FILM REVIEW
10 years after working together on the crime classic Scarface (1983), Brian DePalma and Al Pacino reunited for another crime film/character study called Carlito’s Way (1993). Where Scarface ended, Carlito’s Way begins. The main difference between the characters of Tony Montana and Carlito Brigante is the attitude the characters have towards their lives. Tony Montana wanted the world and he wanted it fast. Well, he got it and his massive ego, greed and addictions killed him. Carlito Brigante has been to the top and he’s been to the bottom, now all he wants to do is live a quiet life and get away from all the things that influenced him to travel him down the wrong paths.
We join Carlito after a five year stint in jail. His lawyer David Kleinfeld (Sean Penn) is his savior. Carlito rants and raves in the court room to the judge about how he plans on leading a new life in a different location. After leaving the courthouse, Carlito is truly overjoyed and looking forward to becoming a new and improved man who is FREE AT LAST! He and Dave go out on the town to celebrate and Carlito tells Dave how much he owes him for saving his life. Then he explains to Dave what he plans on doing for the future. He wants to rent cars in the Carribean. Dave laughs at this dream because he only sees Carlito as a lifetime criminal who won’t change his ways, but Carlito is sincere. He knows he has to get out of the life that keeps bringing him back down.
Carlito goes back to his barrio in Spanish Harlem for one last time to see his old friends and family. This is where he grew up and it’s where his criminal roots are as well. We meet Pachanga (Luis Guzman) one of Carlito’s friends and he then goes to see an old partner in the drug business Rolondo Rimas (Trivia: Al Israel is the same actor who played the Colombian drug dealer Pacino kills at the hotel in Scarface). Rolondo praises Carlito for not giving up his name to the police to save himself. Carlito tells Rolondo that he doesn’t want anything from him, he just wants to stay clean. Rolondo is as skeptical as everyone else is. This is something new for a gangster to admit. He wants to stay straight and live a normal life.
Carlito’s young cousin Guajiro (John Ortiz) picks him up and as they are driving through the streets, he tells Carlito hes now working for Pablo Cabrales, a new drug dealer on the scene. He has $35,000 to drop off to a connection and he wants Carlito to go along with him. We can see Carlito is disappointed that his cousin is into the criminal life, but he agrees to go with him as backup. Nothing bad can happen right? When Carlito and Guajiro get to the destination, we see it’s a bar hidden behind a barber shop. The man Guajiro is meeting is introduced to Carlito and he says he’s heard about his reputation from the past. Then he tells Carlito that he and Guajiro have to do some business. Carlito immediately gets a bad vibe and we feel it too. His criminal senses inform him something is amiss. The ominous feeling turns out to be right on the dirty money and leads to one of the film’s most violent sequences. This is the first step Carlito takes back into his old lifestyle where it’s kill or be killed.
Carlito decides to go into the club business to make the quick $75,000 he needs to retire for good, so he goes to see Sasso (Jorge Porcel), an old acquaintance he knows needs the help with the Club El Paraiso (translated means ‘Paradise’ in Spanish). Carlito convinces Sasso that he’s going to advance him some money so his gambling debts are settled. An up and coming young figure on the drug dealing scene is Benny Blanco from the Bronx (John Leguizamo), a small time thug who idolizes Carlito because of his legendary drug business past. Benny tells Carlito that Sasso owes him money, so he shouldn’t be charged at the club, but Carlito makes it clear, its his club now, so everybody pays, including Benny. Benny tells him no problem and tries to show he’s something special but he is really just a two bit punk and Carlito isn’t impressed by him at all. We see that Benny is in effect, a young version of Carlito i.e. a brash, egotistical loudmouth, but Carlito denies that Benny is anything like he used to be.
As the film progresses Carlito is haunted by the sins of his youth. In every character Carlito knows, theres some hidden agenda or danger, like Lalin (Viggo Mortensen) another one of Carlito’s old friends who tries to set him up by wearing a hidden wire to save himself from a 30 year jail term. The only pure thing Carlito has left is his lost love Gail (Penelope Ann Miller). Carlito reunites with Gail after several years and she’s surprised to see him. Things are rocky between them, but Carlito tries to be honest about what he wants and she can see he’s trying to change his ways.
