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I would like to take just a moment and talk to you all (all four of you) about Mafia movies and my deep and abiding love for them.

Of course, my first mafia love would have to be The Godfather (I've probably seen it about 20 times). Though I will be perfectly honest with you and tell you that I saw the Godfather's part two and three for the first time last year when Sarah and I stayed up all night and watched I, II and III in her new empty house. It was magical. Andy Garcia in III totally makes the movie. Oh, and also Al Pacino being a stone cold fox helps too. Plus, you know, Francis Ford Coppola is a genius (his daughter on the other hand needs never to act again EVER, and I don't think she has).

But The Godfather Part I always and forever steals my heart. It's romantic, it's gruesome, it's heart wrenching and supremely operatic. The casting is perfect, the acting is phenomenal, and (probably because he helped produce) it stays ever so true to Mario Puzo's amazing novel. I think I saw it for the first time when I was maybe 10. It's a sacred thing in the Spangler home, the Godfather is.

But it doesn't stop there. Oh no. You have multi-genre mafia films. Carlito's Way (the original, of course), Boondock Saints (many mafias in one), Desperado (Mexican mob), Get Shorty (comedy), Layercake (yummy Daniel Craig mob film), Goodfellas (the most accurate I've come by thus far), Jackie Brown (the Tarantino mob film-- mmmm), the Departed (beautiful and the most recent), and one of my personal favorites: The Untouchables (yet again the delicious Andy Garcia and an impossibly fresh faced Kevin Costner). There are many many many others, but those are just some favorites (plus Mickey Blue Eyes, which I just can't seriously take as a mafia film because it's James Caan, my beloved Sonny Corleone, playing alongside Hugh Grant and an incredibly infuriating Jeanne Tripplehorn). But yesh.

Tonight the The Godfather part II was on television, closely followed by The Untouchables. I will hereby publicly admit to a) never seeing the beginning of TU and b) never seeing the rest of it all in one sitting. I'm resolving to buy it, and the three in one Godfather Special addition set. It's on the list of things to do with birthday money and will happen in my first trip to Record and Tape Traders once I get back to B-more.

I've been thinking of getting into The Sopranos, but I'm already raveled in Weeds and Scrubs and still have to watch seasons 6 and 7 of West Wing. My time slot for TV on DVD watching this semester is getting cramped. Someone tell me if it's worth it though.

Call me and we'll have a mob movie marathon: The Untouchables (I still get chills when Andy Garcia does the crazy shooting/slide across the floor catching the baby carriage thing), Godfathers, the whole shebang. Any day of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.


<3 H