Film Review: Carlito's Way (1993)

Brian De Palma is arguably among the best American film directors in past few decades, known not only for baroque style but also for great genre diversity of his work. Much of his reputation was built on thrillers, especially in 1970s, when he established himself as presumed heir of Alfred Hitchcok as Master of Suspense. In 1980s, however, his best and most important work belonged to gangster genre, which included epics like Scarface and The Untouchables. The perfect companion piece to these two films, which could also be viewed as the last segment of De Palma’s gangster trilogy, is 1993 film Carlito’s Way.

The film is based on Carlito’s Way and After Hours, two novel by Edwin Torres, New York lawyer of Puerto Rican descent who later became highly respected judge. The plot begins in 1975 when Puerto Rican heroin dealer Carlito Brigante (played by Al Pacino) gets released after serving five out thirty years of prison. He sees that in five years many things have changed on the streets of New York City – girls don’t wear mini-skirts any more, disco is the most popular music, there is much more violence and cocaine replaced heroin as the most popular drug. Carlito, despite being considered a “legend” by young gangsters, doesn’t want to return to the life of crime. Instead, his plan is to buy a night club and earn just enough money for starting legitimate business in Bahamas, preferably with Gail (played by Penelope Ann Miller), ballerina with whom he had a romantic relationship before his incarceration. His plans to start new life are, however, ultimately thwarted by David Kleinfeld (played by Sean Penn), the corrupt lawyer who had helped him gain freedom, and now wants Carlito’s help to escape his own trouble with Mafia.

Carlito’s Way is represented one of the first major Hollywood films set in 1970s which could have been as a period piece. Unlike other films that followed, Carlito’s Way was anything but nostalgic. Script by David Koepp treated that period as one of darker chapters of history, especially in New York City where poverty, hopelessness and violence were so bad that even the hardened street criminal like Carlito Brigante was taken aback when encountering it from five year absence. Very dark and depressive story of a gangster who wants to turn his life around, but in the end can’t escape the clutches of his friends, neighbourhood and criminal career is, on the other hand, made more bearable thanks to cinematography by Stephen H. Burum which uses bright colours, as well as strong music score by Patrick Doyle. De Palma, as it is to be expected, directs film very well, making the most cliched scenes that feature predictable events look exciting and it all happens despite some of those scenes looking like they were “borrowed” from Scarface and The Untouchables. That includes the finale that takes place at train station; De Palma later explained that the planned setting was World Trade Center, but it had to be changed following 1993 terrorist attack.

The greatest asset of the film is cast. Pacino, who had played one of the greatest roles of his illustrious career as Hispanic gangster in Scarface, delivers another great performance in the similar, yet very different role. Pacino in Carlito’s Way came to terms with his age and played the protagonist as old, world-weary man who is at odds with rapidly changing world and clings to fantasy of starting new life far away from increasingly dangerous and chaotic urban jungle. Penelope Ann Miller, one of the most charming actresses of her generation, is also great in the role of Gail, and her great acting skills will be appreciated even by the part of audience primarily interested in the scene where she briefly appears topless. Miller had great chemistry of Pacino, which wasn’t that surprising in light of the fact that two had passionate love affair in real life. But the most impressive role was delivered by Sean Penn, an actor until that time specialised for the roles of angry young men. Here he plays balding, bespectacled and utterly sleazy lawyer (allegedly modelled after Allen Dershowitz, which even led to threats of legal action). Although Penn played villains before, he never before played someone so despicable in his complete lack of morals. John Leguizamo is also effective as Carlito’s young rival and presumed successor, while Luis Guzman delivers very good job in the role of Carlito’s bodyguard.

Despite occasional flirting with melodrama, which almost ruins the film’s ending, Carlito’s Way is still a very good film, that could be recommended to anyone who liked Scarface. In 2005 direct-to-video prequel Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power was made with Jay Hernandez in main role.

RATING: 7/10 (+++)

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