Do you agree about making Vincent a Don? It seems that in the movie you have to be a relative to become a don, in the real life, it depends on the skills you have, relative or not. If I was Michael I would make Al Neri a Don, because of his long time loyal service and Vincent cannot learn in a couple of mounths the things you take 30 years to learn, and he gets angry easily, like his father, I don´t think he is capable to reason as well as Vito and Michael, and I think he has very much to learn, and is unjust becoming a Don overpassing Al Neri.

Making Al Neri a Don would be like making Luca Brasi a Don. Though Al was less of a savage, I would never make him a Don.

And as I stated in the other thread, Vincent was the only choice.

Although Connie was tough as nails.

I believe that Michael making Vincent his "successor" was an act of calculated manipulation and cynicism. I think Michael recognized Vincent for what he was: a pazzo and a hothead, like his (Vincent's) father. So, why did he do it?
First, it was a quid pro quo to get Vincent away from Mary. Michael didn't want his daughter to marry Vincent--he wanted Mary to himself, probably to (later) marry someone "respectable."
Second, it was another way for Michael to use Vincent. Michael's vision of himself and his enterprise was for complete legitimacy, following his successful takover of Immobiliare. The "strong-arm" part of his enterprise would fade into insignificance, though he might always need some muscle. Making Vincent "the Don" was like giving away the sleeves of his vest--Vincent would provide a "fear factor" for his enemies while presiding over an ever-dwindling criminal operation.
What about Neri? I think by that time, Neri was too old to provide much force. He was basically a bodyguard and a gofer.

This is one of the things that bothered me about GF3.
Vincent a Don? Connie authorizing hits? Yea, right.

I think FFC said it best himself in the comments on the dvd. He talked about how difficult it was to come up with enough new ideas to do a part 2. When they got to part 3 they were really scraping the barrel and just trying to get the thing finished.

Anthony could have been Don, if he wanted to. He must have had the skills.

Mary would have been a better choice than Anthony.


Don Cardi

Michael made Vincent a don because the times were changing, Michaels ways of thinking were getting old, like his dads when he first took over in GF1.....outdated, Vincent was the future times were changing, and Vincent was a product of the changing times.....plus Michael knew that the only way he could really get out of the "business" would be to make Vincent the new Don......everyone would turn to him instead of Michael.....just like Don Vito wanted when he retired......you know, to grow his tomatos and peppers...lol.
I am sure that Anthony could have been a Don if he was dedicated to the cause, he may have even had that Corleone swagger too.....but Kay was too much an influence on him, plus after seeing his sister blown away, that may have changed his mind as well...

To expand on Turnbull's answer:

Making Vincent the Don was a safe and calculated move. 1. He brought the muscle, cunning, and ruthlessness needed to protect and eliminate. 2. Having Vincent as Don created a buffer; it was easier to disassociate himself from Vincent if things went wrong. 3. If Vincent was killed, no big loss. Michael probably didn't see him as family.

Michael wanted out and Vincent was the only blood(?) relative who, as Connie said, had his father's strength.

They could never have made Anthony the Don. The first rule of being a Don is that when you are in a pinch you don't sing to the authorities.

I think I would have to agree with you. There are some leaders, and there are some followers. Al Neri was best as a loyal button for Don Michael, not sure if he had the mind to run his own family. Vincent was a good choice. He was young, confident, Italian, and other than his beef with Zasa (which he could have handled in a better way), I think he was Don-material.

Turnbull don`t underestimate Al Neri, maybe he is the Michael`s Luca Brassi but is he more intelligent. I don`t agree at all about making Vincent a Don because he did not make a career, Al Neri did, he deserves respect because of all his years with Michael. It is not the same making Al Neri a Don as making Luca Brassi.And many bosses are old, it has nothing to do, all depends on the skills. Anthony could be Michael`s son but he cannot be a mafioso. Vincent is gonna take the Family to the ruin because he is gonna deal with drugs, Vito said drugs would destroy them in the years to come...
And about the relationship between Mary and Vicent..come on people!!!THEY ARE COUSINS!!!It is a bullshit, I could not allow a relationship like this, that is one of the thing that bothered me most