What It's About:

When Puerto Rican gangster Carlito Brigante (Pacino) is released early from a long prison sentence thanks to the efforts of his cocaine-snorting lawyer, Dave Kleinfeld (Sean Penn), he decides to turn over a new leaf. But Brigante's old enemies and street associates, like Pachanga (Luis Guzman), aren't keen on letting Carlito live a peaceable, law-abiding life. Also, Carlito's indebtedness to the sleazy Kleinfeld may cost him dearly.

Why I Love It:

Set in the swinging disco era, De Palma's moody, absorbing study of an ex-con trying to stay on the straight and narrow offers just the right mix of noirish urban atmosphere and cathartic mob drama. Perfecting yet another Hispanic accent, Pacino is excellent as the brooding former hood who takes a job managing a club, hoping eventually to settle in the Caribbean with his stripper girlfriend, Gail (Miller). Instead, he's suckered into abetting Kleinfeld in an ill-advised hit job. Great support from Penn in an unusual turn, and comedian John Leguizamo as a flashy, menacing thug on the rise, add to the film's high-caliber impact. So, why not do it "Carlito's Way"?