Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way - Ultimate Edition
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
 Crime
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
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| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
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| Video
Gangsters
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
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| Video
General
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
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Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
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Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
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Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
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Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
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Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
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| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
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| DVD
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Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Siravo, Joseph
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
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DePalma, Brian
| ( D )
| Directors
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| DVD
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All Universal Studios Titles
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Similar Items:
-
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
-
Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
-
GoodFellas
-
Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)
-
Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: B000AARKW6
Release Date: 2005-09-13 |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Love Story
| Love & Romance
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Gangsters
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Siravo, Joseph
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DePalma, Brian
| ( D )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Universal Studios Titles
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Drama
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Action & Adventure
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $10
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( C )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
-
Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
-
GoodFellas
-
Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)
-
Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: 0783227019
Release Date: 1998-05-27 |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way (Collector's Edition)
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
Manufacturer: Universal Studios
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Crime
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Drama
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Gangsters
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Crime
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Siravo, Joseph
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DePalma, Brian
| ( D )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
All Universal Studios Titles
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Drama
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Action & Adventure
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $10
| Universal Studios Home Entertainment
| Studio Specials
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DVDs Under $7.49
| Today's Deals in DVD
| Special Features
| DVD
| Video
( C )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
-
Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
-
GoodFellas
-
Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)
-
Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: B0000AM6JI
Release Date: 2003-09-02 |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
Average customer rating:
- Super funny
- Awesome Animation
- a college favorite
- Totally Great!!!
- This is the funniest movie I've seen in a long Time!!!!
|
Carlito's Angels
Starring:
Richie Abramowitz ,
Ricardo Alas ,
Geraldine Bernales ,
Mario Chioldi , and
Tom Cikoski
Manufacturer: ei Independent Cinema
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
General
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Comic Action
| Action & Adventure
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Art House & International
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Accidental Heroes
| By Theme
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Unlikely Heroes
| By Theme
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
General
| Parody & Spoof
| Comedy
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Fedele, John P
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Art House & International
| Independently Distributed
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Comedy
| Independently Distributed
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
General
| Foreign & International
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Independently Distributed
| Indie & Art House
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( C )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
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Senorita Justice
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Insecticidal
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The Erotic Misadventures of the Invisible Man (Unrated Edition)
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Bikini Chain Gang
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Spiderbabe
ASIN: B0000A02XV
Release Date: 2005-11-15 |
Description
Follow the thrilling misadventures and crime fighting antics of three very beautiful, very sexy chicks from the hood - Roxy, Tina, and Marisol - who would rather be just hangin' and chillin' in the hood, but when their boss Carlito calls from his prison cell with a mission of extreme danger . . . WATCH OUT! An outrageous comedy/spoof written and directed by Agustin, Carlito's Angels presents a wild, offbeat world populated at every turn by a hilarious cast of characters and a bevy of beautiful babes. It's a non-stop, over-the-top, in-your-face adventure with plenty of urban attitude and female muscle
Customer Reviews:
Super funny.......2004-04-04
I Thought it was great. I mean anyone with a brain can tell it's low budget. so what!, bottom line is I burst out laughing a bunch of times. and that's more than I can say for cody banks 2, lol. for real, the audio is bad and some of it is ridiculous, and of course there's no plot, it's a spoof of a movie, with no plot, lol but It is really funny, specially the midget.
Awesome Animation.......2004-02-29
THIS MOVIE HAS SOME REALLY GREAT ANIMATION BY THIS ARTIST CALLED CAESAR, HE IS REALLY GREAT, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE USED MORE OF HIS DRAWINGS IN THE FILM. THE DVD COMES WITH A WHOLE SECTION OF EXTRA DRAWINGS THAT CAESAR MADE, AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE MORE DRAWINGS ON THE WEBSITE, WWW.CARLITOSANGELSTHEMOVIE.COM THEY ARE GREAT WHAT I DONT UNDERSTAND IS WHY THEY WEREN'T INCLUDED IN THE FILM. ALL IN ALL THIS FILM WAS FUNNY, I LIKED IT, AND I LIKED WHAT THE DIRECTOR HAD TO SAY IN THE BEHIND THE SCENES, I WANNA SEE THIS KIDS NEXT MOVIE. WHEN HE HAS A BUDGET
a college favorite.......2004-02-29
I loved this movie! After getting it on a whim in the fall, I've watched it so many times with my friends at school because it's hilarious. The best thing about Carlito's Angels is that it doesn't take itself too seriously and makes fun of itself all the time. It's awesome--I definitely recommend it.
