Actor and filmmaker Sylvester Stallone recently spoke to Tulsa King said, "Finally I get my gangster shot 50 years later, and that’s perfect." Since The Godfather reigns as the classic, genre-defining mafia movie, it makes perfect sense that decades later, Stallone chose to talk about missing out on a background role in it.
The Godfather chronicles the transfer of power from Marlon Brando's Vito Corleone, to his youngest son, Michael Corleone (Al Pacino). Brando's portrayal of the larger-than-life Vito is one of the highlights of Coppola's epic and continues to be honored through various entertaining and accurate memes on the internet.
Powerful Man
Don Vito Corleone's character is conspicuous by his unique mannerisms. Portrayed by Marlon Brando in The Godfather I, Vito asserted dominance through distinctive physical ticks, such as a calm demeanor, powerful body language, and a raw intense gaze.
This meme simply encapsulates the fact that Vito commanded the room without saying much. He exerted power and influence subtly, and thus garnered more respect from his friends and associates.
Complex Character
Marlon Brando shone in his nuanced portrayal of Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather I, and despite the character's conflicting moral principles emerged as a fan favorite.
Though a section of Reddit fans believes that Vito Corleone is a film character who shouldn't be ired, truth is, he was an anti-hero, a complex character with a humane side. He has cemented his legacy in popular culture, thanks to his wise quotes about family, loyalty, friendship, and the nature of mafia business. This meme is an accurate reminder that Brando's Don Vito Corleone is one of the most revered movie characters in the history of cinema, and one fleshed out with great precision.
Don's Men
In the opening scene of The Godfather, Vito's long-time acquaintance, Amerigo Bonasera comes to his office on his daughter's wedding day and asks him to murder for money. Vito steadily looks at him, and reminds him that he is not respectful, doesn't offer friendship, or called him "Godfather."
The scene immediately conveys the moral framework of the movie, in that, Vito values his associations and friendships, above all else. He places utmost importance on the institutions of family and community life and is more loved than feared. Using the famous "Bernie Sanders mittens" template, this meme tactfully points out that Don Vito Corleone was a loved man. He conducted himself with dignity, helped people, and was surrounded by those who'd gladly take a bullet for him.
Boundless Parental Love
Vito didn't think much of his oldest son (Santino aka Sonny) because he was full well aware of the fact that he lacked his best traits. Irrespective of that, he loved him and naturally was devastated when he was killed in a toll-booth ambush by Barzini's men.
Vito was severely affected by his son's death, (as many were impacted by the change in the Pringles logo) and he lamented his bullet-riddled body, using the immortal line, "Look how they massacred my boy." This meme is used to convey mourning, and in this case, it also says a lot for Vito's character, in that, his parental love had no bounds.
Aware Of Sonny's Shortcomings
Although Don Corleone loved Sonny, the fact is, he didn't think much of him or his opinion. He knew his son was a short-tempered person and lacked the emotional maturity, and cold-blooded logic required to make a good Don.
Sonny's Godfather, including beginning an extramarital affair with his sister's maid of honor only risked his reputation in his father's eyes so much so that the Don onished him saying, "I think your brain is going soft with all that comedy you are playing with that young girl." Using the "Will You Shut Up Joe Biden" meme template, this property hilariously points out the Godfather's lack of confidence in Sonny's abilities. He thought Santino was a bad Don and after his death, placed all his confidence in Michael.
Family Man
Vito's character is significant in the Godfather universe and three different actors, viz, Marlon Brando in The Godfather, and Oreste Baldini, and Robert De Niro in The Godfather Part II (1974) were roped in to portray his journey.
The second part of The Godfather Trilogy takes a deep dive into Vito's early days as a fresh-off-the-boat immigrant to America, and later, as a young don. Reddit believes that De Niro's depiction of the young Vito is one of his career-best, and without taking too much away from the core storyline, The Godfather II tactfully explores the becoming of the immensely powerful patriarch, Don Vito Corleone. This meme humorously points out that Vito from young age placed great faith in the institution of family, nurtured them, and was a good provider.
Man Of Few Words
When Vito and Bonasera came face to face in The Godfather's opening scene, the visual language communicated a huge contrast in their personalities. Vito's words signaled his belief in the virtue of friendship, sympathy for his fellow Italian Americans, and a sense of community, whereas Bonasera's outlook was firmly anchored in America's individualistic culture.
Bonasera asked Vito to take out the boys who beat his daughter at a bid price, but the latter wasn't having any of it. He quickly reminded him of fraternity and the virtue of friendship. Although Bonasera spoke at length, this meme points out that Vito used but a few impactful words to assert his dominance and remind him that seeking justice from him meant that he was walking away as his debtor.
Avenger
In the final act of Godfather II, Vito returns to Sicily to seek revenge on Don sco Ciccio who killed his whole family and forced him to seek refuge in America. He inches closer to the aging Don, announces he's Antonio Andolini's son, and impales him with a huge knife.
Don Ciccio's death is regarded as the least tragic out of all the deaths in The Godfather Trilogy. This meme simply encapsulates the fact that by seeking revenge in later life, Vito establishes himself as an avenger of his father, mother, and brother's deaths.
Abusive Son-In-Law
Vito's life had ups and downs, and although he tried his best to ensure no harm came his children's way, as fate would have it, his son-in-law, Carlo Rizzi abused and mistreated his only daughter, Connie.
Carlo also conspired with Barzini to have Sonny killed, and the incident had far-reaching consequences for the family. This meme simply points to one of the greatest tragedies of Don's life, i.e, having Carlo Rizzi as his son-in-law came with a great many repercussions for his family.
