ADHD-DVD, Episode #39: Carlito’s Way

This week the dream don't come no closer by itself, as A DePalmber to ReMalmber continues with a movie that is in some ways a spiritual sequel to Scarface, and is in other ways laying out the formula for tension in the Mission: Impossible series that the director will kick off with his next project. It's 1993's Carlito's Way, directed by Brian DePalma, written by David Koepp, and starring Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Luis Guzman, Ingrid Rogers, James Rebhorn, Viggo Mortensen and John Ortiz. It's a movie with a far more personal core than DePalma and Pacino's previous collaboration, and packs an absolute doozy of a final act. And while Pacino is good in the lead, the movie is fully swallowed up from under him by a career-best Sean Penn, giving frankly one of the best performances this copywriter has ever seen. Plus we debut a brand new segment called Did Hayley Hate It? and J-Mo's got a theatrical field report on Dream Scenario.

Other works discussed in this episode include the broader works of Brian DePalma, including The Untouchables, Phantom of the Paradise, Blow Out, Snake Eyes, The Black Dahlia and his assorted music videos, in addition to Burning, Love Has Won: The Cult of Mother God, Independence Day, Romeo + Juliet, Lord of the Rings, and Dark Side of the Ring.

If you'd like to watch the movie prior to our discussion, Carlito's Way is available for streaming in Canada on Amazon Prime at the time of publication.

We'll be back next week to wrap up our limited DePalma series with a rare mid-month canon entry, as 1996's Mission: Impossible is our December nominee to enter the pod pantheon. That film can be found on Paramount+. We'll see you at the movies!