Date: 2008-04-06 11:16 Subject: The Freshman Security: Public

I enjoy a good mafia movie. I suppose if I were to generalize beyond that a bit further, I would say that I enjoy crime as a theme on film and on TV. I guess I love not only the suspense and drama, but the characters. The best of these, in my opinion, are the ones that exude strength and charisma. The ones who, regardless of their morality (or lack thereof), determine their own destiny through a force of will. The code they follow may not be one that everyone can understand, but they follow one all the same.

I can list dozens of excellent movies and shows that fall into this category. My favorites range from Goodfellas and the Sopranos all the way up to one of the best movies from last year, No Country for Old Men. The king of them all however, has to of course be The Godfather. A good friend of mine just watched it for the very first time in her life the other day and I was so jealous. How great would it be to watch a movie like that for the first time? How must it feel to step into that story from the beginning and let it take you in, without any notion of what was around the corner? Hell, I wish I could have been there in person to watch it with her. That has to be the next best thing. A movie like that is always one best shared with friends, especially if they are new to the experience.

Which brings me to today's journal entry.

With the Godfather under her belt, she said she gained a whole new perspective on some of her favorite movies and tv shows. With that in mind, I thought of another lesser-known movie that plays heavily upon The Godfather legacy and combines it with a brilliant comedy.

The Freshman



While the combination of Brando and Broderick may sound out of place, it is exactly that fact that makes this movie work so well. The whole premise of the movie is about what happens when an average film school student from Vermont stumbles into the "family business". Aside from classics like The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and On the Waterfront, this has to be one of my favorites of Brando's performances. Watching him parody his own earlier performances is just fantastic, and it really allows you to get a glimpse of his sense of humor as an actor. On the Broderick side of things, this is definitely a role that seems tailor made for him. His portrayal of a fish out of water is spot on, and it summarizes everything I enjoy about his acting.

It may be a little tricky to track down, but if you ever have the opportunity, it is a great way to spend a fun evening. At the very least you'll never look at a Komodo Dragon the same way again, I promise you.

Arrivederci!