Review of Carlito's Way (1993) by Nigel D — 03 May 2009
This is a well-acted gangster drama that features great acting, but takes entirely too long in reaching its spectacular denouement.
Pacino (in a swarthy beard) and Penn (in a hilarious hair piece) are, of course, both excellent, but on the whole, the supporting cast performs well, too. (Notable are Penelope Ann Miller, as Pacino's love interest, and John Leguizamo, as Benny Blanco--from the Bronx.).
The film, however, feels entirely too long. While the actors are working well with the material, it seems like a lot of filler. However, I was supremely glad that I hung around for the grand finale; it is a pure cat-and-mouse adrenaline rush. But even then, a bit of the finale's bite is taken away by the fact that its aftermath is revealed at the beginning of the film!
De Palma's direction in the climax is superb; why couldn't he have found a way to trim 20-30 minutes of the filler out?
This review of Carlito's Way (1993) was written by Nigel D on 03 May 2009.
Carlito's Way has generally received very positive reviews.
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