  1. pick Young Pacino and young De Niro in the same movie
    “Young Pacino and young De Niro being in the same movie.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:26:40
  2. pick Merle asks for a cocktail in Michael's office
    “Merle asking for a cocktail in Michael's office.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:27:23
  3. pick Michael turns the family over to a nervous Tom ('learn from pop')
    “Michael turning the family over to a nervous Tom when he says one thing and learn from pop, try to think like people around, you think?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:31:18
  4. pick Johnny Ola as the young Uncle Junior
    “Johnny Ola being the young Uncle Jr.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:31:51
  5. pick Michael Corleone's IBM stock
    “Michael Corleone's IBM stock.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:35:16
  6. pick Frankie Pentangeli's brother with the evil eye
    “Freddy's uh Freddy's brother.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:35:25
  7. pick Tom tells Michael he's staying
    “Tom tells Michael he's staying.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:36:00
  8. pick Hagan and Michael on the president being killed, three years before JFK
    “In a scene set in 1960, Tom Hagan says nobody could kill the president of the United States, and Michael Corleone replies, anyone could be killed.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:36:17
  9. pick Rocco Lampone
    “Rocco Lampone underrated?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:36:29
  10. pick The presence of oranges: A literary signature and echo across the films.
    “And the presence of oranges.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:36:46
  11. pick Gordon Willis's photography
    “The avocation of turn of the century, New York, the arrival at Ellis Island, the Mashulu, like the pan across the desk.”
    Brian Koppelman · 1:37:14
  12. pick Frankie Five Angels in the bathtub: Not rewatchable, but ages best for what it portends.
    “I think the scene in the bathtub, the using the history, the decline of the Roman Empire, all that shit in that one moment for me.”
    Brian Koppelman · 1:37:34
  13. pick The way the film looks, with Gordon Willis
    “I actually am gonna go with the way it looks with Wills.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:37:57
  14. pick Young De Niro and young Pacino in their prime
    “I have young De Niro young Pacino.”
    Chris Ryan · 1:38:02

What ages the worst · What holds up worst.

  1. pick Kay Corleone
    “What's age the worst other than Kate Corleone?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:38:34
  2. pick Willie Cicci
    “Willie Chee Chee?”
    Bill Simmons · 1:40:25
  3. pick Michael asks 'Was it a boy?' after Kay's miscarriage
    “Michael, after hearing about Kay's miscarriage from Tom Hayden.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:41:23
  4. pick Rocco's plan to kill Hyman Roth: No exit strategy.
    “Rocco's plan to kill Hyman Roth.”
    Bill Simmons · 1:41:46
  5. pick The deleted scene of Michael's revenge on Fabrizio: Wishes it had been kept in the movie.
    “Another would stage the worst for me is there's a deleted scene, which you mentioned earlier, where Michael gets his revenge on Fabrizio from Godfather one, it's actually on the internet.”
    unknown · 1:43:40
  6. pick The opaque Roth and Pentangeli blame setup in the first third
    “Basically, I mean, I figured this might be a good time to talk about how, uh, not vague, but opaque the Roth potangially blame stuff is in the, in that 1st 3rd of the movie, when Michael's going to visit these guys and he's telling each one of them, like, it was Roth.”
    unknown · 1:44:03
  7. pick Aiello's improvised 'Michael Corleone says hello': It makes little story sense.
    “It's the worst moment in the movie.”
    unknown · 1:46:20
  8. pick Vito lets Fanucci hold a knife near the girl's eye and walks away
    “Age the worst, which is that Veto Corleone, our hero, just lets Finucci put a knife up to the girl's eye and he lets his friend take him away from it and he doesn't, can you imagine a movie hero now, not getting in the middle of that?”
    unknown · 1:54:39

Apex Mountain · Who or what is at the peak of its career or run.

  1. winner Francis Ford Coppola
    “I mean, he literally had never had more power than this.”
    unknown · 1:55:43
  2. winner Gordon Willis: Paired with Coppola.
    “It's Copeland Gordon, I'm not to be and Gordon Willis.”
    unknown · 1:56:22
  3. winner John Cazale
    “I would give it to him for this, Kazale?”
    unknown · 1:56:30
  4. nominee Lake Tahoe
    “Lake Tahoe?”
    unknown · 1:56:38
  5. nominee Troy Donahue as Merle
    “Apex Mountain for Troy Donahue, or whatever this guy's name is?”
    unknown · 1:57:06
  6. winner G.D. Spradlin as Senator Geary
    “Even though he was amazing in... Apex Mountain for Spradley.”
    unknown · 1:57:18
  7. winner Paramount: For its Oscar results with this movie.
    “Terrific Oscar results, yes.”
    unknown · 1:57:47
  8. winner Mafia movies
    “Apex Mountain for Mafia movies.”
    unknown · 1:58:05

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