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Carlito's Way (1993)

Rate: 9
Viewed: 3/08, 6/17, 7/20

Carlito
3/08: Directed by Brian De Palma, Carlito's Way is the tamed version of Scarface which also starred Al Pacino.

The story, which was penned by a New York State Supreme Court justice, is interesting and gets better by the minute. Al Pacino, who's finally calm and never screaming, and Sean Penn are mesmerizing. There's a nice lineup of strong supporting performances that help it to be an effective gangster drama.

The ending takes place at the train station. Although I've seen this already in The Untouchables, the execution is crisp and well-done. But the introduction is unnecessary as it gives away the ending.

All in all, Carlito's Way isn't exactly Goodfellas, but Al Pacino makes this one worth it.

6/17: What sets Brian De Palma apart from nearly all directors is his alluring visionary style which is unlike anything I've seen.

The Odessa Steps scene in The Untouchables is a good example. Another is the opening sequence in Snake Eyes. If you can't get enough, then I recommend Carlito's Way that's maybe the apogee of De Palma's artistic vision. Yes, it seems to be another Scarface, but this one is much better and more refined and mature. If it was directed by anybody else, the story of Carlito Brigante would've been ordinary, lacking any tension. Where Brian De Palma succeeds the most is taking advantage of editing as the fourth dimension to transform the film into a work of art. The last twenty minutes is a perfect example of what I mean.

Fresh off from the mostly-undeserving Oscar win for Scent of a Woman, Al Pacino may have turned in the best performance of the decade as Carlito Brigante, an extremely likable Puerto Rican ex-gangster who's set in reforming his ways but can't turn his back on code of honor. It's why the following line by Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part III is perfect: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

Based on New York State Supreme Court justice Edwin Torres' book After Hours, David Koepp's script is well-written and full of subtleties about the street life in El Barrio. If you pay attention to what Carlito sees, you can predict what he's thinking and planning to do. Hence, Carlito's Way is an intelligently crafted picture.

Brian De Palma's gift lies in scene construction that's like nothing I've seen before: a careful set-up of the players as they take their time, giving me an ominous feeling that something big will go down. It's what he did early on when Carlito was at the club, thinking of all the angles, which led to the long chase that ended at the train station. Even better is the chilling ending as Benny Blanco from the Bronx is running alongside Carlito, who's happily waving at his girlfriend, and turns around to shoot him to death. A neat thing about it, which comes in full circle, is that I forgot about the beginning of the film. It's because the story is absorbing.

Anyway, the performances are outstanding. I may have been harsh on Sean Penn and John Leguizamo in the past, but they're brilliant. Most importantly, Al Pacino is in top form.

All in all, there are so many things to like about Carlito's Way that it's easy to revisit the film from time to time.

7/20: There are three films that rank high in Brian De Palma's oeuvre, and they are: The Untouchables, Mission: Impossible, and Carlito's Way.

What they all have in common is exquisite photography, strong acting, and a climax that's either on the train or at the train station. Despite the film running too long, the last twenty-minute crescendo leading to the surprise death of Brigante Carlito is riveting. I can't recall Al Pacino giving a bad performance; he's always mesmerizing in every film, playing a different character each time with nothing but straight acting. It's been the case here.

I usually think of Sean Penn as a fake actor, but he can be good in some films. In Carlito's Way, Sean Penn gives the performance of his career, and he's something else as a crooked lawyer with no principles. His hair is a nice touch. John Leguizamo is perfect as Benny Blanco from the Bronx, and Penelope Ann Miller doesn't get enough credit for helping make the story work. Ironically, Al Pacino said in The Godfather Part III, "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in." It's exactly what the movie is all about. Unfortunately, the biggest mistake is spoiling the ending during the opening credits.

All in all, Carlito's Way is a well-crafted, entrancing neo-noir with Al Pacino and Sean Penn at their best.