CARLITO’S WAY
US, 1993, 144 minutes, Colour.
Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, James Rebhorn, Luis Guzman, John Leguizamo, Viggo Mortensen, John Ortiz.
Directed by Brian De Palma.
Back to New York’s mean streets and memoir-novels from Judge Edwin Torres, author of Q and A.
Familiar material: gangsters, clubs, drugs, violence, but quite well done.
However, performances are better than the film overall. Al Pacino is at his best, a complex portrayal of the street-smart crook. A great surprise is the performance by Sean Penn, almost unrecognisable with curly hair and steely glasses as a greedy, ambitious lawyer who overreaches himself.
Director Brian de Palma has shown himself expert in gangster films with The Untouchables and Scarface, also with Pacino. For those who enjoy the gangster genre and solid performances.
1. A gangster film? The tradition of the gangster films? American in New York style?
2. The work of the director, his thrillers, his work with Al Pacino, Scarface?
3. The 90s perspective on the 1970s, and this gangster period in New York, the various racial factions? Drug dealers? Murders and violence?
4. The title, the focus on Carlito, Al Pacino’s presence and style, the opening with his dying, his voice-over, being carried along the subway station, his point of view, the sign of Paradise and the escape? The film in flashbacks? The ending, Carlito and his authenticity, his code? And seeing Gail dancing?
5. The court case, his speech, rambling, praising his lawyer, the reaction of the judge, the desperation of the District Attorney and his use of tapes, their not being admissible? His later use of tapes for getting Carlito’s help? Praise Dave, getting out after five years, going to the bar, a new life, reform? Sharing leadership in the bar?
6. His ethos, not ratting out others? His friend from the past, company – and later his being complicit in Carlito’s death? Meeting the young man, helping him, going to the centre, the murder of the young man, the shootout and Carlito’s escape?
7. The visit to the former gangster, his role, now in a wheelchair?
8. In the bar, the encounter with Benny, his friends, seem to respect Carlito? The variety of factions, racial, Carlito as from Puerto Rico, the Hispanics, the Italians? The drug dealing, the past?
9. Sean Penn as Dave, his origins and becoming a lawyer, the comment on his being Jewish, practising law, his getting criminals out of jail, his work for Carlito? His hold over him, Carlito being grateful? His turning to crime, the ownership of the bar, the visit to the dealer in prison, embezzling his money, the threats, his fear on the bridge? The plan, using Carlito, engineering the escape, boat, the captain, killing the escapee, the young man on the boat? Telling the truth to Carlito? In the office, his being stabbed, to hospital and surviving? The district attorney and the attempted turn Carlito, listening to Dave’s betrayal on the tapes? Carlito at the hospital, talking to Dave, the gun, removing the bullets? The vengeful son disguised as a policeman and killing Dave?
10. Carlito and Gail, meeting one another, memories of the past, talking, regrets? Carlito’s change? Gail and her dancing, her hopes, auditions? The relationship, her fears, becoming pregnant, accompanying Carlito to the DA, the plan from Miami, Carlito’s friend accompanying her to Grand Central Station, the impact of his death?
11. Carlito his plan, to go to Miami, with the money, go to the West Indies? Going to the bar, getting the money, the Italians present, his escape, their chasing, the subway, the train carriages, Carlito’s shrewdness, avoiding the pursuers, on the escalator and the shootouts?
12. Meeting Gail, Benny confronting him, his friend from the past, his being shot? His final words, his being true to himself? Gail dancing in the paradise sign?
13. The film considered as underrated and more successful than first thought?
