Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious:
The Making of 'Mary Poppins
Mank (2020)
The Offer (2022)
Finally we have an answer to the age old question, what does a movie producer do? According to The Offer, based on the recollections of Albert S. Ruddy, a producer will do whatever it takes to get a movie made. This includes, but is not limited to, removing offensive words from a script, reducing roles to placate angry crooners and undertaking nefarious means to secure locations. Then if you have the brains, the balls and a gut you’re willing to follow, you might just end producing what is widely regarded as the greatest film of all time… and then again, maybe not.
Walking away from his hit sitcom ‘Hogan’s Heroes’, Ruddy introduces himself to Paramount boss Bob Evans who inexplicably puts him in charge of a little gangster movie he has in the works. While protracted negotiations over The Godfather’s cast, crew and budget are an expected part of his job, Ruddy also finds himself negotiating with the Mafia. Appalled by the book’s depiction of Italian-Americans, mob boss Joe Colombo takes an unhealthy interest in its adaptation, threatening not only the future of the film, but also the lives of those involved in its making.
The Offer provides some delightful opportunities for its large cast, and for the most part they don’t miss a trick. Matthew Goode offers a captivating portrayal of Robert Evans yet is almost upstaged by Burn Gorman’s ‘mad Austrian’ Charles Bluhdorn. In contrast to their performances, Miles Teller and Juno Temple offer a solid base as Ruddy and his assistant. Elsewhere, apart Anthony Ippolito’s nice turn as Pacino, the depiction of The Godfather cast is merely serviceable. Yet it is in its repeated airings of ongoing negotiations that The Offer disappointingly feels a little protracted itself.
Having passed on The Godfather Part II to instead work on The Longest Yard (so much for following your gut!), Ruddy has had a hand in producing The Godfather: Part III of biopics. Though still a solid piece of entertainment, The Offer goes off on too many unnecessary tangents and ultimately fails to live up to expectations.
as Albert S. Ruddy
as Robert Evans
as Francis Ford Coppola
as Charles Bluhdorn
Al Ruddy was not present when Joe Colombo was shot at an Italian-American Civil Rights League rally.
Al Ruddy and Betty McCartt were not inside his car when its windows were shot out.
Crazy Joe Gallo was killed after the release of The Godfather, not during its production.
According to his autobiography 'The Kid Stays in the Picture', Robert Evans did not find out about Ali MacGraw’s affair with Steve McQueen until after the premier of The Godfather.
Barry Lapidus is a fictional character.
“That’s the point of view of, I guess, the producer, but it doesn’t really reflect what really happened, in my opinion.”
Francis Ford Coppola
Despite spending ten episodes on the making of The Godfather, the only scene recreation from the film is a certain car explosion. Episode 1 also features a brief recreation from the set of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.