From Fredo to Tom Hagen, the sprawling ensemble ofThe Godfathertrilogy is jam-packed with unforgettable, three-dimensional characters.
But unlike Tessio, Clemenza never turns on the family.
Hes a trusted capo and Sonnys godfather.
Everyone deserves a friend in their life like Clemenza.
That included his two performances as Fredo Corleone inThe GodfatherandThe Godfather Part II.
The middle child of the family, Fredo is a unique character within the gangster genre.
These movies are usually full of tough guys, but Fredo is basically a laughingstock.
Hes the weakest, most dim-witted, and most indecisive member of the Corleone clan.
Fredo seems naive and unsuspicious, but he turns out to be more complex and unscrupulous than that.
He ends upbetraying his brother Michael inPart II and Cazale nailed the nuance of that arc.
Brasi is the Corleone familys personal hitman, and the only man that Don Corleone fears.
Brasi is a memorable character from the second Michael tells Kay the story of the offer he couldnt refuse.
That incident doesnt even appear on-screen, but it made Brasi an instantly iconic character.
Even his death is iconic: Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.
Sonny reappears briefly in a flashback to Vitos birthday party in 1941 towardsthe end ofThe Godfather Part II.
Garcia received a much-deserved Academy Award nomination for his scene-stealing performance inThe Godfather Part III.
Tom has an interesting backstory that predates the trilogy.
Duvall is compelling enough in the role that this detour doesnt slow the movie down.
AlthoughThe Godfatheropens at Connies wedding, the character was sidelined in the first two movies.
Shes used more as a plot unit than a real character.
Her anger at Michael is justified, but not really explored.
In the final stage of her arc, Connie evolves into one of Michaels most ruthless advisors.
She even orders hits and bumps off enemies behind his back.
In the first film, she was disgusted by Michaels cold-heartedness when he has her abusive husband killed.
But in the third film, Connie becomes just as cold-hearted as Michael.
3Kay Adams Corleone
Kay Adams Corleone goes on quite the emotional journey acrossThe Godfathertrilogy.
Kay is a subversion of the usual mob wife archetype.
But Kay is much too independent and self-assured for that.
She challenges Michaels despicable actions all throughout the trilogy.
When audiences are introduced to Vito in the first movie, hes fully formed.
But Robert De Niros performance as the younger Vito made the character even more fascinating.
Michael is the tragic character whose fall from grace is the basis for the entire saga.
No matter how immoral he gets, Al Pacinos powerful performance keeps the character engaging.
Michaels perfectly constructed character arc throughoutThe Godfathertrilogy has a succinct beginning, middle, and end.
The Godfatheris one of the most iconic and influential film franchises in cinematic history.
The first two films, in particular, are widely regarded as some of the greatest films ever made.
