After Sisters in 1973, Brian De Palma certainly had an interesting career in the following decades. He followed up with the now cult-classic Phantom of the Paradise, then scored his first hit with Carrie. Continuing with The Fury, he received major controversy with 1980’s Dressed to Kill. While Blow Out floundered financially despite positive reviews, his next big hit was Scarface with Al Pacino. A remake of the 1932 film of the same name, the film became a cultural phenomenon and remains popular today. Like before, he floundered again with Body Double, but returned with the box-office smash The Untouchables. After Casualties of War, De Palma’s career took a major blow with Bonfire of the Vanities. Not only was it savaged by critics, but it was also a major box office bomb. After Raising Cain, De Palma managed to redeem his status by reuniting with Al Pacino for Carlito’s Way.
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In 1975, notorious gangster Carlito Brigante (Pacino) is released 5 years into a 30-year sentence, promising to change his ways. However, things go south when he’s asked to join his cousin for a drug deal that quickly turns bloody. Carlito ends up taking $30,000 from the drug deal and uses it to buy a nightclub. Carlito’s plan is to raise $75,000 so he can move to the Caribbean to retire as a rental car salesman. He also runs into a brash young up-and-coming drug dealer named Benny (John Leguizamo) who he constantly turns down. At the same time, he gets back together with a former lover named Gail (Penelope Ann Miller). Also, Carlito’s lawyer and friend David Kleinfeld (Sean Penn) needs his help to break a mob-boss out of Rikers Island. As time goes on and the tension continue to build, it’s a matter of who survives and who’ll die.
Given this was a crime-drama directed by Brian De Palma and starring Al Pacino, it’s easy to compare with Scarface. However, there are plenty of major differences between the two that make them stand apart from one another. For one, Scarface was clearly a product of its time and the main character is clearly the villain. However, in Carlito’s Way, the protagonist is more of an anti-hero and he’s trying to turn his life around. While Carlito certainly does questionable things, he has good intentions and he tries to do what’s best for everyone. That said, this film does almost work as a spiritual successor to Scarface, especially with characters talking about Carlito’s past. Of course, I’m not saying one’s better than the other, but that both have parallels and differences. While Scarface is one of the best 80s films, Carlito’s Way is one of the best 90s films.
While Pacino is great in the film as always, the rest of the cast is also phenomenal. Sean Penn is practically unrecognizable as the sleazy, coke-addicted lawyer friend, clearly having immersed himself in the role. Penelope Ann Miller is also good as Pacino’s love interest, and the two do have great chemistry with each other. While he has limited screen time, John Leguizamo is very memorable as a small-time gangster trying to make it big. Some other recognizable faces that show up include Luis Guzman, James Rebhorn, Viggo Mortensen, and even Marc Anthony. De Palma’s direction is top-notch here, especially during a particularly tense chase sequence at Grand Central station towards the end. This movie not only showcases De Palma’s talent as a director, but also showcases Al Pacino’s acting talent. While not as popular as Scarface, Carlito’s Way is a great crime drama about one man’s quest for redemption.
