Review of Carlito's Way (1993) by James O — 04 Jun 2011

Sean Penn's wig is probably the star of the show in Carlito's Way. Pacino plays his character in a downbeat manner and there is something definitive in this film of the gangster trying to escape the world that primed him.

The set pieces of the film are fantastic. The boating sequence is amazing as is the train station sequence that is again visited by De Palma. Who knew an escalator could provide so many memorable shots.

The only real problem with the film is that it feels somewhat incomplete without seeing the rise of Carlito. It is hard to be the succeed in being the definitive film of a gangsters escape when you are unsure what acts he performed to be in such a predicament.

Pacino's relationship with the female lead also seems a little strained. All the cameos are great however, with Viggo, Guzman and Leguizamo being particularly memorable. Benny Blanco from the Bronx indeed!

Review circa 2007:

Strange how I had the desire to watch this film and it appears on television the next week. I had one of my last shifts at work so it had to be recorded. I gave my dad instructions to film it and I would pick up the tape then watch it at home after work. As it would happen, my dad was still up when I arrived back home. He had became so gripped in the film (so rare for him) he stayed up watching it past midnight (even more rare).

So I made a nice sandwich; chutney, cheese and dried tomatoes and popped the tape in.

The film itself I rate highly. Of note are the amount of great actors in the film and the Hitchcock style that De Palma employs. Pacino, Penn with hilariously crazy hair acting so out of his normal realm, Leguizamo popping up unexpectedly with such a memorable performance, Viggo is even there, the generic Mexican guy has a part, and Johnny Boy Soprano even has a great part. It all meshes well together.

Pacino is a very stoic and lacking motivation throughout the film. Perhaps that is what makes it most different from many films of the genre. It has a reflective character at the helm. All of what makes a gangster cool has been stripped from him, and this makes him more humane.

I loved a lot of the sequences in the film. De Palma is very crafty and a master of suspense. The elevator sequence, the initial drug deal where you just know something is remiss, and the final chase sequence are all highlights. The framing story seems to be in place more to add a nostalgic fell to the film, rather than being overly artsy. It also makes the film more about the character than the final twist the film presents.

I still expected a little more. I can't deny that. I mean this is De Palma and Pacino we are talking about. It is definitely a classic in the gangster genre but the genre tends to under whelm me somewhat. It's as if there is a great gangster classic yet to be made. One I am always searching for. Along the lines of a modern and epic Godfather, or a classic stylised bootlegging film. Even a well-produced noir filmâ¦.

And when you take this film into account do De Palm and Pacino have much more to offer than their career highs? It's all just a little bittersweet.

Sidenote: A few weeks previously I had seen Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. This featured P.Diddy of all people and was quite horrible. What a way to make the prequel. De Palma is also making a prequel to The Untouchables entitled The Untouchable: Capone Rising. I hate prequels especially with the word "rising" in them. Hannibal Rising looks a standout with those boxes checked to be horrible in every way. Cashing in on a franchise to create a weak origin story.