In the late 70s and early 80s Francis Ford Coppola was hailed as a cinematic genius. Through the films The Godfather, The Godfather II, The Godfather III, The Conversation, and Apocalypse Now Coppola explores the various poignant journeys into the darkness of human existence. Coppola's style through these five films shines through in several ways, but the most obvious is his true dedication to his art. Whereas Hollywood can often swallow up the writers and directors that enter the process with true vision, reducing them and their work to a less inspired work geared towards mass production, Coppola never lost his vision, even in the face of bankruptcy and the ruin of his personal relationships. Coppola continued to believe in his vision for these five films, and it shines through (Lewis 37).
             The Godfather trilogy is easily Coppola's most recognized and cherished films. These films reflect Coppola's intense interest in family dynamics (Schumaker 87). There are two elements of these films that separates them from the mass of typical 'mobster movies.' One is the sensitivity with which Coppola handles the topic, choosing to focus on the events and the business as a family-centered story as opposed to a cold, impersonal report of the inner workings of the mafia. The other element that sets these films apart is what allows them to resonate with such a large audience, and that is that this isn't only the story of the mob, or a family, but it also tells the story of the growing nation of America. The growth and development of the Corleones reflect the bumpy road of capitalism that America was riding in an effort to expand and grow. Since these films span most of the twentieth century, it serves to tell a microcosmic story of a family, and also the macro cosmic story of a growing nation.
             The expansion of the family is shown in two distinct ways, and both of these expansions also work in the macro cosmic applic...