How does Carlito's Way rank among the classic mafia movies?

[wilky61]

I've never seen it, but the only dude I know who also collects Blu-Rays was raving about this movie to me earlier. He said it was one of De Palma's best and shows Pacino/Penn at their primes? How do you think it compares to the usual canon of mafia films such as Goodfellas, Casino, Scarface, Untouchables, Donnie Brasco, Departed, etc.? Truly an underrated classic?

I'm skeptical to blind-buy the new BR because I'm not terribly fond of any of these movies, really... not enough to own any of these on BR at least...

EDIT: Goodfellas is the only one that really stands out of the pack for me. I didn't like the stories or the questionable sense of realism in a lot of these movies (e.g., Untouchables).

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I've never seen it, but the only dude I know who also collects Blu-Rays was raving about this movie to me earlier. He said it was one of De Palma's best and shows Pacino/Penn at their primes? How do you think it compares to the usual canon of mafia films such as Goodfellas, Casino, Scarface, Untouchables, Donnie Brasco, Departed, etc.? Truly an underrated classic?

I'm skeptical to blind-buy the new BR because I'm not terribly fond of any of these movies, really... not enough to own any of these on BR at least...

Here is my order of all the films u mentioned:

1. Goodfellas
2. Carlito's Way
3. Scarface
4. Casino
5. The Departed
6. Untouchables

Havnt seen Donnie Brasco but Carlito's Way is a fantastic film and u should easily blind buy it if u like gangster/organized crime films! Got Em!!

[MDJ]

this is my top 3 movies of all time

1. Goodfellas
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Carlito's Way

maybe i'm biased, it's been one of my favorite movies since i saw it in theaters in 1993 but i effin love it.

[koontz1973]

For me Carlito's Way is one of the few films of this type that I can see, but if you are not a fan of the genre, rent it first or just borrow it from your friend. That's what friends are for.

[J. J. Hunsecker]

I recommend it, but then again the Gangster Film is one of my favorite genres. I wouldn't rank Carlito's Way as high as Goodfellas or The Godfather, but it's still high up on my list. I would say it is an underrated classic. Donnie Brasco is another good one, too.

[wilky61]

Originally Posted by J. J. Hunsecker

I recommend it, but then again the Gangster Film is one of my favorite genres. I wouldn't rank Carlito's Way as high as Goodfellas or The Godfather, but it's still high up on my list. I would say it is an underrated classic. Donnie Brasco is another good one, too.

I haven't seen it in awhile, but Donnie Brasco left me thinking "Aw man, not another movie where the cop's/gangster's married to his job instead of his family." IMO, too many gangster movies revolve around this theme (e.g., Heat also) and the genre seems bloated...

[kelvin555]

Donnie Brasco and Carlito's Way are very good movies and I highly recommend both. I personally like Carlito's Way a little better though, but if you like gangster or pacino films then you should defaintly buy it.

[SonOfArathorn]

Carlito's Way was IMO one of the worst gangster films of the last 30 years. Pacion was a little TOO Pacino in it, Sean Penn was the best thing about it and his makeup is super bad and phony looking.
It was like DePalma just wanted to cash in on the success of Scarface by pairing with Pacino again, a movie that should never have been made IMO. Viggo Mortensen does have a very small cameo though, a small victory.

[Weirded Wonder]

Originally Posted by SonOfArathorn

Carlito's Way was IMO one of the worst gangster films of the last 30 years. Pacion was a little TOO Pacino in it, Sean Penn was the best thing about it and his makeup is super bad and phony looking.
It was like DePalma just wanted to cash in on the success of Scarface by pairing with Pacino again, a movie that should never have been made IMO. Viggo Mortensen does have a very small cameo though, a small victory.

I wouldn't say the worst, but I've never really enjoyed the film as much as other gangster pictures. Winner here, New Jack City.

[Alpha Sixx]

Originally Posted by SonOfArathorn

Carlito's Way was IMO one of the worst gangster films of the last 30 years. Pacion was a little TOO Pacino in it, Sean Penn was the best thing about it and his makeup is super bad and phony looking.
It was like DePalma just wanted to cash in on the success of Scarface by pairing with Pacino again, a movie that should never have been made IMO. Viggo Mortensen does have a very small cameo though, a small victory.