Carlito also has to deal with Dave Kleinfeld’s problems because Dave has become a big hotshot lawyer/wannabe gangster since the old days. It seems that Dave has been mixed up with a lot of bad elements like feared mobster Vinnie Taglialucci (Joseph Siravo) who he represents. At a meeting at the Rikers Island Prison Barge, we find out that Dave has been accused of stealing a million dollars from Vinnie and is now on his hit list IF he doesn’t agree to help break him out of jail by picking him up on his yacht while he waits at a buoy in the bay. Dave is scared shitless by this threat, and the only person he trusts to help him to pull the job is, of course, Carlito. Carlito agrees to help him because he cares about Dave and feels he owes him. Little does he know Dave is truly corrupted and can’t really be helped at this point. By going along with Dave he will only further put himself in harms way. Carlito continues to tell himself over and over “he’s not the guy he used to be”, but his old bad habits are hard to break. Sean Penn in particular gives a brilliant performance as Kleinfeld. For his role he donned a curly wig and glasses making him look nerdy but also clownish. It really added a nice weaselly aspect to the character.
Carlito’s Way features so many memorable sequences and specific shots that inform the characters and give the film an exhilarating dynamic from start to finish. The way Brian DePalma constructs the movements of the characters and the elaborate set pieces is a real lesson in great film direction from a master. He doesn’t merely record his scenes and actors with the camera, he uses it as a brush and the big silver screen is his canvas. Brian DePalma always tries to breathe new life into the art form with each film and it’s exciting to witness. Carlito’s Way is a brilliantly directed and acted film with great disco era music and beautiful cinematography. The breathtaking chase at the climax of the film will surely have viewers sitting on the edge of their seats.
NOTE: Since I don’t own a 4K UHD player at this time, I could only review the new BluRay version. The 4K Disc has the same extras.
BLU RAY REVIEW
Special Features and Technical Specs:
- High Definition Blu-ray (1080p) presentation: The new high-def image looks amazing. The stunning cinematography and period setting of 1970s NewYork is so essential to the experience and it really shines in this format.
- Original stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio
- Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
- Brand new audio commentary by Matt Zoller Seitz: An insightful and entertaining commentary track by Mr. Zoller Seitz who takes us through the film scene by scene. I really enjoyed hearing his thoughts on the film and learning he’s as big a fan of it as I am. We can both agree this is one of DePalma’s finest works.
- Brand new audio commentary by Dr Douglas Keesey: The author of Brian DePalma’s Split Screen: A Life In Film presents a scholarly examination of the film scene by scene.
- Carlito and the Judge: A brand new interview with Judge Edwin Torres, author of the novels Carlito’s Way and After Hours on which the screenplay for Carlito’s Way is based. Torres explains the origins of his character Carlito Brigante as well as his thoughts on his books being brought to the big screen.
- Cutting Carlito’s Way: The two editors of the film, Bill Pankow and Kristina Boden, discuss their process in detail and their working relationship with the director.
- De Palma’s Way, a brand new appreciation by film critic David Edelstein.
- All the Stitches in the World: The Locations of Carlito’s Way, a brand new look at the New York locations of Carlito’s Way and how they look today
- De Palma on Carlito’s Way: An archival interview with director Brian De Palma who discusses his thoughts on making the movie and his feelings about it today.
- The Making of Carlito’s Way: An archival documentary on the making of the film, produced for the original DVD release – Featuring interviews with Director Brian DePalma, Producer Martin Bregman, Screenwriter David Koepp, Author Edwin Torres, Editor Bill Pankow.
- Original promotional featurette – Theatrical teaser and trailer
- Image gallery
- Deleted Scenes
PLUS:
- Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Obviously Creative
- Double-sided fold-out poster featuring newly-commissioned artwork by Tom Ralston and Obviously Creative
- Seven double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproductions
- Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Barry Forshaw and original production notes
THE FINAL WORD: 30 years on, Carlito’s Way remains one of Brian DePalma’s finest films. His exquisite direction along with the gorgeous cinematography by Stephen H. Burum and truly brilliant acting from Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller and John Leguizamo is the epitome of great filmmaking. This latest high-definition edition from Arrow Video is a must own for fans of this 90s crime classic. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
