Al Pacino and Sean Penn are the only two names featured on the front cover (IN BIG LETTERS) of the VHS tape I own of this movie (Sad, I know…) and it’s for good reason – They ARE the movie.
They carry the movie both by what they do, how they do it, and most importantly (for Pacino’s Carlito Brigante) WHY they do it.
Pacino plays Carlito Brigante, sentenced to 30 years in prison but freed after serving only 5 due to blatant procedural errors made by the District Attorney. He has Dave Kleinfeld(Penn) to thank for this, and immediately professes his undying gratitude to anyone that will listen. The thing is…unlike most characters (people?) that make such promises and lavish such praise, he MEANS it. Every word. And therein lies the most interesting part of the story.
As the movie goes on, you can see the pivotal relationship (Kleinfeld and Brigante) slowly get more and more strained as Kleinfeld becomes more dependent on Brigante, asking for more and more…and Brigante, feeling he “owes” him, gives more and more. The other characters and incidents are interesting but basically sidetracks to the real story – Carlito’s trying to get “out”, and Kleinfeld trying just as hard to keep him “In”, to benefit himself.
Theme: Loyalty, rewarded. Treachery, punished. It’s fairly simple but it’s so well acted out that it overcomes the cliches that do occur in the movie, especially near the end. Liken the predictability to a really good CD that you listen to over and over again…you know what you’re going to hear (see), but you don’t mind, because it was SO good.
Lots of great lines/scenes here…some fairly boring ones, too. But definitely worth watching. I don’t care if it’s “derivative”…Led Zep was derivative. It’s also really good. Not GREAT (it ain’t Zoso) but really good.
The voice-overs are a bit irritating at times, but I suppose they’re necessary in certain instances. The ending, also, is a bit cliched and not nearly as exciting as it should be. But in general this is a well made, well acted, enjoyable and thought-provoking movie.
Inspirational Quote: “Yeah, I had a dream Charlie…but now I’m awake.”
Grade: B+
2012: Grade: A-
1/5/15: Penelope Ann Miller also deserves a mention for good acting, as does John Leguizamo (in a small but typically well-done part). And there’s noone that really stinks…even the most extra extra fits in believably. But yeah…flaws are still as noted above. Grade: A-