Totally Great!!!.......2004-02-28
This is like a totally great movie, It was so funny, and it was great to watch these latina girls in this movie, because if you watch the behind the scenes, you can see that these are all real people from the BARRIO, making this movie with no money, I think it's great!!! Plus the midget in the movie is Glen from the Show "The littlest groom" on FOX, the little bachelor, He was so funny in this movie, and adorable. I love this movie.
This is the funniest movie I've seen in a long Time!!!!.......2004-02-10
Yo straight up this movie is a laff riot... I was on the floor with this jammy. If you know anything about the hood, then you know a bunch a girls like these three... yo the dude that made this has got to be from the streets, cause this thing is funny on the for really TIP. the girls are crazy, dipping out the fire-scape to not see the landlord... LOL... thats for real son... this movie is one of my favorites now, I have seen it like 8 times and it gets better each time i watch it... This jam is a must!!!!!
![Carlito's Way [Region 2]](http://www.germanelectronics88.com/noimage.gif)
Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way [Region 2]
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Thrillers
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Siravo, Joseph
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DePalma, Brian
| ( D )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( C )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
-
Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
-
GoodFellas
-
Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)
-
Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: B00004TLB5 |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
![Carlito's Way [Region 2]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/21J0E1KYRAL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way [Region 2]
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Thrillers
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Siravo, Joseph
| ( S )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
DePalma, Brian
| ( D )
| Directors
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
( C )
| Titles
| Features
| DVD
| Video
Similar Items:
-
Donnie Brasco (Special Edition)
-
Scarface (Widescreen Anniversary Edition)
-
GoodFellas
-
Casino (Widescreen 10th Anniversary Edition)
-
Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: B00004WZ8M |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
![Carlito's Way [Region 2]](http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/21W63VHQRSL.jpg)
Average customer rating:
- One of Pacino's best films
- Bad Karma
- Carlito's Way
- One of the finest gangster films ever made
- A slippery slope
|
Carlito's Way [Region 2]
Starring:
Al Pacino ,
Sean Penn ,
Penelope Ann Miller ,
John Leguizamo , and
Ingrid Rogers
Director:
Brian De Palma
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
Thrillers
| Mystery & Suspense
| Genres
| DVD
| Video
Aviles, Rick
| ( A )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Foronjy, Richard
| ( F )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Leguizamo, John
| ( L )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mazursky, Paul
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Miller, Penelope Ann
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Minucci, Frank
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Mortensen, Viggo
| ( M )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Ortiz, John
| ( O )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pacino, Al
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Pasdar, Adrian
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Penn, Sean
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Porcel, Jorge
| ( P )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rebhorn, James
| ( R )
| Actors & Actresses
| Stores
| DVD
| Video
Rogers, Ingrid
| ( R )
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Siravo, Joseph
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DePalma, Brian
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Carlito's Way - Rise to Power (Widescreen)
ASIN: B0001IMCRU |
Amazon.com essential video
Al Pacino cuts a noble figure in this very enjoyable drama by director Brian De Palma (Scarface), based on a pair of books by Edwin Torres. Pacino plays a Puerto Rican ex-con trying hard to go straight, but his loyalty to his lowlife attorney (a virtually unrecognizable Sean Penn) and enemies on the street make that choice difficult. Penelope Ann Miller plays, somewhat unlikely, a stripper who has a romance with Pacino's character. The film finds De Palma tempering his more outlandish moves (think of Body Double or Snake Eyes) just as he did with the popular Untouchables and Mission: Impossible. But while Carlito's Way was not commercially successful and never rises to the level of greatness, it is a genuinely compelling movie graced with a fine performance by Pacino and a surprising one from Penn. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
One of Pacino's best films.......2007-09-05
I caught Carlitos Way late the other night and forgot how much I loved it. It is one of the best crime drama type movies that I have seen to date. Pacino plays the main character Carlito who is trying to live a crime free lifestyle since removed from prison. The film shows how hard it is to escape your past no matter how hard you try.
I recommend this movie for anyone who enjoys a good crime flick.
Bad Karma.......2007-08-26
Carlito never has a chance the minute he is out of prison trouble finds him. Pacino is again at his best playing a reformed drug dealer who has no luck.
Corey Cotta, Author of All of Yesterdays Tomorrows.
Carlito's Way.......2007-07-11
Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?
