He's got a good future if he can live past next week.
Free after years in prison, Carlito Brigante intends to give up his criminal ways, but it's not long before the ex-con is sucked back into the New York City underworld.
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Character
Grave, bleak and earnest.
- gravecomic
- warmbleak
- earnestironic
- cooloverwhelming
- rawmeticulous
Who loves it, who doesn't
42 profiled raters. Loved most by The Provocateurs; disliked most by The Prestige Hunters.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is Carlito's Way better than Scarface?”
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“Is Al Pacino the best thing in Carlito's Way?”
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“Is the book better?”
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Ask the title
A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- nggron TMDB · Aug 20265/10
This movie feels off most of the time. The story is fine on paper, but almost all scenes lack soul. You see what is happening and it turns you off on a subconscious level. You know what they are trying to do, you have seen these kind of scenes, but they just don't work here. Its like an uncanny valley. Its the gangster movie your mom says you have at home, when you're trying to get her to buy you The Godfather, Donnie Brasco or Scarface. The start is already weird. We see the protagonist being shot and lying on a train platform dying . Sad strings play maudlinly, people rush to help, but you don't care. The movie hasn't even gone a minute. You don't know the characters, you just recognize Al Pacino. The dramatic intent fizzles out in 10 s, you are already bored and asking yourself why the director (or writer) does not know the first thing about writing. We need to know and care for the character to feel empathy for him, but we don't. Then there is a slow rotating camera for a minute or two. The director probably thought he was really clever - but he is not. Its just form over function. Just because you can, you shouldn't. I don't think even in 1993 anyone was impressed with this. A
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Aug 20267/10
Talk about swimming through treacle? "Carlito" (Al Pacino) has a pretty murky past when he is released from jail after five years (of thirty - on a technicality), but now free he is determined to hook up with his gal "Gail" (Penelope Ann Miller) and steer clear of the riff-raff he'd hitherto associated with. Easier said than done, though, when he almost immediately gets caught up in a gun fight with some drug pedlars and then embroiled in the complicated activities of his lawyer (Sean Penn) whose connections with the underworld are no less established than those of "Carlito" himself. What chance he can achieve his dream? On that front there is little by way of guesswork required - not least because we start where we finish, but unlike with so many films from this genre there is something more celebral about the characterisation of "Carlito". No, he's not a decent nor upstanding pillar of any community - even a criminal one, but he is a man of principle who is prepared to fight for what and who he wants. That puts him at odds with erstwhile allies whilst also exposing him to the machinations of a district attorney (James Rebhorn) who will happily use him regardless of the risk to hi
Read the whole review on TMDB
Cast
- Al PacinoCarlito Brigante
- Sean PennDavid Kleinfeld
- Penelope Ann MillerGail
- John LeguizamoBenny Blanco
- Ingrid RogersSteffie
- Luis GuzmánPachanga
- James RebhornNorwalk
- Joseph SiravoVincent Taglialucci
- Viggo MortensenLalin
- Richard ForonjyPete Amadesso
Crew
- Brian De PalmaDirector
- David KoeppScreenplay
- Edwin TorresNovel
- Stephen H. BurumDirector of Photography
- Patrick DoyleOriginal Music Composer
- Kristina BodenEditor
- Bill PankowEditor
- Martin BregmanProducer
- Judith StevensProducer
- Michael BregmanProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Force of Evil 195082% alikeBoth grave.
Woman of the Hour 202482% alikeBoth grave.
Thief 198179% alikeBoth grave.
A Woman's Face 194178% alikeBoth grave.
Nightmare Alley 194778% alikeBoth grave.
Ramrod 194777% alikeBoth grave.
Da 5 Bloods 202077% alikeBoth grave.
Gate of Flesh 196477% alikeBoth grave.
Over the Alps 202081% alikeGame · Both grave.
BLUE EYE SAMURAI 202380% alikeTelevision · Both grave.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
