Carlito's Way (1993)
Did you not get enough of Al Pacino in Scarface? Good news, folks, because you can rent Carlito’s Way, which will tide you over until the next time you watch Scarface. In this one, which is also directed by Brian De Palma, he plays a Puerto Rican ex-con who gets lured back into his old criminal ways despite the protestations of his girlfriend, Penelope Ann Miller. And while Penelope is no Michelle Pfeiffer, Al is significantly better looking as Carlito than Tony, with his beautiful long locks and a nicely cropped beard.
This is going to sound crazy, but bear with me: Carlito’s Way is a really good date movie. Ladies, if you’ve done something wrong and are in the doghouse, suggest this movie to your boyfriend to get back in his good graces. It’s a very manly movie, with tons of violence and a storyline about being a bigger bad guy than the other bad guy—but you can chuckle to yourself as he thinks you’re being entirely selfless, since there are also tons of steamy scenes with a handsome leading man. Is the famous scene where Penelope takes her clothes off behind a locked door really for the guys in the audience? Or is it so the girls in the audience can see Al lose control and break the door down?
You’re going to have to take the good with the bad during Carlito’s Way. The good is, obviously, Al Pacino. This is a classic, typical Al Pacino movie with a crime-ridden plot and lots of violence, so if you like his usual movies, you’ll be happy with this one. The bad is a less-than-stellar heroine who’s rather stupid and a heavily disguised yet incredibly annoying sidekick, Sean Penn. The rest of the supporting cast is pretty good, though, with Luis Guzman as a loyal crony, John Leguizamo as the rival gang leader, and a young Viggo Mortenson in a small role. If you’re still on the fence, watch the preview. It’s a very accurate representation of this ’90s drama.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are a few scenes, including the first and last during which the camera spins, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to language, violence, and sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Al Pacino movies here!
This is going to sound crazy, but bear with me: Carlito’s Way is a really good date movie. Ladies, if you’ve done something wrong and are in the doghouse, suggest this movie to your boyfriend to get back in his good graces. It’s a very manly movie, with tons of violence and a storyline about being a bigger bad guy than the other bad guy—but you can chuckle to yourself as he thinks you’re being entirely selfless, since there are also tons of steamy scenes with a handsome leading man. Is the famous scene where Penelope takes her clothes off behind a locked door really for the guys in the audience? Or is it so the girls in the audience can see Al lose control and break the door down?
You’re going to have to take the good with the bad during Carlito’s Way. The good is, obviously, Al Pacino. This is a classic, typical Al Pacino movie with a crime-ridden plot and lots of violence, so if you like his usual movies, you’ll be happy with this one. The bad is a less-than-stellar heroine who’s rather stupid and a heavily disguised yet incredibly annoying sidekick, Sean Penn. The rest of the supporting cast is pretty good, though, with Luis Guzman as a loyal crony, John Leguizamo as the rival gang leader, and a young Viggo Mortenson in a small role. If you’re still on the fence, watch the preview. It’s a very accurate representation of this ’90s drama.
DLM Warning: If you suffer from vertigo or dizzy spells, like my mom does, this movie might not be your friend. There are a few scenes, including the first and last during which the camera spins, and that will make you sick. In other words, “Don’t Look, Mom!”
Kiddy Warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to language, violence, and sexual content, I wouldn’t let my kids watch it.
More Al Pacino movies here!