No I think the worst gangster flick was Carlitos way rise to power. The lame ass prequel to Carlitos way.
My pick of best gangster movies would be. 1.The Godfather 1 and 2 2.Good Fellas 3.Casino 4.American Me 5. Carlitos Way

[Arkitect76]

The Godfather Trilogy
Scarface
Goodfellas
Donnie Brasco
Carlitos Way

My best of 5

[jhiggy23]

1) Godfather 1
2) Godfather 2
3) Donnie Brasco
4) Goodfellas (this and Brasco interchange often, but I think Brasco is a bit better)




MAJOR DROP (not in order now)

Scarface (not a very good film)
Carlito's Way (decent but not great)
Godfather 3 (embarasses its predecessors)
The Departed (good but not great--very overrated)

[Monolithium]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

Scarface (not a very good film)

I thought I was the only one who felt this way.

As for the OP, Carlito's Way is good. But I wouldn't stack it next to Goodfellas, Casino or The Godfather I and II.

[S.Franco]

i love Carlito's way and the 2nd was good too true doesn't come close to the original but what prequels have done good way after the original has been released? i think this is a great movie didn't really care for the godfather III y was it even made lol thats why they only re released the other 2 individually to get away from that horrible 3rd on lol but really i would recommend this as a blind buy you wont be disappointed.

[wilky61]

Decided to pick up the original release of Goodfellas for $11, and I'll look to rent this one.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by beardmoen

I wouldn't say the worst, but I've never really enjoyed the film as much as other gangster pictures. Winner here, New Jack City.:rock:

"Cancel that bietch I'll buy anotha one" "sit your 5 dollar arse down before I make change" Classic! Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Alpha Sixx

No I think the worst gangster flick was Carlitos way rise to power. The lame ass prequel to Carlitos way.
My pick of best gangster movies would be. 1.The Godfather 1 and 2 2.Good Fellas 3.Casino 4.American Me 5. Carlitos Way

I actually liked the prequel especially being that it was a str8 to dvd release it wasnt that bad. Of course it wasnt nowhere near as good as the original but I found it enjoyable. Got Em!!

[J. J. Hunsecker]

Originally Posted by wilky61

I haven't seen it in awhile, but Donnie Brasco left me thinking "Aw man, not another movie where the cop's/gangster's married to his job instead of his family." IMO, too many gangster movies revolve around this theme (e.g., Heat also) and the genre seems bloated...

The scenes with Brasco's wife and family are definitely the weakest scenes in the movie, but in my opinion it doesn't harm the film, since the scenes with the gangsters are so interesting and compelling.

Most gangster films don't revolve around the theme you mentioned, when considering the genre as a whole. (That theme mostly shows up in dramas about cops.) Most have to do with the criminal who rises from rags to riches and then falls back to rags again (or, more likely, dies). Usually they pay at the end of the movie for the Faustian deal they made. Think of all those movies from Warner Bros. from the 30s, for example, or the Film Noir films of the 40s and 50s. Even Goodfellas follows that trajectory. The Godfather is an exception, but that's because it's more operatic and Shakespearean in many ways, like those plays about Kings and Queens who commit murder in order to hold on to their power.

[jhiggy23]

Originally Posted by Johnothan Pedak

I thought I was the only one who felt this way.

As for the OP, Carlito's Way is good. But I wouldn't stack it next to Goodfellas, Casino or The Godfather I and II.

I think a lot of people on this site feel that way about Scarface, since most of us are movie addicts and know when a film is overrated.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by jhiggy23

1) Godfather 1
2) Godfather 2
3) Casino
4) Donnie Brasco
5) Goodfellas (this and Brasco interchange often, but I think Brasco is a bit better)




MAJOR DROP (not in order now)

Scarface (not a very good film)
Carlito's Way (decent but not great)
Godfather 3 (embarasses its predecessors)
The Departed (good but not great--very overrated)

agree 100% on your order, just inserted Casino at #3 above.

[surfdude12]

Originally Posted by J. J. Hunsecker

The scenes with Brasco's wife and family are definitely the weakest scenes in the movie, but in my opinion it doesn't harm the film, since the scenes with the gangsters are so interesting and compelling.
.

I'd have to disagree. The family was the barometer by which we could see Joe's evolution from cop to mobster. Without them, he'd be out in a measureless void.