Review of Carlito's Way (1993) by Caesar B — 10 May 2013

How is it that I've never seen this before? It's great! At first I was afraid it was gonna be just another dime a dozen wise-guy movie, but this one really has a unique edge to it. What sets it apart is the way the story is told, it's not just about the things that happen to a low-life, but also about his ambitions, hopes, love and fears. Another defining aspect is the way the camera moves. There are some awesome looking scenes where you can't help but wondering how the hell they shot them. The interaction between Carlito and Gail felt weird but authentic, it really gave the story an extra dimension, plus it doesn't hurt that Penelope Ann Miller got topless neither. Now I don't think I've ever seen a movie based on a Puerto Rican mobster, it's always about Italians right? But it worked out pretty sweet. The music score carried me from moment to moment in the most delightful way.

What was a bit weird though is that this movie seems to take place in several time periods at once. One moment it's the 70's then it jumps to the 90's and back to the 80's again. Another thing that bothered me is that Carl spent 5 years in jail, but pretends like he actually spent 30 years there. Sure change comes fast, but his level of alienation is a bit overdone imho.

All in all it's a great movie I would definitely recommend to anyone.