Vincent vs. the Russian Mob

Although in practice I don't think a Godfather IV would be very successful, given how lackluster Part III was compared to the first two, I do have an idea for it. The film would begin around 2000 (Michael died in 1997, according to the Godfather DVD collection). Vincent (played by Andy Garcia) would still be the don. The main plotline would be the Corleones struggling against an attempt by the Russian mob, steadily growing in the U.S. since the fall of the Soviet Union, to muscle in on their operations, particularly in New York City.

The Russian mob has a well deserved reputation for extreme ruthlessness, and many say they make the U.S. Cosa Nostra look like a bunch of pussycats. This could result in Part IV having a dark tone not seen in any of the previous films, not even Part II. In Colombia, Pablo Escobar instilled fear by often targeting people's family members for execution. In order to break his power, a vigilante group named Los Pepes did the same thing. For example, the teenage son of one of Escobar's lawyers was murdered. Similarly, Part IV would feature the Russians targeting noncombatants in their war against the Corleones--not only relatives of Corleone family members, but even those of people such as casino owners and "legitimate" union officials who remain loyal to the Corleones, and shopkeepers who pay the Corleones protection money and refuse to pay the Russians instead. The purpose of these killings would be to make the Russian mob more feared than the Corleones and thereby cause people to switch their allegiance to the Russians. In the face of this onslaught, Vincent would reluctantly decide he needs to fight fire with fire, and would respond by using similar tactics himself on people connected to the Russians.

Part IV would have many of the trademark Godfather characteristics. Like the first three, it would begin with a celebration where Vincent would hold court. The main story would begin with an almost successful assassination attempt on him (by the Russians), as happened to Vito and Michael in Parts I and II. And as in the previous three films, the Corleones would emerge victorious. The film would end with a sequence featuring the executions of top Russian mob leaders. In the climactic scene, the most powerful of them all, Sergei Solovyov, the leader of an international syndicate, would be traveling on a plane. Unbeknownst to him, the other people aboard would include agents of the Corleones. They would seize control and throw Solovyov out of the plane, sending him falling thousands of feet to his death. This would be based on the pushing of people out of helicopters over the Andes under Chilean leader Augusto Pinochet.

Thoughts?

Medvedev is a pimp. Until this day I did not know it was Putin all along.

Part of that could work but for me the more interesting bit of any modern Godfather movie or any mob movie period would be how such people operate in a world of RICO (with very flexible standards of proof), Witness protection programs, incredible electronic/audio/visual surveillance, defectors/informants and declining (non-existent??) ability to prevent/soften prosecution.

What made the first two movies so great was that they mixed reality, history and fantasy so well. How would Vincent or any of his leaders operate in a world where that new associate could be an FBI agent, one of their friends got 60 years for waving hi to someone outside of a restaurant, and even the boss can't just call in favors from a Senator any more?

Didn't the Russian mob buy all the soccer teams in England, and the Nets?

Here's a recent profile of the new NJ Nets owner

The NBA's Oligarch

EXCELLENT points, Lilo. They couldn't really get away with the idea of there being no legal repercussions for the Corleones in this day and age.

Considering how all three existing Godfather movies have multiple plot lines, I don't see why RICO and the FBI couldn't be woven into the story I suggested at the beginning of this thread. After all, the whole idea of a war between the Corleone family and the Russian mob occured to me partly as a way of tying them into the real world that existed when Part IV would take place, just as the Senate hearings did in Part II. And perhaps an FBI agent could actually play a critical role in the film. Just as Agent Harris in the Sopranos played an important role as an ally of Tony in the war against Phil, perhaps someone (or even more than one person) in the FBI could see the Corleones as being definitely preferable to the Russians and be an important factor in the turning of the war in their favor.

I don't think this would be a good idea as it's not that plausible. The Russian Mafiya is generally known to keep to themselves and they don't really interfere with the businesses of the American mafia families as they make enough money with their own rackets.

I think it's therefore a little bit too ambitious that a Russian crime boss comes out of nowhere and tries to take over the position of the most powerful crime family in the United States. I won't really see something like that happening.

I also think that the absence of Al Pacino will be really missed just as the absence of Robert Duvall in the GF3. I would be interested to see an older and retired Michael Corleone in the role of consigliere to Vincent, just before he dies. The funeral of Michael Corleone would be an important element of the film as it would symbolize the ending of the saga.

