Cheap Carlito's Way (Collector's Edition) (DVD) (Al Pacino, Sean Penn) (Brian De Palma) Price

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Customer Reviews of Carlito's Way (Collector's Edition)

A Fascinating Ride in the 70s.
Brian DePalma has made many great movies through the years, but this one, I rate his finest work. This film has a non-stop sizzle and the most incredible atmosphere from beginning to end that truly evokes the feel of the 70s. From cocaine fueled disco dancing club scenes, retro clothes, big hair and sideburns, to the fantastic pulsating soundtrack filled with classics of that era. ............... Carlito Brigante, brilliantly portrayed by the master, Al Pacino, is out of jail early looking to go straight after doing 5 years time for dealing smack. As we open, Carlito is talking to us, telling us his story from the future ending of the with the wisdom of 20/20 hindsight. ........... Sean Penn is also in perhaps his finest acting role here as Davy Kleinfeld. We meet him in the courtroom at the open. For getting Carlito freed, Davy will try to get Carlito involved in his crooked coked up mess of a life. After stealing millions from a mob boss and losing control over his life completely, Carlito has a great line where he admonishes Davy. "You not a lawyer anymore, you a gangster now, whole new ballgame," Indeed. ............... Davy is only the first of many cohorts who will try to [pull] Carlito into a life he is trying to break away from. Shortly after being released, Carlito's nephew drags him along on a drug pick-up. In the one of the best creative camera shots ever lensed in film, we see through the other players sunglasses as he leans over the pool table to make a shot, a double image reflected, of the nephew in trouble. Carlito, again, forced to deal with the consequences he's been unwillingly dragged into. ............... Along the way Carlito comes to a face off at the club with greasy young upstart drug dealer, "Benny Blanco from the Bronx" played by a viciously ambitious John Leguzamo. Carlito doesn't realize that Benny is playing for keeps, and so he fatally underestimates him. .................. By the time Carlito realizes he's got no one to trust but himself, it's too late to undo the damage, leading to a vengeful mob cavalcade that takes us on a wild edge of your seat ride up, down, around, and then all the way to Grand Central Station to the not so grand ending, which is where the movie begins. .............. Please don't think of this as Scarface Part Two, it's not!! Although "Scarface" is a definite DePalma Masterpiece, it has nothing of the atmospheric sizzle of "Carlito's Way". The roles of Tony Montana, a reprehensible character, and Carlito Brigante, a totally sympathetic character who falls into the wrong circumstances time and time again, are in no way similar. Just because both characters are Latino drug dealers, played by the incredible classic screen legend Al Pacino, the similarity starts and ends there. ............. When you come right down to it, for the best in every aspect of what makes an entertaining and outstanding film, one of the best ways, is "Carlito's Way."

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Realistic, Gritty Crime Tale
In one of his best performances ever, Al Pacino is the engine that keeps "Carlito's Way" moving from beginning to end. Recently-released from prison, Carlos Brigante (played marvelously by Pacino) is a former Puerto Rican drug lord who ruled New York City's drug world during the 1960's and 1970's. Assisted by his lawyer (Sean Penn) Pacino is determined to stay out of the trade that landed him in prison in the first place. However, as usual trouble always lurks in every corner.

Deciding to buy and operate a Latin nightclub from an owner who is seriously in debt (played by the famous Argentine comedian Jorge Porcel, who had a cult following throughout Latin America due to his sexually-charged comedy skit show "A La Cama Con Porcel; he is know as the Latin-version of "Benny Hill"). Yet as old faces reemerge onto the scene, newer faces have also started to take a foothold in Brigante's former empire, especially Benny Blanco (played by the ever-wonderful John Leguizamo).

Directed by Brian de Palma ("Carrie"), this is one of the most realistic, and historic accurate pictures of life in New York City's urban jungle during the late 1970's/early 1980's. Penelope Ann Miller ("Adventures in Babysitting" is great as Brigante's love interest, and Luis Guzman always is a scene-stealer playing Pacino's right-hand man.

The DVD version contains production notes, cast biographies, and the original theatrical trailer and the sound and picture quality are excellent. Pacino (a Bronx native) masters a perfect Puerto Rican accent in the same way he mastered his Cuban-emigre accent in "Scarface". "Carlito's Way" is guaranteed to keep you entertained due to thrilling performances by the entire cast, amazing cinematography, great directing, and most importantly, incredible realism. Destined to become a modern urban classic.

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What is so Wonderful about this movie?
This is not that great of a movie. I dont know why people are making such a big deal out of this movie. I saw it, I tryed to understand it, I just thought it wasnt one of Pacino's best....sorry