Carlito's Way

Carlito's Way is an extrememely underated Al Pacino movie. This film is probubly the best crime story ive seen, next to Goodfellas(1990), Pacino gives another superb performance as well as the rest of the cast. The story in Carlito's Way is extremely compelling and can be very sad at times. Unlike Pacino's similar film Scarface(1983), Carlito's Way is not just a blood bath without much of a story. I dont know why this film fizzled at the box office and failed to recieve any academy award nominations because it sure deserved to. 9 out of 10.

Although being a huge fan of Brian de Palma, I somehow missed seeing "Carlito's Way" over all these years. Seeing it for the first time today, I enjoyed the film better than another of his gang classics, "Scarface". However, compared to my real favorites like "Carrie", "Dressed to Kill", "Blow Out",or"Body Double",his unique cinematic style seemed rather subdued in this one. The climax scene which reminded me of "The Untouchables" was fun, but for me, the greatest de Palma moment came in the first ten minutes when Carlito gets mixed up in a pool-room gunfight. Having said all that, Al Pacino was great, and the last shot in the movie was surprisingly moving.

Right well I can say this is one of my favourite gangster films ever, and I truly regard it almost as highly as good fellas or the godfather.

This is simply because of the way the story catches you. Pacino delivers an excellent performance (do you really expect any less from him?) as the main guy Carlito who just wants out of the whole gangster game. By his side is the almost unrecognisable Sean Penn. An afro wearing cocaine addict who just seems determined to lure Carlito back into the kind of world he is trying to leave.

This film is easy to enjoy with a great story and a great cast. And if you look carefully enough you can see a young Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn from lord of the rings in case you don't know) as a crippled low life. Made me chuckle.

Anyways, i give this movie 10/10

Great movie..and I can see why it is underrated...possibly due to obvious comparisons to Scarface (Brian De Palma, Martin Bregman, Al Pacino team), which was much more brutal in its approach.

Al Pacino as Carlito, awesome as he is, is still much softer compared to the sledgehammer Tony Montana. And then there is some romance mixed in with the story of a gangster trying to reform himself.

I didn't like the romantic scenes myself...thought they interrupted the flow of the story...hence I gave it a 9 instead of a 10! There is also some clichéd dialogue. I happen to be a big Pacino fan and so I am being a little bit (though not entirely) biased and am sidelining all these things. If you excuse these small potatoes, this one is a great flick from start to finish, very entertaining, with some fantastic performances from the supporting cast, e.g. Sean Penn. Special mention, also, of Viggo Mortensen who comes in for a short role, but plays the part wonderfully.

As for Al Pacino in lead role, he makes sure he steals the show, as usual. Brilliant!

There was a time when I really wasn't into movies very much. I happened to be flipping channels on my TV one night when I came across "Carlito's Way". Immediately, I was drawn into the film. By the time the credits rolled by, I knew I had just witnessed the greatest film I had ever seen.

What makes "Carlito's Way" such a great film is the fact that even though you know what is going to happen at the end, the movie makes you want to know how this character, Carlito Brigante, ends up where he does. And what a ride it is.

Al Pacino is simply astonishing as Carlito Brigante, a reformed criminal who wants nothing more than to leave his old life behind and start anew. Sean Penn proves once again that he is one of the most effective actors working today in a role that not only sees him keeping pace with Pacino, but should have netted him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar. John Leguizamo and Viggo Mortensen also deliver solid performances.

"Carlito's Way" is filled with scene after incredible scene, and line after incredible line; all of which lead up to one of the greatest finales in motion picture history. If you haven't seen it yet, run out and rent it immediately. This is the film that turned me into a movie lover. Sure, I have seen better films since then (not many, mind you), but "Carlito's Way" will forever remain my all time favourite.