Directed by:
Brian De PalmaScreenplay:
David KoeppCinematography:
Stephen H. BurumComposer:
Patrick DoyleCast:
Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Ingrid Rogers, Luis Guzmán, James Rebhorn, Joseph Siravo, Viggo Mortensen, Adrian Pasdar (more)VOD (4)
Plots(1)
From the director of Scarface comes the critically acclaimed crime thriller Carlito's Way. Oscar winner Al Pacino gives on electrifying performance as former drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, who is sprung from prison by his high-powered attorney (Academy Award winner Sean Penn). He stuns the New York underworld by vowing to go straight from a history of violence, but his plans are undermined by misguided loyalties and an outmoded code of honor. In a life-or-death battle, Carlito takes on the relentless forces that refuse to let him go. Co-starring John Leguizamo and Luis Guzman, Carlito's Way is a powerful, action-packed ride all the way to its explosive conclusion. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (11)
A great old-school gangster movie where Pacino once again gives his best. His Carlito walks the line between a principled cool guy and a cold-blooded killer, so you just have to fall in love with him. Already the opening monologue grabs you by the heart. Slick and slimy Sean Penn was also great, and I now know who the model was for Ken Rosenberg from GTA: Vice City. De Palma plays with the camera, as is his tradition, especially in the final chase scene, which only confirms his directorial skills.
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One of the best gangster films ever made, a stellar piece by Brian De Palma, with an outstanding performance by Al Pacino in the lead role. It's the story of a man with immense willpower to change his life, but unable to change his surroundings. Overall impression: 95%.
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The mafia's journey from a somewhat different perspective is especially evident under the directorial baton of Brian De Palma. However, the epic narrative about "purification," which lasts for two and a half hours, ultimately ends up in complete futility. No matter how you look at it, David Koepp's screenplay would hardly be sufficient for a ninety-minute runtime on its own. Fortunately, De Palma displays a strong dose of creativity and captivates the audience with every scene down to the last detail. As a whole, it ticks away incredibly quickly, even considering that not much substantial happens in the film. The performances by the actors unabashedly strive for various accolades, especially Sean Penn, who underwent a radical transformation and brilliantly embodies the classic notion that "lawyers simply can't be trusted." I believed in Carlito, played by Al Pacino, a slowly aging gangster, until the very last drop of blood he had to shed on his journey. Perhaps I do have a minor criticism regarding the lack of a larger dose of "DePalma violence," which is compensated for by the escalator shootout, allowing everyone to go their own way.
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One of the few gangster movies that I’ve really liked. This time the protagonist is not an insufferable arrogant criminal, but the likeable and honourable Al Pacino, someone you can root for. That’s what I miss in other similar movies and the reason why I don’t like them in general. I didn’t have this problem with Carlito’s Way and I was able to truly enjoy this good quality film. Sean Penn delivers a superb performance, I didn’t recognise him at first.
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Absolutely the best gangster film I've ever seen (and I've thoroughly enjoyed both Coppola and Scorsese). A film in which there is not a single extra scene, not a single shot is self-serving and everything fits together. Sean Penn's transformation is fascinating, but of course it's Al Pacino who gets all the attention. I maintain that Carlito Brigante is his best role. Tony Montana in Scarface was an asshole - and yet everyone was rooting for him. So with Carlito, who just got out of prison and wants nothing to do with the past, it must be the same. Unfortunately for this Puerto Rican, nothing is going nearly as well as he would like. Brian de Palma is in top form here, the final fifteen minutes at the "station" is unparalleled in the film world, and a thumbs up is also in order for Patrick Doyle's score. All I have to do is listen it on its own and my eyes get weirdly moist...
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