The Offer Episode 5 is the fifth part of a biographical drama miniseries about the development and production of Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark New York City gangster film The Godfather (1972) for Paramount Pictures. The miniseries is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the classic film and is based on the experiences of producer Al Ruddy, played by Miles Teller.
S P O I L E R S
Entitled “Kiss the Ring”, The Offer Episode 5 continues the narrative formula of the more recent instalments as the Godfather movie is greenlit and production officially begins. Meaning, more and more problems stack up for Al Ruddy and his team. Essentially, Ruddy has to deal with two main obstacles – his bosses at Paramount Pictures and Gulf+Western – the former fighting for his career and the latter angling to divest the studio completely. As usual, Ruddy and the Godfather movie is caught in the middle.
READ OUR ANALYSES OF THE OFFER.
The other main obstacle Ruddy faces is potentially the more dangerous one – his relationship with mobster Joe Colombo. While it was necessity for Ruddy to get in bed with Colombo to resolve opposition to the movie, actual links with the mafia while producing a gangster movie is probably too close to home for comfort. Ruddy and the movie get the unwanted attention of the FBI and of course, Colombo’s support does not come without cost or liability. Navigating these choppy waters takes up most of Ruddy’s time and attention this episode.
But surely the production woes cannot be the only focus of the miniseries, and at least in parts of The Offer Episode 5 – especially in the first dinner with the cast, Ruddy has a chance to fully appreciate the promise and potential of what the movie can be, as the cast slip into their roles effortlessly, to the delight of both Ruddy and director Coppola. These kinds of sequences is what we need more of, to maintain a balance with the production obstacles.
Now streaming on Paramount+.
… still there’s more …