Carlito's Way Details

[Highly rated reviewer]

Liked Scarface you should enjoy this!

Brian De palma and Al Pacino combine in a great production that is perhaps a more rounded, complete work than the much earlier and more reknowned Scarface.

The street is always watching!

By all accounts, Carlito’s Way belongs firmly in the umbrella category of ‘Gangster Movie’, despite the fact that the protagonist isn’t officially a gangster, at least not any more. This 1993 film reunites the team behind the 80’s shock thriller Scarface, with Al Pacino taking the book to producer Martin Bregman and getting the script overhauled before bringing a reluctant Brian De Palma back in to work his magic behind the camera. Carlito’s Way, however, feels a lot more like an antithesis of the over-zealous, cocaine fuelled Scarface with Pacino’s, Brigante trying to make it straight before retiring down to the Bahamas to run a car rental business - probably the most anti-gangster choice of profession available. Pacino’s character smacks a lot more of his role in Donnie Brasco (which was to follow later) than it does of his previous performances in Scarface or even The Godfather, and it offers a lot more scope for subtle nuances and character play from Al.

The plot revolves around Carlito Brigante, an old time smack dealer who has been wangled free from his prison sentence on a technicality by his wheeler-dealer lawyer, Kleinfeld - played brilliantly and entirely devised by Sean Penn on the top of his form. Once out he sets up a reputable business, buying a slice of a nightclub and running it himself - legitimately. This however doesn’t run so well with the other gangsters in the area and piece by piece, Carlito is brought back into his old scene as well as having to fight off the new young pretender in the form of Benny Blanco from the Bronx. Carlito tries every way he can think of to keep himself straight and to get back the girl he lost because of his old life - a very polished performance from Penelope Ann Miller who is very reminiscent of a younger Nicole Kidman - but his old ties and misplaced loyalties conspire to direct him otherwise.

The authenticity of the tale greatly enhances the feel of this movie, based as it is on Edwin Torres’ own experiences of growing up in that kind of neighbourhood. De Palma as well, understands greatly the feel that is needed for each location (listen on the special features how he set up the pool hall scene) and uses space and style to great effect when creating a believable world for his characters. Obviously the acting is superb, which is understandable given the array of talent on offer, and special note should go to John Leguizamo for an excellent portrayal of the odious Benny Blanco. It is difficult to take your eyes away from the screen at any point during this film as you are sucked into it’s dense atmosphere and its deep undertones.

As a gangster movie, Carlito’s Way might not be what you are expecting, especially if you are watching it based on the Scarface experience. However, the pace and feel of the movie is perfect for its deeply intriguing characters and as the tension mounts towards the end, you really start to feel the adrenaline rush and the blood pump around your body; believing that the ending you were exposed to at the start of the movie might just not happen. At least you hope not.

Carlito’s Way astounds at every turn and deserves its place in both De Palma’s and Pacino’s back catalogue as one of their greatest achievements. It’s influence is obvious in other films of the genre and also in the great gangster epics that are the Grand Theft Auto games. I personally enjoyed this more than Scarface and hope that this ‘sleeper hit’ will eventually be recognised - passed over as it mostly was when released - as the genuine character study that it is. Sublime.