Carlito's Way

"Carlito's Way" follows the story of Carlito Brigante, a legendary Puerto Rican drug lord from Harlem, who is released from prison after serving only five years of a thirty-year sentence thanks to a legal technicality exploited by his corrupt, cocaine-addicted lawyer, Dave Kleinfeld. Upon his release, Carlito is determined to go straight, save enough money to retire to the Caribbean, and rekindle his relationship with his former love, Gail. He takes over a nightclub, intending to stay clean and accumulate the $75,000 he needs for his escape to paradise.

Despite his best intentions, Carlito finds that his past is not so easily shed. His reputation and old connections constantly pull him back toward the criminal underworld he is desperate to leave behind. His loyalty to his increasingly erratic and self-destructive lawyer, Kleinfeld, and his adherence to a personal code of honor drag him into dangerous situations. Encounters with a new generation of ruthless gangsters, like the ambitious Benny "Benny Blanco" from the Bronx, further complicate his efforts to remain on the straight and narrow. The streets, it seems, are always watching, and the promise of a peaceful future remains just out of reach.

At its core, "Carlito's Way" is a fatalistic tragedy about the impossibility of escaping one's past and the destructive nature of a misguided code of honor in a world devoid of it. The film posits that once a person is defined by a certain life, especially a criminal one, the path to redemption is fraught with insurmountable obstacles. Carlito's journey is a testament to the idea that external forces—old loyalties, the expectations of others, and the magnetic pull of a former life—can overpower an individual's genuine desire for change. Director Brian De Palma explores the profound and melancholic theme that striving for a dream can be a race against a bullet you can't outrun, where the very principles that define you, such as loyalty, become the instruments of your downfall. The film serves as a poignant commentary on the human condition, suggesting that destiny is often a self-fulfilling prophecy shaped by the world's perception of who you are, rather than who you aspire to be.

While the film is largely interpreted as a straightforward tragedy about the inability to escape one's past, some alternative readings offer different nuances. One interpretation views Carlito not merely as a victim of fate, but as an active participant in his own downfall. His decisions—to accompany his cousin on a drug deal, to get involved with Kleinfeld's escape plan, and most crucially, to let Benny Blanco live—are seen as choices born of his own ingrained nature and ego, not just external pressures. From this perspective, his tragedy is less about the world not letting him go and more about him being unable to let go of the man he used to be.

Another reading, leaning into De Palma's characteristic themes, suggests a homoerotic subtext in the relationship between Carlito and Kleinfeld. Critics have noted that Carlito's most intimate and binding relationship in the film is with his lawyer, stating lines like, "If you was a broad I'd marry you." In this light, his relationship with Gail is seen as more of an idealized, almost illusory, concept of a straight life, while his loyalty and ultimate downfall are inextricably linked to the intense, complex, and ultimately destructive bond with Kleinfeld.

Released in 1993, "Carlito's Way" initially received a lukewarm reception from critics and audiences, with many feeling it was director Brian De Palma and star Al Pacino retreading the familiar ground of their previous hit, "Scarface". However, in the years since its release, the film's reputation has grown immensely, and it is now widely regarded as a cult classic and one of the finest crime dramas of the 1990s. Critics like Roger Ebert championed the film, praising it as one of De Palma's best works, highlighting its masterful suspense sequences and virtuoso performances, particularly by Sean Penn, who earned a Golden Globe nomination.

The film's influence can be seen in its more contemplative and tragic take on the gangster genre, which contrasts with the glorification of the criminal lifestyle often seen in other films. It presents its protagonist as a self-aware, remorseful figure seeking redemption, a departure that has been praised for its depth and humanity. The film's aesthetic, particularly its stylish depiction of 1970s New York and its intricate, suspenseful set-pieces like the Grand Central shootout, have been lauded as masterful examples of De Palma's cinematic prowess, recalling the work of Alfred Hitchcock and influencing countless subsequent thrillers. "Carlito's Way" has secured its place in pop culture as a more melancholic and soulful gangster epic, valued for its powerful performances, emotional core, and tragic exploration of fate and redemption.

Upon its initial release, audience reception for "Carlito's Way" was somewhat divided, and its box office performance was modest. Many viewers and critics initially dismissed it as a lesser version of "Scarface," feeling it was too familiar territory for De Palma and Pacino. However, over time, the perception has shifted dramatically, and the film has cultivated a strong cult following. Audiences now frequently praise Al Pacino's performance as one of his most nuanced and sympathetic, a departure from the more bombastic gangster roles he is known for. Sean Penn's transformative and scenery-chewing role as Dave Kleinfeld is almost universally acclaimed as a highlight of the film. The film's suspenseful action sequences, particularly the pool hall shootout and the climactic chase through Grand Central Station, are often cited as masterclasses in tension. While some viewers still find the pacing slow in parts or the romance angle underdeveloped, the consensus among its admirers is that "Carlito's Way" is an underrated masterpiece, appreciated for its tragic depth, stylish direction, and emotional weight.