Its carlitos way or the highway (Carlito's Way (DVD))

Member Name: utero

Product:	Carlito's Way (DVD)
Date:	04/05/01 (123 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great film, great acting, great directing

Disadvantages: little extras, not 16x9

I first saw Carlitos Way on tv a couple of years ago and normally with most movies on tv that go on past midnight you'll find me asleep at the end. This is one movie that had me awake from beginning to end.

Al Pacino plays Carlito an ex-druglord who is freed from jail on a technicality with the help of his trusted attorney (Sean Penn). On release he vows to go straight and needs $75, 000 to buy into a car rental place in paradise far way from the criminal world he knows. He takes a job managing a glitzy nightclub and gets closer to his dream everyday. The problem is that he can't escape his criminal past which dogs him at every turn with old and new guys on the block looking to bring him into things he wants no part of. He also tracks down his former girlfriend (Penelope Ann Miller)and
finds love again, he promises to take her away from the city and live a good life on the straight an narrow.

The film is directed by Brian De Palma who worked with Pacino on Scarface. In many ways Carlito is the man Scarface could have been if he went straight. All the themes of crime, drugs and violence are here. The acting is excellent with Pacino as always electrifying. Penn dons a wig and plays the dug addled attorney perfectly. The suporting cast are also solid with many recognisable faces. I personally think this is one of De Palma's best films. Although many critics didn't praise the film on release I think many people are now seeing this as a great film. Certainly there are many memorable scenes like when Pacino watches Miller undress through a locked door. The climatic chase through the train station is also an excellent example of direction, camerawork and editing. It's tense and exciting and actually had a big influence on my chosen career profession.

This dvd is a bit disappointing to a fan of the film. It is in widescreen but is not anamorphic. Also the transfer isn't the best out there. As a result it looks a bit gl
oomy when you enlarge the picture on your widescreen tv.

Soundwise there is a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that is generally solid. There isn't much surround use except in the music and action scenes. But it does the job as it's a mainly dialougue based film.

Extras wise all we get is some dated cast and crew biographies. Some brief production notes and the trailer. I wouldn't have minded so much is the film was in anamorphic widescreen.

This is obviously a film that Universal didn't consider a big enough title to give a decent treatment to. I can see the reasons but a bit of effort picture wise would have gone a long way. I still love the film and if you can pick it up for a good price on dvd like I did then it's definately worth it.

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