Rating: 
Summary: One Of The More Decent Films That DePalma Has Made Recently
Review: I am a growing fan of Brian DePalma's old movies(From the 1970s and early 1980s) and first saw this more recent film in a movie theater. "Carlito's Way" is one of the more decent films that DePalma has made in recent times.In 1975, gangster Carlito Brigante(Al Pacino) is released from prison and tries to lead a straight life. Unfortunately, Carlito continues to find himself sucked into a life of crime. "Carlito's Way" is a so-so DePalma film. Unlike "Scarface," Al Pacino's previous collaboration with DePalma, "Carlito's Way" is a decent and respectable film. As usual, Pacino gives a powerful performance. Sean Penn gives a surprisingly good performance as Pacino's sleazy attorney. DePalma successfully recreates the look, sound, and feel of the 1970s; "Carlito's Way" almost qualifies as a period piece of this era. "Carlito's Way" is well-meaning and superior to such recent DePalma efforts as "Snake Eyes" and "Mission To Mars." Unfortunately, the film is still easily forgettable. The opening sequence is unconvincing and almost farcical. A chase sequence on a subway train is directly borrowed from DePalma's superior "Dressed To Kill." Some of the music seems out-of-place. Several shoot-out sequences fail to make the movie any more interesting. Some of the dialogue between the characters sounds unrealistic. "Carlito's Way" often seems like a violent television soap opera that has been transferred to the big screen. Even DePalma's cult comedy "Phantom Of The Paradise" is more sincerely heartfelt. I yearn for the Brian DePalma who made such great films as "Sisters" and "Dressed To Kill." "Carlito's Way" is only for Al Pacino fans and those who feel that they need to see every DePalma film. For DePalma's best crime film, see "The Untouchables."
Rating: 
Summary: Superb gangster film with Jacobean tragic overtones
Review: Carlito's Way ranks up there with Goodfellas as one of the best gangster movies of the 90s. Pacino is superb as Carlito Brigante, a legendary Puerto Rican gangster determined to leave his past behind after his release from prison, while Sean Penn is a revelation as the attorney who manages to get Carlito released after serving five years of a life sentence. The director, Brian de Palma, uses the unusual device of revealing what ultimately happens at the beginning of the film, but this does not diminish its impact, rather creating an air of incredible tension as we witness Carlito desperately struggling to escape the fate we know is in store for him. In particular, the chase scene through Grand Central Station, and the shoot out on the escalator, is superbly staged and every time I watch it I am left exhausted! Like all tragic heroes Carlito has a fundamental flaw in his character that is ultimately his undoing. He is still bound by the code of honour of his youth, a code that the New York underworld is rapidly leaving behind, and he finds himself an anachronism in increasingly violent and ruthless times. Carlito's lawyer is on a downward spiral of self-destruction as his delusions of grandeur see him sucked into this world of crime, and due to the loyalty he feels he owes him, Carlito is sucked in as well. When he is implicated in the murder of a "made" Italian mafioso, Carlito's card is marked, and he realises too late that loyalty means nothing when you are the only one in thrall to it. A new breed of gangster, personified by Benny Blanco, is taking over, for whom honour means nothing and power means everything. The crux of the movie comes when Carlito has the chance to kill Benny, and although recognising that "the street is watching" he declines the chance, determined not to be drawn back into a world of violence. By letting Benny live, Carlito has shown "weakness" and in the final reckoning this weakness is ruthlessly exploited. If I have a gripe with this brilliant film it is the ending. If De Palma could have resisted inserting Carlito's sentimental monologue into the last few frames, when he realises he won't live to see the future he dreams of with his girlfriend (played by Penelope Ann Miller) Carlito's Way would have been almost perfect. However, this is a small point and shouldn't detract from what is otherwise a magnificent piece of film making.
Rating: 
Summary: Pacino is great, as usual.
Review: Pacino, as usual, does good work. His stint as a Puerto Rican is great,though he doesn't have a way with accents. The opening scene is inspired...good stuff. Great personality development. Excellent plot and devices...typical racketeering gangsta flick stuff. The only thing I really disliked about the movie...but was a big part was the romantic element. I thought Penelope Ann Miller was a bore. They could have written out her character and the film would have been all the better for it. Sean Penn's acting was really good considering I was feeling pure disgust for him during the entire movie. Of course, I think his makeup and hair had a lot to do with this. Save your money on this one. Buy Godfathers or Dog Day Afternoon, or Glengarry Glen Ross or Scarface instead.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Gangster Movie
Review: This movie is up there with Scarface, and the Godfather, fantastic. A great script, and brilliant performances by Pacino and Penn. If you like Gangster movies you will love this one, but even if your not a fan of the genre you should still see it, in my opinion everyone should see it. Its a story about a gangster that gets out of prison early, and wants so badly to go straight, but is brought back into the old world that put him in prison, by his so-called friends.
