Carlito's Way
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Movie Reviews of Carlito's Way
Movie Review: Fantstic movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Carlito's Way stands as a fine testament to brilliant filmmaking. Beginning with the opening credits, De Palma takes the viewer through a black and white color framed death.We know that Carlito Brigante will face a trajic death and yet the viewer will keep his or her eyes glued to the screen as this story develops. Suddenly, the color changes and we are swept away to a 1970's new york city courtroom where Brigante is released from prison thanks to the skills of his diabolical lawyer(Kleinfeld) played by Sean Penn. The premise of Carlito's Way is that a reformed criminial can never survive because of past history. Throughout the movie, Carlito plays his antagonists like a russian chess player. However, Carlito's inability to return to the ethos of the criminial code of conduct eventually seals his fate.This DVD is fantastic!! Carlito's Way is brilliantly filmed. You definitely feel like you are walking through the streets and Dance clubs of 1970's New York. De Palma provides a fantastic 70's texture to this film. Since I have a stereo system attached to my DVD player, I was amazed at the sound quality when Carlito entered various dance and strip clubs. In fact one of the hidden gems of this movie is the disco soundtrack which underlays this story. In addition to the unique sensory experience, this movie explores the mind of the big time criminial. The viewer witnesses a large amount of calculation and negotiation that Carlito must undergo in order to stay alive and pursue his plan of leaving New York. If I have not mentioned Carlito is surrounded by colorful characters like Kleinfeld(Sean Penn) and Pachanga. In my opinion, the character of Pachanga is fantastically put into the film. Pachanga symbolizes "the old school Puerto Rican gangster" that Carlito must come to terms with. Though De palma might not have intended to do it I found myself laughing at pachanga's quirks and gestures. Overall, I give this DVD 5 stars and would recommend this movie to anybody I know!!
Movie Review: Realistic, Gritty Crime Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
In one of his best performances ever, Al Pacino is the engine that keeps "Carlito's Way" moving from beginning to end. Recently-released from prison, Carlos Brigante (played marvelously by Pacino) is a former Puerto Rican drug lord who ruled New York City's drug world during the 1960's and 1970's. Assisted by his lawyer (Sean Penn) Pacino is determined to stay out of the trade that landed him in prison in the first place. However, as usual trouble always lurks in every corner.Deciding to buy and operate a Latin nightclub from an owner who is seriously in debt (played by the famous Argentine comedian Jorge Porcel, who had a cult following throughout Latin America due to his sexually-charged comedy skit show "A La Cama Con Porcel; he is know as the Latin-version of "Benny Hill"). Yet as old faces reemerge onto the scene, newer faces have also started to take a foothold in Brigante's former empire, especially Benny Blanco (played by the ever-wonderful John Leguizamo).
Directed by Brian de Palma ("Carrie"), this is one of the most realistic, and historic accurate pictures of life in New York City's urban jungle during the late 1970's/early 1980's. Penelope Ann Miller ("Adventures in Babysitting" is great as Brigante's love interest, and Luis Guzman always is a scene-stealer playing Pacino's right-hand man.
The DVD version contains production notes, cast biographies, and the original theatrical trailer and the sound and picture quality are excellent. Pacino (a Bronx native) masters a perfect Puerto Rican accent in the same way he mastered his Cuban-emigre accent in "Scarface". "Carlito's Way" is guaranteed to keep you entertained due to thrilling performances by the entire cast, amazing cinematography, great directing, and most importantly, incredible realism. Destined to become a modern urban classic.
Movie Review: Have Your Cheesecake and Eat It, Too
Summary: 5 Stars
There are not very many movies I can say that I have seen over and over, but Carlito's Way happens to be one of those theatrical releases. Well-sequenced plots, fine acting, and fantastic music from the 1970's make this a total package.Though I would not quite put it on par with Scent of a Woman, Pacino's other masterpiece performance from the following year, I nonetheless find it a more all-around, entertaining movie. Just as the chemistry between a significantly older man and a significantly younger woman created by Jack Nicholson and Michelle Pfeiffer was successfully played out in Wolf, the dialogue and intensity between Al Pacino and Penelope Ann Miller were on the same parallel and quite mesmerizing.
I especially loved the "I brought you some cheesecake" scene. Those who have seen this movie know what I am talking about. And if I had to rank all the women who looked great in any particular motion picture, I would put Penelope Ann Miller's portrayal of Gail in the top five.
Along with the eye candy, there is plenty of delight for the ears, as well. Never before was You Are So Beautiful as sung by Joe Cocker ever placed in scenes that could be so passionate and yet so poignant.
For those who might have reservations about some of the adult scenes, Carlito's Way is not exactly your family entertainment kind of picture. But it is a great movie, nonetheless.
Movie Review: Superb
Summary: 5 Stars
This is definitely DePalma's finest film to-date. Although I love Tony Montana's tough, single-minded (and loony) character, Scarface has a dated feel to it - I think this has a lot to do with the soundtrack; Scarface was set and made during the 80's, whilst Carlito's Way was set in the 70's but made in the 90's. I think it's a lot easier to choose the best music from a decade with the benefit of hindsight (and certain clothing fashions can be conveniently omitted at the same time).DePalma did a great job with a fine plot and shot the film in his usual highly charged style. He managed to re-create a very atmospheric time and place - glamorous, seedy and dangerous at the same time. Whether this is realistic or not I can't answer, but I liked it. Performance wise, Pacino and Penn were on sizzling form and the supports were great too - in particular, John Leguizamo (Benny Blanco) and Luis Guzman (Pachanga).
I can watch this film again and again - those heavyweight performances, storyline and attention to detail make it entertaining on many different levels. Unusually, even though the viewer is aware from the outset that the main character will ultimately not make it and that his quest for escape from his past life is fruitless, this isn't off-putting as one would expect. The film is so compelling that it draws you in - outstanding.
Movie Review: One of Pacinos best.
Summary: 5 Stars
I know everyone praises Scarface and all, but this movie far exceeds Scarface. I mean come on, all Scarface was was Stones attempt to write a script that would shock the public. Which it did at the time. Now, the stuff in that can be found in most gangster movies. The beauty of this movie is that it never needs violence, or harsh language to get anything across. This movie is like a great symphony. It starts out with a few high notes, brings you back down slowly, and than just when you think it's going to stay at that pace, it brings you right back up with high notes and low notes mixed so masterfully together, and by the end you feel as though you've listened(watched) to some great masterpiece. This movie shows is more realistic, more dark, has more heart, and makes you immersed in it more so than any other gangster movie I have ever seen, and I've seen them all. From Goodfellas, to The Godfather, to Scarface, I've seen everyone. The only movie I've seen that is this movies equal or better as far as in the gangster genre are the Godfather 1 and 2. Still Pacino too.