Okay I'm Reloaded!!!!

Before I get started on the movie, I must clear something up with my former hip-hop reviewing cohorts. If you care to remember the first four Jay-Z albums, there are several Pain In Da Azz intros, where he shouts “OKAY I’M RELOADED!!!” Many people do not know the origin of this line; so let me reveal the movie to you. Carlito’s Way.

This movie is relatively unknown, and is often overlooked by other gangster flicks such as Scarface and Goodfellas. To this day, I still don’t understand why Carlito’s Way is not more popular. First of all, it is directed by the genius behind Scarface, Brian DePalma. Second of all, the cast to this movie is outstanding. It stars the god of gangster movies Al Pacino and the constantly underrated Sean Penn. Another underrated star in this movie is Penelope Ann Miller who holds her own when pitted up against two of the finest actors out there.

Carlito’s Way centers on the life of former gangster Carlito Brigante (Pacino). Carlito is fresh out of jail after getting out of a 30-year sentence, thanks to the help of his neurotic lawyer David Kleinfeld (Penn). Carlito is a changed man after getting out as he swears to give up the gangster lifestyle and trying to get into legitimate business on a tropic island. He doesn’t want to go alone however, as he tries to rejuvenate his old relationship with his sweetheart Gail (Miller) He needs a little bit of money to get started so he takes co-ownership of a nightclub. Unfortunately the club attracts some gangsters that aren’t too happy that Carlito has gone soft. It doesn’t help that Kleinfeld is a raging cocaine addict and a dirty lawyer who is running into trouble with the mob. All of these conflicts draw Carlito back into the life of the streets, which few people survive.

To call the acting in this movie amazing is a dramatic understatement. Pacino delivers his usual explosive, dynamic performance playing the reformed gangster Carlito. He sports a Hispanic accent very similar to the one his Scarface. His character is kind of like a smarter version of Tony Montana. He is afraid of nothing, and he lives by the code of the streets, even if it means costing him his life. However he is a very caring person as well. He’s willing to do anything for his lover Gail and his friend Kleinfeld. His regrets for his past are very believable, as he constantly struggles to get out of the game, and tries to do the right thing. Add that to his heartfelt narrations (I kind of got teary eyed when he says “Sorry boys, but all the stitches in the world couldn’t sew me back together again”) and Carlito turns out to be the tragic hero.

As great as Pacino was, Sean Penn was out of this world. Penn, who is usually known for playing tough guy roles, takes the role of the wimpy lawyer Kleinfeld. He is shockingly thin, and balding as he plays the part of coke addict perfectly. At the beginning of the movie, one would think that Kleinfeld is one of the good guys, as he is Carlito’s best friend, but he pulls a gradual 180. He is tired of being pushed around by his mobster clients, and other gangsters at Carlito’s club. His downfall through the movie gets worse and worse until it gets to the point where he completely snaps.

The violence and language is not as severe in this movie, as we have seen in past gangster movies, but is still not appropriate for kids of any age. Carlito’s Way, is one of the greatest mobster flicks you will ever lay eyes on, and I recommend to everyone.