One of the finest gangster films ever made.......2007-03-29
A longtime fan of Al Pacino, I saw "Carlito's Way" when it first came out, in 1993. Even back then, it was apparent to me that I was watching something very special. Since then, I've literally seen the movie hundreds of times, and it remains one of my all-time favorite films.
The plot summary has been covered many times here, so I'll just stick to my comments. I think "Carlito's Way" is Brian DePalma's finest hour as a filmmaker. I could never understand the lukewarm critical response it received, though, ironically, time has been very kind to it. A lot of critics dismissed it as a second-rate follow-up to "Scarface"--which, interestingly, was also panned upon its release--but it possesses a depth and resonance that "Scarface" (or any of DePalma's other films, for that matter) just can't match.
Having grown up in Queens, New York, in the 1970s--and having run with a pretty tough crowd--I was stunned at how well DePalma captured the sights and sounds of the time. It was like being transported back 20 years. But, perhaps because the film was made two decades after it's supposed to take place, "Carlito's Way" hasn't aged at all. Like many great films, it has a timeless feel to it, because it avoids many of the filmmaking clichés of the period in which it was made.
DePalma was already working from a very good foundation--Edwin Torres' two books on Carlito Brigante, "Carlito's Way" and "After Hours," are exceptionally well written--but he could've easily dropped the ball. Thankfully, he didn't. Though he and Pacino were both initially opposed to rehashing the success of "Scarface," they eventually decided to work together again. The combination was pure magic. Like many great actors, Pacino sometimes needs to be challenged, and DePalma challenged him. And he responded with one of the best performances of his legendary career. He brings an elegiac air to the character of reformed drug kingpin Carlito Brigante, which brings out a level of depth and emotional weight that the character of Tony Montana just didn't have. In fact, Carlito makes Tony seem woefully cartoonish and two-dimensional by comparison. As the film progresses, the psychic weight of Carlito's worsening dilemma is channeled perfectly by Pacino's every move and word. Despite Carlito's sordid past, you sympathize with him and his increasingly futile attempt to escape that past. The rapidly shrinking box that is Carlito's way out is communicated stunningly, by Pacino's acting, the excellent dialogue and cinematography, and, crucially, the music, which builds to a crescendo during the subway chase scene--one of the best chase scenes ever committed to film, in my opinion.
A movie is nothing without fine acting, and DePalma did a wonderful job of casting "Carlito's Way." The cast is, to a person, first-rate: John Leguizamo as up-and-coming gangster Benny Blanco; Penelope Ann Miller as Carlito's love interest, Gail; Luis Guzman as the traitorous Pachanga; and the ringer, Sean Penn, as Carlito's sleazy, out-of-control lawyer, David Kleinfeld. Penn has had a lot of great roles in his career, but his turn as Kleinfeld is definitely one of his most memorable: over-the-top, but never less than eminently believable . . . and chillingly frightening.
As I said earlier, the years have been very kind to "Carlito's Way." It has aged better than any of DePalma's other films, and still looks and sounds as vital today as it did upon its release. That's a tough trick to pull off, but it's a testament to DePalma's filmmaking prowess and the actors' collective skill that, never once, do you catch yourself thinking about the age of the film. It's, quite simply, timeless--and, in this viewer's opinion, one of the best gangster films ever made. Whether history will judge it as such is debatable, but I believe that time will continue to enhance its reputation. It's a stunning cinematic achievement that will gain more and more supporters as the years go buy. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
A slippery slope.......2007-03-23
(3.5/5 stars) Carlito "Charlie" Brigante has just been released from prison on a technicality, after serving five years of a thirty-year sentence. He proclaims he has retired from the life of drug dealing and crime that landed him in prison, and he resolves to go straight. He wants only to save $75,000 so he can head to the Bahamas and buy into a car rental partnership. When he chances upon his ex-girlfriend, Gail (the beautiful Penelope Ann Miller), all indications are that his life will turn out superb after all. Carlito discovers, however, that escaping his former lifestyle proves nearly impossible as his past catches up with him. In the lead role, Al Pacino offers the perfect complexity that makes him believable as a reformed thug, whose experiences have wrought him the wisdom and paternal temperament he will need to survive. As in so many other films, we sympathize with his character here because he brings such a gentle demeanor to the role. Also outstanding is Sean Penn, who is terrific as Carlito's attorney and "brother," among other roles. "The Ultimate Edition" features a widescreen presentation with DTS sound and deleted scenes. For about $10, you cannot go wrong. (And, if you are a fan of Penelope Ann Miller, you'll want this DVD to enjoy her nude scenes repeatedly)
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