Set in the wild 1980s of Miami, an era defined by nightclubs and the influx of cocaine onto America's shored, Carlito's Way let's us in on the adventure of Charlie 'Carlito' Brigante and his lawyer friend David Kleinfeld, played by Al Pacino and Sean Penn respectively.
The film begins with Charlie's release from court, due to the opposition case failing due to dodgy evidence. Though he tries to leave his past behind him and escape the shackles of his criminal legacy, he soon finds himself in trouble once again. In order for him to 'be even' with Dave, he agrees to help him with an ill-fated boat rescue which soon ends in disaster. In order to vanish his problems, Charlie must find a way of escaping his demons without meeting his maker.
Sean Penn is wonderfully relaxed as Dave, and Pacino excels as Charlie, a man who knows what he needs to do to escape his troubled past, but also realises the limitations of any life he chooses. Penelope Ann Miller features as Charlie's girlfriend Gail, the woman who fell through his fingers once he fell in with the law, only to re-embrace as the two dream of a future together far away from Miami's golden shores.
The film is intriguing and entertaining from start to finish, an unusual and welcome quality of any piece of cinema. The vibrant score helps keep the film running along at a leisurely pace, whilst also perfectly complementing the magical interior scenes within the nightclub (which later inspired the Malibu club of Vice City fame). With a chase sequence which will have hearts racing, and a breathtaking finale, this is a film which never tries too hard but excels at simply being very fun to watch.
9/10
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