Home/Episodes/The Godfather Part III
‘The Godfather Part III' With Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, and Chris Ryan
March 17, 2020 · The Godfather Part III (1990) · Crime · Drama · 1:30:09 · ▶ Listen on Spotify
Categories
Most Rewatchable Scene
Bill SimmonsMultiple scenes including the Joey Zaza-Vincent Mancini showdown in Michael's office, the penthouse conference scene with helicopter attack, and the kitchen scene with Pacino's 'just when I thought I was out' moment▶ 37:05
Chris RyanContributes details about multiple scenes including Garcia's drunk acting, the penthouse helicopter scene with oranges rolling, and the San Gennaro feast sequence▶ 37:21
Sean FennesseyDiscusses the penthouse conference scene positively, noting it's like a 70s exploitation movie but works well in the film▶ 42:03
Casting What-Ifs
Bill SimmonsAlec Baldwin — Believes Alec Baldwin was the most credible alternate for Vincent Mancini, dismisses Tom Cruise/Matt Dillon/Val Kilmer rumors, thinks Charlie Sheen and Vincent Spano were possible, mentions De Niro wanted to play Vincent with aged-up Pacino▶ 1:01:40
Chris RyanLuke Perry — Likes the Luke Perry audition possibility, agrees Nicolas Cage could have been good despite being a family member▶ 1:02:39
Sean FennesseyNicolas Cage — Notes Nicolas Cage as family member option, mentions classic Irish-for-Italian casting with Baldwin reference▶ 1:02:14
Joey Pants Award
Bill SimmonsRick Aviles — One of the two assassins that comes into Vincent's apartment (who also played Willie Lopez in Ghost)▶ 1:04:18
Chris RyanMario Donatone — Mario Donatone as Mosco, the Sicilian assassin; Donald Donnelly as International Immovarelli▶ 1:05:17
Sean FennesseyDon Novello — Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci from SNL) as Dominic Abandando, the PR guy; also mentioned John Savage as Andrew Hagen▶ 1:04:53
Dion Waiters Award
Sean FennesseyDiscusses Wallach's career and casting issues but doesn't give alternative pick▶ 1:07:58
Half-Assed Internet Research
Bill SimmonsMultiple facts: First draft written in 1979 by Dean Reisner about Anthony as CIA naval officer; Sofia Coppola was in all three films (baby in baptism, Ellis Island child, Mary in Part 3); 2,000 actors auditioned for Anthony; prefers not recasting Brando as Don Altobello because he's too different physically▶ 1:14:08
Chris RyanWould be excited to see the planned Godfather 4 starring Andy Garcia as Vincent and Leonardo DiCaprio as young Sonny, set in 90s New York during Giuliani era▶ 1:15:51
Sean FennesseyWould like to see the planned Godfather 4 with Andy Garcia and Leonardo DiCaprio, and would watch another Godfather movie in general▶ 1:17:04
Apex Mountain
Bill SimmonsAndy Garcia — Andy Garcia (yes), Sofia Coppola acting jokes, George Hamilton, Women's hair, The Vatican▶ 1:18:45
Picking Nits
Bill SimmonsWhy wasn't everyone more horrified by the incest plot? Can't believe critics like Ebert weren't more critical of it▶ 1:19:48
Bill SimmonsThe Vatican financial plot is too hard to follow - too many characters and subplots to keep track of▶ 1:20:32
Chris RyanWhat's the vetting process for Archbishop Gilday to become in charge of all of the Vatican's finances?▶ 1:20:09
Sean FennesseyThe Vatican's vetting process for putting Archbishop Gilday in charge of finances doesn't make sense - why put the nervy smoking guy in charge of the bank?▶ 1:20:18
Probably Unanswerable Questions
Bill SimmonsThe movie should have had a scene where Michael takes Kay back to Apollonia's house in Sicily and comes clean about his first marriage▶ 1:21:47
Chris RyanAgrees with Bill's Apollonia scene idea but notes that romance/true love isn't the most compelling aspect of the trilogy▶ 1:22:28
Sean FennesseyWhat happened to the $600 million immobiliari deal after Mary dies - did it close and is Michael in charge of Vatican Bank finances?▶ 1:20:42
Best Quote
Bill SimmonsMultiple quotes including 'Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment', 'He who builds on the people builds on mud', 'I don't need tough guys. I need more lawyers', and 'Now they'll fear you. Maybe they should fear you'▶ 1:23:11
Who Won the Movie
Sean FennesseyAndy Garcia — Considers Andy Garcia's case by reviewing his career trajectory from 1986-1990▶ 1:26:24
Movies Referenced (36)
| Title (year) | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Godfather (1972) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 13 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | ▶ 1:23 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 2:39 |
| Goodfellas (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 8:58 |
| Scarface (1983) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 15:29 |
| 21 Jump Street (2012) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 47:05 |
| Lucy (2014) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | ▶ 37:49 |
| Pretty Woman (1990) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 8:50 |
| Proof of Life (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:07:09 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 2:41 |
| Sicario (2015) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons | ▶ 47:17 |
| Sing (2016) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 1:14:37 |
| Almost Famous (2000) | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 47:22 |
Directors Referenced (7)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sofia Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | The Godfather Part III, The Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation | ▶ 3:55 |
| Ralph Lucchese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 4 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | ▶ 44:49 | |
| Martin Scorsese | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons | Taxi Driver, Killers of the Flower Moon, Mean Streets | ▶ 18:30 |
| John P. Fertitta | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Mississippi Burning | ▶ 11:48 |
| Warren Beatty | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 2 | Sean Fennessey, Bill Simmons | Heaven Can Wait | ▶ 6:07 |
| Eleanor Coppola | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | ▶ 32:40 | |
| Sergio Leone | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | Once Upon a Time in America, Once Upon a Time in the West | ▶ 1:08:12 |
Actors Referenced (70)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Pacino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 42 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Dog Day Afternoon, The Godfather | ▶ 4:55 |
| Andy Garcia | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 30 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Ocean's Eleven, The Godfather Part III | ▶ 6:33 |
| George Hamilton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 16 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan | The Godfather Part III | ▶ 25:07 |
| Diane Keaton | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | Annie Hall, Something's Gotta Give | ▶ 21:27 |
| Frank Sinatra | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey, Chris Ryan | From Here to Eternity | ▶ 1:00:41 |
| Robert De Niro | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 11 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Cape Fear, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver | ▶ 7:59 |
| Eli Wallach | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 10 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 54:06 | |
| Winona Ryder | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 8 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons | Dracula | ▶ 19:00 |
| Paul Newman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 7 | Bill Simmons, Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | Road to Perdition, The Verdict | ▶ 53:38 |
| Joe Mantegna | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 6 | Chris Ryan, Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | Searching for Bobby Fischer, Baby's Day Out, The Godfather Part III | ▶ 39:35 |
| Daniel Sea | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 15:40 | |
| John Savage | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 5 | Chris Ryan, Sean Fennessey | The Deer Hunter | ▶ 25:29 |
Writers Referenced (4)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roger Ebert | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 3 | Bill Simmons, Sean Fennessey | ▶ 6:50 | |
| Brian Koppelman | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Chris Ryan | Runaway Jury, Michael Clayton | ▶ 2:22 |
| David Mamet | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | House of Games | ▶ 40:49 |
| Michael Cimino | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Bill Simmons | The Deer Hunter | ▶ 1:03:31 |
Cinematographers Referenced (1)
| Name | Links | Mentions | Mentioned by | Known For | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam Macbeth | IMDb ↗Lb ↗ | 1 | Sean Fennessey | ▶ 24:55 |