The Godfather

I've read a good deal of the novel. It's actually kind of stunning Coppola made the movie as subtle as it is. I've heard of unsubtle adaptations, but how often is the adaptation subtler than the source? The Shining?

The novel is almost pulp. The Godfather is the greatest man who ever lived. Sonny is the manliest man who ever lived. The sex is always absolute ecstasy. The sphincter always opens at the moment of death. It's all graphically descriptive. It's quite entertaining, but nothing like experiencing the film. The novel stays cranked to 11, but the film stays relatively subdued. Brando mumbles softly; one mournful trumpet sings in the distance.

I'm not sure I can call it low-brow though. I haven't read enough of that kind of thing. It's nothing like "classic literature", but it seems well-crafted and intelligent. I don't think it's despicable, it's just not very subtle. It's one of the more entertaining novels I've read.

It's just interesting that the filmmakers read between the lines and saw the potential for a far more subdued yet massively popular film. I think Puzo helped write the film, and its sequel, which is even drier, if I remember right. I guess this is what I've asked of superhero films lately. I like the foundation of superhero stories, but the execution is never subtle, at least not in film. The filmmakers made The Godfather subtle and mature. The vision to do such a thing is interesting. I guess I try to do the same in playing pop songs on the piano. I want to extract the sensational elements of pop and age them to something more complex. I aim to put pop in oak barrels -- the flavors are there but they're mellowed and surrounded by new mellow variations.

The Godfather, The Shining, stripped versions of pop songs, lots of modern art,... artists often try to interpret lower-brow culture, it's just surprising to see it from novel to film, since film is intrinsically more sensational. Things usually get less subtle in that direction.