Al Pacino, in the depths of his candid memoir 'Sonny Boy,' divulges the poignant reason behind his acceptance of the role in 'The Godfather: Part III'—a tale driven by necessity rather than vanity. At the age of 84, the legendary actor confessionally reveals that financial woes were the driving force that propelled him into the third chapter of Francis Ford Coppola's celebrated crime epic. "We were both at our wit's end, financially speaking," Pacino disclosed to People magazine, "Francis and I, both yearning for that elusive slice of bread."
Despite the film's modest 66% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which saw it widely criticized by discerning audiences, particularly when held up against its towering predecessors, Pacino holds the original screenplay penned by Coppola and Mario Puzo in high esteem, terming it "nothing short of phenomenal," particularly its haunting conclusion. "A masterful nod to the original Godfather, where Michael's life concludes with one final, poignant lie to Kay," he eloquently muses.
However, Pacino acknowledges the tumultuous path that led to the film's making, including the unforeseen withdrawal of Robert Duvall, a seismic shift that compelled Coppola and Puzo to reconstruct significant portions of the narrative. "The absence of Duvall's presence in Part III left a profound void," Pacino lamented.
Reflecting on the film's polarizing reception, Pacino attributes the bulk of the criticism to Michael Corleone's journey towards redemption. "Audiences yearned for Michael to remain the unyielding icon they knew," he observes. Yet, for Pacino, Part III was a poignant exploration of Michael's desperate quest to flee the emotional desolation that had come to define his existence.