Imo, it's best to just focus on an internal struggle in the Corleone family. Maybe from someone who felt stepped over by Michael's nepotism when he made Vincent the boss, who till then was merely a soldier in Zasa's regime. They could also involve the Rizzi brothers who want to take revenge for the death of their father as revenge is also an important theme of The Godfather.

The Rizzi brothers would have to have incredible chutzpah to seek to "avenge" Carlo's death, given that Carlo was only killed because of what he himself had done to Sonny. It would be like Timothy McVeigh's parents swearing they were gonna get revenge on the government for executing their son!

I think that Vito might be on to something. As Sonny Black points out, a real "street war" is unlikely, however, we should be thinking bigger than that at this point anyway.

Part III revolved around a bid to enter the world of international finance and began to touch on the realm of the "global elites" which are talked about in conspiracy theory forums. That would be the direction to move in I think. Vast amounts of wealth, influence in regional conflicts, such as the fairly recent conflict in the nation of Georgia.

Clandestine assassinations, political intrigue, global objectives, the days of stealing carpets are long gone.

True to that. But on the other hand, remember Vincent's reaction to Michael saying that all his life he wanted out, while Vincent wanted to move back in. This indicates that he wanted to restore the Corleone's criminal enterprise, instead of seeking legitimacy.

But I do like you're idea. It's very interesting.

The best concept would be a combination of all these elements. Vincent who heads the Corleone crime family, while Michael's son Anthony takes over Michael's legitimate corporation. Both organizations still closely connected and sharing their enormous wealth and network of businessmen and politicians.

Without a doubt they would be the storngest people on earth.

I have to disagree with you on the third one that was my most favorite of the series.

Anthony would never have anything to do with the business, especailly after what happened to his sister... Or would he? "Curse of the father" sort of thing, perhaps. Where the death of his sister draws him in the way the hit on Vito drew Michael in. Though I have to say, that Anthony might wind up as more of a Fredo, perhaps.

And while Michael was trying to push into "legit" enterprise, that is really just another cover for more nefarious activity, like gun running, national imperialism, etc. Even the big dogs are into some shady stuff, Halliburton-like companies and so forth.

You must have seen that one first, lol

The first two had a certain vibe that was lost in the thrid one. Though I liked III very much, it just did not have the same feel as a legit rounding out as a trio.

Michael's hairdo, the lack of Robert Duvall, and for some reason, even Garcia just did not seem to fit for me. But there was still something more that I cannot quite put my finger on, where it fell short as a "legit" installment.

You already said it yourself. I think Anthony had not much of a choice left. I think after the tragedy at the opera I don't think he wanted to have anything to do with that anymore.



Although I agree that he somewhat portrayed himself as a softy, I don't think he was actually weak, and definitely not stupid.

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Corleone crime family by 2000

Boss-Vincent Corleone
Underboss-Lou Pennino
Consigliere-Albert Neri
Capos-People from Vincents old crew

Although it may not be historically altogether true I do like the premise of Vincent having to fight off the Russian mob.

I also see the story as having a much darker tone. Personally i think I would involve the Corleones in the drugs-for-guns Oliver North stuff. Have the family funding the anti-Sandista regimes in exchange for cocaine which is shipped to Sicily where it fethces a better price in the european markets whereas herion made more money in the US. The Pizza connection stuff would be a part of it as well as trying to take over Atlantic City while pushing that family out. I wouldnt have the family triumph in the end though. Vincent would either be given a death sentence and executed or die by being poisined in prison because of what he knows (govt dirty secrets). I would try to find a way to tie in the Rizzi's rebeling similar to the Bonanno capos when Joe Masseria had to take out 3 at the same time. I would have Vincent also becoming extremely paranoid and trying to take out govt rats similar to what brought about Gaspipe Casso's downfall.

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Boss: Vincent Corleone (old and ill, like Vito much of GF I)
Consigliera: Connie Corleone
Underboss: Michael Rizzi Corleone (in prison during GF III)
Underboss: Santino Corleone Jr. (in 'straight' business from 1977-1980, went bankrupt in 1980s savings and loans scandals, now wants back in the family business)

Family lawyer (taking over from B.J. Harrison): Anthony Corleone.