When I first noticed John Cazale

I was in high school, it was 2003, my senior year, and I felt compelled to finally watch The Godfather. Out of everyone in the fantastic cast, he always managed to draw my attention in every scene. I then proceeded to watch the other four films he appeared in and was captivated by his ability to wear raw emotions on his sleeves seemingly without effort. In any role I've had on stage since I've always tried to find the character's vulnerabilities and react with those subtle physical gestures like he did. I even wrote a series of five articles for my community college newspaper focusing on his performances and how his characters affect the films. I also love how Fredo's death hovers over Michael throughout Godfather III. Killing Fredo was the one big sin Michael could never forgive himself for, it pushed him over the edge, and he knows he will burn in hell for that alone. The scene where Michael confesses to killing Fredo is to me one of the best in Godfather III and that development of guilt in Michael is one of the reasons I still defend that film. I was so glad when I heard this documentary was being made, and just finished watching it on HBO. I thought, finally someone is going to focus on the man who arguably has the best acting credentials ever, and more people will pay attention to this actor who I always felt has been overlooked. Like many other posters, I would've liked the documentary to have a longer running time, but then again, with every John Cazale role, he always left me wanting more.