2 Godfather questions

[khorn]

In Godfather 2, why does Micheal question Tom's loyalty at the end. And before Fredo is killed he is saying a prayer. Does he know it is coming? It would seem that he would not be as brave in the face of death?

 

[Genco]

1. Michael had been betrayed by Fredo, Frankie Pentangeli, his wife had aborted his child, and he knew Tom had an attractive job offer. He had a reason to question everyone's loyalty.

2. I don't think he knew it was coming. Al Neri, the middle of Lake Tahoe, Anthony had to cancel at the last second. What is there to suspect? Fredo was that stupid. His Hail Mary was his secret way of catching a fish which he discussed with Anthony earlier in the movie.

 

[Left Hand Black]

I don't think so about Fredo. Right after they say that the kid has to go he says "oh, ****...". Like he knew what was up. Just my $.02.

 

[Bevo-Stevo]

Michael was ruthless. Much moreso than his Father, or even Sonny. He always said it was only business, but look at what he did. Everything he did was based on personal feelings and vendetta. Killing Salazzo and the police captain. The heads of the other 4 families. Even Fredo. Whether it was for his father or his own ego, the actions he took were all selfish and personal in nature.

 

[Dr.Strangehorn]

I think the best way to think about The GodFather 2 and indeed both the Godfather movies is that they are about a man's slow descent into evil. Michael is a good guy in the first movie whose just trying to do what's best for the family, but his actions become steadily darker and less justifiable as both movies go on. So that by the end of the second movie, he's a truly evil man who is detested and feared by every one around him.

His questioning Tom at the end of the second movie is just a symptom of what's going on in his life overall. It's gotten so bad that he can't even be sure he can trust his own brother. He can't trust anyone anymore. Michael by the end of the second movie is a loathsome creature controlled by paranoia and anger.

 

[Genco]

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[HornMafia]

Fredo probably knew he was a dead man by the time his mom died...or he was dumb.

 

[khorn]

My thought with Tom, is that Micheal is about to tell him of the need to take care of Fredo, and he must have 100% loyalty to have him arrange the killing of his brother.

 

[Knoxville-Horn]

I was wondering the exact same thing (about Fredo) two days ago.
I thought that Michael had killed Fredo because he was paranoid and couldn't trust him. My wife said it was revenge.
Good topic.

 

[gsoda3]

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[TXBabe97]

Fredo wasn't very smart. He was a liability to Michael, who was (as someone pointed out before) was increasingly paranoid.

 

[HornGrandioso]

Don't think Fredo knew it was coming. Everyone Michael ever had killed never saw it coming, right? You could argue for Connie's husband in part 1, but I don't know.

 

[doylehargraves]

Carlo thought he was home free, heading for Vegas.

 

[Jellydonuts]

"And before Fredo is killed he is saying a prayer. Does he know it is coming? It would seem that he would not be as brave in the face of death?"

As another poster said, he was saying a hail mary to help him catch fish. He did not know it was coming, as he thought everything was okay once he hugged Michael at his mom's funeral. Michael did kill him out of revenge. Fredo had told him that he didn't know Roth or Johnny Ola, but then when Fredo got drunk at that live sex show he proclaimed that Johnny Ola had brought him there before. Michael then knew Fredo was the family traitor and his fate was sealed.

 

[CaptainEd]

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[Jellydonuts]

Yeah, I think it was Michael's bodyguard that shot Roth.

Tom did convince that fat old guy to slash his wrists in prison though.