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Fredo Corleone/John Cazale
#640287
03/16/12 01:17 PM
03/16/12 01:17 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 599 Toronto, Ontario
dontommasino
OP
Underboss
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OP
Underboss
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 599
Toronto, Ontario
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It's been debated on here many times whether people feel sympathy for Fredo. I was thinking about this the other day and I noted that one of the reasons I feel a little bit of sympathy for Fredo is because of what happened to John Cazale. It's hard to put my finger on why this is though.
Last edited by dontommasino; 03/16/12 01:17 PM.
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Re: Fredo Corleone/John Cazale
[Re: dontommasino]
#640931
03/20/12 02:31 PM
03/20/12 02:31 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100
Crazy_Joe_Gallo
Made Member
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Made Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100
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Both Fredo and Cazale were tragic figures--who met sad, untimely ends. Actors who worked with Cazale have said he had a great sense of sadness and vulnerability to him which emotionally charged the roles he played--Even before he had cancer.
The man just seemed to be an incredibly emotive actor with an astonishing presence--and he might've gone on to have become a star in his own right had he lived. I think his acting talent was just as strong as those of his contemporaries--Just as talented as Al Pacino or Robert DeNiro.
Al Pacino loved Cazale like a brother, they were friends long before they were famous, and he considered Cazale his partner in "crime" so to speak; He's said he would've done every movie with Cazale had he lived.
Last edited by Crazy_Joe_Gallo; 03/20/12 02:32 PM.
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Re: Fredo Corleone/John Cazale
[Re: dontommasino]
#641292
03/23/12 09:10 AM
03/23/12 09:10 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 28
JJ_Gittes
Wiseguy
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Wiseguy
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 28
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Terrific doco, it's called "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale". http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1352717/Available from The Usual Sources, last time I checked. John Cazale must be the only actor ever to score 100% when it comes to the quality of films he's been in - a TV appearance and a short film aside, there's not even a mediocre film in the lot. Five classics out of five films. And his long-term girlfriend was none other than Meryl Streep. Regarding Fredo himself - part of the power from the portrayal comes from the weakness itself. Fredo's not an ubermensch like Michael, he's not a cold-blooded automaton like Tom, and he's not a cartoonish hero like Sonny. He's just some guy, caught in the middle of this mess, looking to make the best of his situation, just as anyone would. That he would fuck up trying to make something of himself isn't surprising, and it's completely sympathetic. Vito, Michael, Tom, Sonny - gods of the Corleone Family, but almost otherwordly. Poor old Fredo? What chance did he have? Of course he got suckered in, and it's even more heartbreaking that he only ever wanted to please his father, and then, his little brother.
Last edited by JJ_Gittes; 03/23/12 09:25 AM.
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Re: Fredo Corleone/John Cazale
[Re: JJ_Gittes]
#641300
03/23/12 10:16 AM
03/23/12 10:16 AM
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,466 No. Virginia
mustachepete
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,466
No. Virginia
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Poor old Fredo? What chance did he have? Of course he got suckered in, and it's even more heartbreaking that he only ever wanted to please his father, and then, his little brother. When the Saga was on AMC a couple weeks ago, I was struck by the early added scene between Fredo and Deanna. She taunts Fredo basically because he's not Michael. Since then, I've been wondering if Fredo's primary motivation isn't to impress Deanna.
"All of these men were good listeners; patient men."
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