Rating:
Summary: For a mob film, this one is very moving.
Review: The title is much more than I can say for some of the other mob movies I've seen. This is one mob movie that will grab you by the heart and not let go until the final strains of "You Are So Beautiful" by Joe Cocker in the credits. Al Pacino may very well be one of the greatest speakers that Hollywood has ever seen in the 20th century. You get to see more performances like this in movies such as "Scent of a Woman" and "Devil's Advocate." The film opens of course with Pacino's character, Carlito Brigante, being shot by Benny Blanco from the Bronx (John Leguizamo) just as he's about to board a train to Miami with his girlfriend Gail (Penelope Ann Miller). The rest of the movie is all Carlito's, as he tells us exactly what happened from the time he got out of prison up to this point. The tragic life of Carlito Brigante, his desperate attempts to get out of the crime business, his fleeing from friends-turned enemies, and his being saddled with a cocaine-addicted attorney (Sean Penn)cause me to sympathize with his fate at the end of the movie. He didn't ask for his life to end that way, but at the same time he's obviously intelligent enough to know that what goes around comes around. He knew there would be a price to pay, but at the very least, henever lost sight of what was really important: his love for Gail and their unborn child.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: This movie is like a toned down version of another Al Pachino and Brian De Palma movie Scarface. Pachino is brilliant as usual and there are strong performances by John Leguizamo and especially Sean Penn. After being in Jail for 5 years Carlito Brigante is out of jail and has one dream. To get enough money to move away from the streets and into paradise. But when his friend David gets in trouble with a gangster Carlito has to do one more job before getting out. This role was just written for Pachino and is very underated. A must for all gangster film fans!!
Rating:
Summary: I miss the '70's
Review: "Carlito's Way" has THE best party scene I've ever seen in a movie (Sean Penn's oceanfront residence).
Rating:
Summary: Realistic, Gritty Crime Tale
Review: In one of his best performances ever, Al Pacino is the engine that keeps "Carlito's Way" moving from beginning to end. Recently-released from prison, Carlos Brigante (played marvelously by Pacino) is a former Puerto Rican drug lord who ruled New York City's drug world during the 1960's and 1970's. Assisted by his lawyer (Sean Penn) Pacino is determined to stay out of the trade that landed him in prison in the first place. However, as usual trouble always lurks in every corner. Deciding to buy and operate a Latin nightclub from an owner who is seriously in debt (played by the famous Argentine comedian Jorge Porcel, who had a cult following throughout Latin America due to his sexually-charged comedy skit show "A La Cama Con Porcel; he is know as the Latin-version of "Benny Hill"). Yet as old faces reemerge onto the scene, newer faces have also started to take a foothold in Brigante's former empire, especially Benny Blanco (played by the ever-wonderful John Leguizamo). Directed by Brian de Palma ("Carrie"), this is one of the most realistic, and historic accurate pictures of life in New York City's urban jungle during the late 1970's/early 1980's. Penelope Ann Miller ("Adventures in Babysitting" is great as Brigante's love interest, and Luis Guzman always is a scene-stealer playing Pacino's right-hand man. The DVD version contains production notes, cast biographies, and the original theatrical trailer and the sound and picture quality are excellent. Pacino (a Bronx native) masters a perfect Puerto Rican accent in the same way he mastered his Cuban-emigre accent in "Scarface". "Carlito's Way" is guaranteed to keep you entertained due to thrilling performances by the entire cast, amazing cinematography, great directing, and most importantly, incredible realism. Destined to become a modern urban classic.
Rating:
Summary: You Will Love This Movie!!!!!
Review: This is one of the few movies I own. It is my all time favorite. Al Pachino is HOT in this one, the balance he plays between gangster and lover is superb! I watch it all the time. How could anyone NOT love this movie?
Rating:
Summary: What a movie!!!
Review: This is Al Pacino's greatest film. Als greatest roles have always been on a street level, with the people. As a former puerto-rican drug lord trying to escape his past life of crime and violence, this film captures all the beauty, character and extraordinary acting ability of Al pacino. It is Al at his best. Scarface, the Godfather and Serpico were great films as well but anyone who is a true fan of Al Pacino knows that he deserved an Oscar for his performance in this film. I would strongly urge anyone who is an Al Pacino fan and otherwise to purchase this movie. You wont regret it.
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