One of the biggest highlights of Carlito's Way stems from Pacino's performance. He plays Carlito in a such a believable manner that you really get the feeling he owned the character. From start to finish Pacino never misses a beat and he really helps craft a captivating anti-hero to root for. As you watch the film you'll want to see Carlito get out of every scrape and come to hope things don't end as the movie began. Joining his powerful performance is Sean Penn, who portrays Carlito's derailing attorney to the letter. They make a dynamic pair that is only complemented by the supporting cast which also includes Viggo Mortensen and Luis Guzman.
Carlito's Way is a film that truly never gets old. It's a riveting gangster flick with a gripping atmosphere and a powerful story. There's a futility to Carlito's "going straight" endeavor, but watching the character do whatever it takes to see his dream fulfilled is utterly captivating. Pacino fans absolutely must pick this film up if they don't already have it in their collection, and everyone else should consider it highly recommended.
Carlio's Way is presented on Blu-ray in full 1080p high definition and its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio. For a film that is 17 years old, I dare say that Carlito's Way really pushes the envelope of quality. The picture has been restored to present some glorious detail and from top to bottom this transfer truly stands out. The colors are vibrant, black levels are extraordinarily rich and feature deep shadows, and all around the picture is far more stable than what we've seen before. There may be a little grain and some speckle scattered throughout the image, but the majority of the film is razor sharp with stunning, clean detail. This presentation isn't flawless, but it's definitely the best the film has ever looked and stands out as a benchmark of quality.
Article comments