The Godfather (2021)

I find myself staring at the horizon again, wondering if there is truly any sanctuary left to be found. It’s a heavy thought, perhaps a bit too grim for some, but I’ve always struggled with such lightness. We spend our entire lives searching for a harbor—a place where the storms finally subside and the engines can rest—but the more I look, the more I suspect that "harbor" is just a beautiful myth we tell ourselves to keep from drowning. In this country, we're taught that if you work hard enough and navigate the currents correctly, you'll eventually pull into a calm bay. But the sea is indifferent to your effort. Sometimes, the storm just doesn't let up. kaže:
So, he isn't exactly some mobster, yet he’s out there greasing the palms of the local police? Makes you wonder.

Do you actually grasp the weight behind the word "mafia"? It isn't just some cinematic trope; we’re talking about organized crime.

Bribing a police officer isn't some niche underworld drama—it’s pure, textbook corruption. Let's stop pretending it has anything to do with the mafia. It's just plain old graft.

Furthermore... I’m not sure how much you actually know about India or how many Americans from that region you’ve actually encountered. From what I can gather, corruption there operates on a level far beyond anything we see here in the States. It’s practically a standard greeting—as common as saying "good morning."

He’s out there killing people—taking out the boss and then stepping up to claim responsibility for the casualties his drivers left in their wake. But you have to watch yourself around him; after all, he’s a "businessman."
And that is precisely why we find ourselves living in a nation defined by such a narrow, stagnant mindset. 🤦

Why on earth are you peddling such blatant falsehoods?
It wasn't a mass killing; he only took one life.

goldenhound32 said:Do you even know what "the mafia" actually means? We're talking about organized crime here.

Bribing cops is just straight-up corruption—it doesn't automatically mean you're dealing with the mafia!

Also... I don't know how much you actually know about India or how many people from there you've met, but over there, corruption is on a whole different level compared to the US. It's practically part of the daily routine, like saying "good morning."

Why are you making stuff up?
He didn't murder a crowd of people; he killed one guy.

I mean, seriously, is there a single movie out there where the mob isn't bribing someone?

And yeah, he’s responsible for that kid’s death too. He was involved in a hit-and-run, then when those two tried to check on the body, he told them they had to get out of there fast. Who knows—maybe the kid was still alive, and if an ambulance had shown up right then, they could've saved him.

Grace Sanchez50 said:Honestly, is there a single movie out there where the mob hasn't bribed someone?

Just because organized crime relies on bribery doesn't mean every corrupt individual is a mobster.🙄

He’s responsible for that child's death; he was involved in a hit-and-run. Those two wanted to check on the body, but he told them they had to flee. Who knows—maybe the kid was still alive, and if an ambulance had arrived in time, they could have been saved.

He isn't guilty of causing the death; he wasn't the one behind the wheel.

He's guilty of leaving the scene of an accident, just like those other two. And the woman is the one responsible for hitting the child.

Watching this movie gave me a sensation very similar to when I sat through Andrey Zvyagintsev's Leviathan—that distinctively preachy tone where the director basically says, "Alright, you viewers in the West, sit tight while I explain how things actually work in India... prepare to be shocked."

Then, right toward the end, he delivers the line: "In India, a man can build his fortune through either crime or politics." He turns straight to the camera and asks: "And what about in your country?" 🤦

It’s just a lot of lecturing here, though I will admit the lead actor is more than capable.

The movie does a solid job showing how Balram transforms—like, watching this naive kid from nothing turn into a driver for some super wealthy family in India. Once he hits the big city, he’s basically navigating a version of the modern Western lifestyle, but done the Indian way. For me, the heart of the whole thing is those moments where he’s just being too trusting, or when he finally starts caring about his own hygiene—plus that first real clash with his poor family. It’s pretty raw.
On the flip side, the whole bit about him killing his boss and the way he tells his "life story" feels a little much... it totally reminds me of Wolf of Wall Street and a million other movies like it. I guess they just threw that in there to grab a bigger audience.

The message is simple—you either become a shark if you want to actually make it in this life, or you stay cooped up in your little shell forever...