Diane Keaton gushes about the newly recut Godfather Part III as director Francis Ford Coppola salvages its reputation: 'It was a dream come true'
Diane Keaton was effusive in her praise about Francis Ford Coppola's re-edited version of the conclusion to the Godfather trilogy after getting a chance to watch it.
The legendary actress said that viewing the new cut was 'One of the best moments of my life' in a conversation with Variety that was published Wednesday.
The newly recut version, retitled from The Godfather Part III to Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone, attempts to resolve the problems in the original that left critics underwhelmed when it premiered in late 1990.
Loving it: Diane Keaton, 74, called the new edit of The Godfather Part III ' a dream come true' in a chat with Variety that was published Wednesday; seen in May 2019 in LA
'It was one of the best moments of my life to watch it,' Keaton enthused after seeing the film at a private screening Coppola put on at the Paramount lot for herself and her original costars Al Pacino, Talia Shire and George Hamilton.
'To me it was a dream come true. I saw the movie in a completely different light,' she continued.
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'When I saw it way back, it was like "Oh, I don’t know." It didn’t seem to do that well and the reviews weren’t great. But Francis restructured the beginning and the end and man, I’m telling you it worked.'
Although the film was a commercial success, earning nearly $137 million against a $54 million budget, many critics were unimpressed with it, particularly compared to the first two Godfather films, which are widely regarded as masterpieces.
'It was one of the best moments of my life to watch it,' Keaton enthused after seeing a private screening on the Paramount Lot with Al Pacino, Talia Shire and George Hamilton
Changes: Director Francis Ford Coppola has recut the film, retitling it Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. The original version left critics cold in 1990, though it was still a box office hit
It turns out that Keaton was among the crowd who didn't care for the Godfather finale.
'I don’t know why people didn’t appreciate it, but I was one of them,' she admitted. 'What was wrong with me? Why didn’t I like this before? But I didn’t. I kind of just dismissed it and thought, "oh well."'
Though she thinks the film as a whole is stronger, the 74-year-old Annie Hall star contends that it will allow detractors to reevaluate Sofia Coppola's performance as Michael Corleone's daughter.
Coppola's daughter — who has become an acclaimed director in her own right — stepped in to play the role after Winona Ryder dropped out, but her performance was savaged by critics and fans alike.
Reevaluated: Keaton said that detractors of Sofia Coppola's performance as the daughter of Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) will reconsider it in this new version; Sofia and Francis Ford Coppola seen in 2018
'That’s not going to happen anymore,' Keaton contended. 'She’s what a daughter would be like if you had this guy as your dad, the head of a criminal organization. She was not so sure of herself and is kind of quiet. Kind of haunted. I thought she was fantastic.'
The actress added that watching the new cut was a blast from the past of a happy time in her life when she was dating her costar Pacino.
'It took me back,' she said. 'At that time, I was kind of with Al. I really liked Andy Garcia. We were shooting in Italy. It was a special time.'
Keaton, who doesn't like to watch herself on screen, said that Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone helped her put aside the aversion temporarily
Memories: The Annie Hall star said the new cut brought her back to the happy times of filming, when she was dating her costar Pacino
Big screen: The new cut will be available on VOD and Blu-ray on December 8, but Keaton hopes people will be able to see it in a theater at some point; pictured in 2018
Though the new version of the film will be released on VOD and Blu-ray, the Reds actress said that the film benefits from the grand scale that only a theater can offer.
'I just hope people can see it in a theater with great music and great sound, so it can sweep you away,' she said. 'I like movies big. I like them in my face. You’re engrossed in them that way. It takes you out of your mundane, idiot life. I speak for myself, of course.'
Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone in digital and physical editions on December 8.
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