Carlito's Way Review

 Carlito's Way

Director: Brian De Palma

Stars: Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Ingrid Rogers, Luis Guzman, James Rebhorn, Jorge Porcel,Frank Minucci, Joseph Siravo,Viggo Mortensen & Adrian Pasdar

Running Time: 144 mins

Release: 7 January 1994

In 1975 New York Local legend Puerto Rican criminal Carlito (Pacino) who's just come out of prison and pledges himself to reform and stay away from crime and go to the Bahama's and build a new life from for himself with his girlfriend Gail (Miller). But old friends and habits die hard.

His long term friend Dave Kleinfeld (Penn) a lawyer got him out of prison he managed to change Carlito's sentence from 30 years to 5, but he's dangerous, unpredictable and a liability and tempts Carlito back into his old ways and he has a big problem. Carlito gets a share of his associate Saso's (Porcel) club after coming out of jail. But there's trouble in the form of Bennie Blanco ( Leguizamo) from the Bronx an up and coming criminal.

Al Pacino gives an absolutely barnstorming raw performance as Carlito. You absolutely believe in his ageing ex-con that he wants to go straight and stay out of trouble and of course that does not stay exactly that way in some situations in the film, He also has a moral code that he's gained from being on the street and inside prison. Though with this he has not not got his eye completely on the ball.

Early on in the film we see Carlito who's just come out of prison goes to a drug deal exchange not to partake but to be showed off by his cousin. You know the deal is going to go south and the way Carlito plans it out to attempt to save his cousin is brilliant. He's very loyal to his girlfriend Gail which really did surprise me. He cares for her greatly i'll write more on it later.

His friends and associates laugh at his plans to get away to the Bahama's to own a share of a rental car place. They think he can't change and he'll fall into old habits as that's what he's always done. We believe in him and Gail believes in him and that's all that matters and Pacino does a great job with it.

He's charismatic, intelligent, got swagger and a fiery temperament and a certain way of words. His court scene, when he disrespects Blanco and saying others would spoil it for you but it's an absolute gem. He really stands out in the film and I have to say his performance in this is even better than Dog Day Afternoon.

I've never seen Sean Penn in a film before but I do know of him and I have to say he's fantastic in this and got completely lost in the character of Dave Kleinfeld, Carlito's friend and lawyer who's a coke addled, unpredictable loose cannon. I really have to say he reminds me of Robert De Niro's Johnny in Mean Streets when you see both films you'll get what I mean. He's a lawyer but as the events wear on the film he sort of becomes a gangster and the lines blur.

He's loyal to Carlito as he is loyal to him but he has a knack of getting him into trouble and that trouble comes in the form of Tony Taglialucci (Minucci) a big time mobster whom was a client of his that's gotten locked up, he stole money one million dollars from him and now he needs to do arrange a boat to pick him up for the arranged escape and if not he's six feet under. That scene and all his other scenes are brilliant. He's a really despicable and sleazy character & Penn really brings him to life. .He's also rather childish especially in his house party scene.

Penelope Ann Miller plays Carlito's long term girlfriend and love interest Gail, she's fiercely loyal to Carlito despite their many ups and downs. I am surprised that she's so loyal to him after he's been locked away for five years though that's one thing that's really beautiful in this film. She's a freelance dancer. It's no secret that Miller and Pacino had an affair whilst filming this film which in someway made their relationship more realistic. She also has a great seduction scene. Being honest i've never seen Miller in anything before let alone heard of her but she's really good in her role here.

Now if one actor was not in this enough, in my opinion it's John Leguizamo as Bennie Blanco he's a fantastic character but he does not have that much screen-time, but those fleeting minutes are golden, he steals the scenes he's in. He's cocky, arrogant and smug and does not realise he's a little fish in a big pond, but he has a one hell of a ferocious bite.

Rodgers plays club hostess Steph, who's Kleinfeld's sort of squeeze. She's not in it much but she's great in her scenes and she has a really stand out voice when you hear it you'll know what I mean. Louis Guzman who has a face that everyone remembers but not his name, he has a rather big part in this film which was a pleasant surprise, he plays Pachanga, Carlito's right hand man who's also back-up and is the one of many that try to lead Carlito back into his old ways. He's fantastic in this I have to say, i'll look out for him in more films.

James Rebhorn plays the lawman Norwalk who wants to put Carlito back behind bars behind any means it's a small role but a pivotal one. Jorge Porcel plays Saso, Carlito's associate and club owner who does not want any trouble, his character speaks little english and more in his natural tongue which I really liked and felt authentic. Frank Minucci plays the sinister mobster Tony Taglialucci who gave me chill in his scene he's very menacing and great in his few scenes. Joseph Sivaro plays his equally nasty son Vinnie and Adrian Pasdar plays his younger son Frankie, don't call him Frank he doesn't like it, It's great to see him in another film as he has not done that many of them, Near Dark being the best one.

It's great to see Viggo Mortensen in a film before his breakthrough role as Aragon in Lord of The Rings, he plays Carlito's Puerto Rican friend and criminal Lalin , he was only in one pivotal small scene but I have to say he did the accent especially well for a then a bit-part actor he's come a long since his role in Witness back in 85 and this role showed they're was great things to come.

I've not seen many Brian De Palma films but I have to say he's done a magnificent job on this it's shot beautifully and authentically looks like it was set in 1975 but almost made 20 years later, the many sets especially the clubs, the clothes, the hair styles, the cars, the music and the dialog it's brilliant it surpassed my expectations. I know Palma has a visual flair and it really shows in this film. Especially the Train chase scene that's all i'm saying.

There's both an original score and a soundtrack to this film and most people would hear the soundtrack over the score, myself included. The score is done by Patrick Doyle a composer i've never really heard of, he does a fantastic job with the theme which I love and is the most iconic from the score.

The soundtrack is simply awesome as it matches the time period it's set in with great disco, smooth and latin music in it's a great mix of songs it's just a pity it's rather pricey, the most famous track being Billy Preston's You are So Beautiful which plays during the seduction scene and the credits.

I have to say this film feels noir like in my opinion with Carlito's narration and in some parts Carlito reminds me of a noir film protagonist. This is is an absolutely fantastic crime film with perfect performances, stellar script, great production values and a brilliant soundtrack it could not be better.