Carlito's Way

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Chris R Dec 1 Dreams can die but nightmares can flourish, an understanding brought about by the disillusionment that every De Palma hero experiences. See more Aun M Nov 23 The movie has the line of legendaries includinf film director. All excellent but some of scenes are very sliw paced. See more Daniel S Nov 23 Carlito's Way... to Disappointment Let’s be real.. Carlito’s Way looks and feels like a gangster classic on paper. You’ve got Al Pacino and Sean Penn, two absolute legends, plus Brian De Palma behind the camera, flexing his signature style with slick visuals, slow-burn tension, and moments loaded with suspense. For fans of Scarface, there’s even a cool role reversal vibe going on.. Pacino dials it down into a more reserved, complicated figure, while Penn cranks the chaos up as a volatile psycho, echoing peak Tony Montana energy. And yeah, technically? The movie moves. The atmosphere, the violence, the way De Palma builds unease in certain scenes.. all top-tier. Pacino and Penn also commit hard to their roles, with their physical transformations doing a lot of the heavy lifting. But here’s where the glow-up fades.. the script. It’s painfully generic, lacking humor, irony, or any real spark. The dialogue feels paint-by-numbers, and that weak foundation seriously drags down what could’ve been a masterpiece. Pacino’s attempt at a Puerto Rican accent? Straight-up rough. Instead of feeling authentic, it comes off distracting and oddly exaggerated, making it hard to fully buy into Carlito as a character. Add to that the excessive voice-over narration, awkward, unnecessary, and lowkey annoying.. and you start wishing the film trusted its visuals more instead of over-explaining everything. There is an emotional angle with Carlito’s romance, which is a rare softer side compared to Pacino’s usual gangster roles, and the idea itself is interesting.. two people trying to escape their past. But the execution? Meh. Their chemistry feels immature and sometimes cringe, with certain scenes crossing into eye-roll territory rather than heartfelt drama. In the end, Carlito’s Way is a classic case of elite talent stuck with mid material. The acting and direction are powerful, but the sloppy script holds it back from true greatness. It’s stylish, intense, and occasionally gripping.. just not as iconic or rewatchable as it should have been. Verdict.. Visually fire, performances strong, story weak. Worth watching for the vibes, but don’t expect perfection. 🎬🔥 See more Jack F @MovieFan111 Nov 19 Definitely a De Palma classic that for some reason most young people just don't know. I really want CSM to age rate this movie. I'm torn between 17 or 18+. Literally can't decide. See more Incog D Sep 12 Al Pacino has done it again, this movie will keep you entertained and there are plot points that will keep you on your toes throughout the entire movie to see if you're paying attention. Great music, supporting cast is phenomenal, and clever writing. This movie is greatly recommended for causal and hardcore "gangster flick" films. See more Blu B Aug 2 All Time Classic and the last truly great film from DePalma. It reads almost like a gangster novel it's so well done. The way it weaves between Penn & Pacino without really ever losing focus and mianly staying on Pacino is first rate. Excellent direction, and just first rate execution across the board. The narration is just the right amount, Pacino is amazing here and has really good chemistry with Miller. You can slowly feel the vice start to get tighter and tighter the longer it goes. The final chase with no words for like 10 minutes is masterful as well. Everyone should give this a try once. See more Read all reviews

Carlito's Way

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