Review of Carlito's Way (1993) by Danny R — 13 May 2012

Brian De Palma's compelling crime drama about Carlito 'Charlie' Brigante a high-level Puerto Rican ex-drug dealer, played by Al Pacino in a sensational superstar performance who has been sprung from prison on a legal technically by his crooked cocaine-addicted attorney David Kleinfeld, played terrifically by an unrecognizable Sean Penn in a truly impressive performance.

Carlito vows to go straight and tries hard to to escape his violent and treacherous past, he takes a job managing a glitzy low-life nightclub; and tracks down his former girlfriend Gail, played wonderfully by Penelope Ann Miller and rekindles their romance with the promise to changed for good.

But loyalty to his sleazy lawyer Kleinfled leads Carlito into helping him get a mobster to escape from jail. Needless to say that everything goes wrong when the mobster is killed and Carlito's life is now on the line for it, and a former cronie of his is undermining him with a vicious young up-and-comer in the drug trade named Benny Bianco, played by John Leguizamo in a superlative performance.

Despite his good intentions Carlito is plunged into a life and death battle against relentless forces that refuse to let him go. Astute direction by Brian DePalma with outstanding supporting performances from Luis Guzman, Ingrid Rogers, Viggo Mortensen, James Rebhorn, Joseph Siravo, Richard Foronjy, Jorge Porcel, and Rick Aviles.

Striking cinematography by Stephen H. Burum. A sizzling film entertainment. Highly Recommended.