When you said that his biggest mistake was going back to his old neighborhood reminds me of something I read: You can't get better in the same environment that made you sick.
When my father graduated from Law School when I was 17. My grandfather said to me, "what's the difference between a prostitute and a lawyer? I said i didn't know. Gramps said, "when you die, a prostitute stops screwing you."
@@frankmfeb13this movie is the purest form of street culture you’ll ever see, this is a master piece ..Scarface was an exaggeration of drug life but this movie was pure..as the driven snow…
This movie reminds me of A Bittersweet Life, a korean mob movie about a high-ranking gangster who disobeys his boss’ orders for a calmer life with a girl he falls in love with.
The fat mob guy in the chase scene is my grandma's cousin, Edmund. He gets shot by Pacino while he is going down the escalator. Great movie also, nice review!
@Gary Louis he looks good. Lost some weight. He did a couple other films in 98 and 2000. I believe he owns a construction equipment company in North Jersey these days.
Here in Spain, the title of this film is "Atrapado por su pasado" which in English means trapped in his past. I think the title is very significant to explain the situation of Carlito. Great job and good video as always Mr. Franzese!
A correct translation would have been "La manera de Carlito", but translating it as "trapped by his past" is a very precise title, he had no way out of criminal life.
Best advise my dad ever gave me: "you might be the purist innocent dove but if you fly with the crows, you're going to get shot at." I do not know why I took this to heart but it significantly effected my life. Never hang out with losers.
The guy who plays Tony 'T' Taglialucci was and ex Gambino soldier before he found Religion and became an actor. I think that's why he portrayed the part so authentically.
My "Carlitos (Take-A) Way": "Don't be so hyper-focused on your goals in life that you overlook the WISDOM of a Gail, the LIABILITY of a Pachanga, or the THREAT of a Benny Blanco that exist right in front of you :0" Thanks for covering this movie Michael! One of my fav movies of all time!!!
@@jdoggs08753 thank you! Yeah man I relate in some areas to Carlitos storyline- growing up in an immigrant area, my childhood friends taught me "loyalty" or, the "way/code"-many of them ended up dead or in jail, and I had to make a choice at one point which direction I was going to go. Even now, decades later as a husband, father, and business owner...I have goals and ambitions but I feel my past is always on my heels and pitfalls forever in front of me. Just wasn't enough time...before they stretch me out in Fernandez funeral home on 109ths st. Lol
As a Puerto Rican I'm glad you have positive sights with us lol, growing up I've always had an Italian I'm my life as a work boss or my neighbor, and I love how the culture treats there own, always reminded me of my family
You know what brother? You are an awesome example of how a man can change his life! You are very pleasant, articulate man. Honestly, you must have been rare in the life in that you seem very relaxed, professional and kind. I like the fact that you are using your previous life to tell young people to go into the opposite direction. Keep up the great work and be well brother.
In my opinion one of the saddest death scenes in a mob movie! He’s so close to his goal , free with the love of his life... and boom brick wall stops him in his tracks ... ugh that hurts
@AdamPaul2222... Nah,they eventually would've had caught up to him later down the track in the Bahamas.... You think the mob would shrug their shoulders and say 'Oh well,he escaped the country,I guess that's that'.... Nope! He would've had to live off the grid and wait for the one by one to die of old age or a heart attack before the smoke would clear again.
@@apocalypsepow Honestly everyone was great in this movie, 100% believable. The last roughly 25 mins of the movie when Tony T's son and the mobsters are in the club is perfection to the end. The intensity was amazing and the accents, music, just incredible.
The guy in the white hat was Hector with the chainsaw in “Scarface “ and a brilliant performance by a hardly recognisable Viggo Mortensen in a wheelchair.
This movie was especially powerful for me because it reminded me of a lot of friends I had growing up who didn't make it. They made the same kind of mistakes as Carlito. I was also twenty at the time and struggling through menial jobs and barely graduated high school and didn't see college as a possibility. So I understood the temptation of crime. But the truth is easy money ain't so easy. I was very lucky I wised up when I did because I had some close calls with bad people and with the police. One of the people who straitened me out was an old black man I talked to at a party I went to with my mother. An elderly black man, the father of my mother's friend's boyfriend, overheard me talking with someone and when that person went back into the house he says to me, "Son, I can tell you are intelligent, but you've got a filthy mouth. If you keep talking like that you won't be successful." Just from that conversation I started being more conscious about the words I used. It was very hard. But I stopped cussing so much. I think that's the moment when things started to turn around. I went to junior college. Yeah, I went to junior college for ten years as I worked construction and retail, but it was a start. I went to a four year school then and studied history. I got into computers then. I did okay. But I look back and can see the close calls I had and how much of it was because I thought I had to be a tough guy or my friends did. I was so damned lucky.
@@KtotheG He is and even if he's just a supporting actor he's amazing. He was in some incredible movies, The Game, Mystic River, Dead man walking, casualties of war, Colors...too many to name.
LOVE this movie. Joe Cocker’s “you are so beautiful to me” is at the end credits and that was my wife and l’s song. I lost to cancer in September of 2020. She was 50. 😢
Hey Michael I am Puerto Rican and want to thank you for the kind words you said about the Puerto Rican people you had good experiences with. I also want to mention you are an inspiration to me and I'm proud of the way you turned things around for yourself. In this movie what I think was the best scene ever was the chase man those camera angles 💥
I'm nuyorican and al Pacino's performance was pretty good as a Puerto Rican. I wish he would've spoken more Spanish in it to make the character more authentic but a pretty good performance. John Leguizamo and Luis Guzman were on point.
Wait a minute. Over "Scarface?" I love "Carlito's Way." But Scarface was like the 80's answer to all the mob/gangster films before. All the Bogart, Cagney, E. Robinson, Paul Muni, etc.. Funny how they made Pacino in "Carlito" look different than "Tony Montana" with that beard.
@@FirstLast-yc9lq But Pacino is amazing. And to be honest, I kinda thought "Carlito" was Tony Montana if he'd got away and laid low for awhile. And I always wondered how this actor's actor was able to pull off so many aspects of gangster life through his career. And let's face it, Al Pacino made his career playing cops and criminals. Even "Scent of a Woman" he's a military guy with the spectre of violence always looming. So he makes a film called "City Hall," the writer of which was in a gang as late teenagers with Al Pacino. Makes a lot of sense, there's no way Stanislovsky by way of Lee Strasburg coulda fed him the gravitas needed to face down Sollazo as Michael Corleone in The Godfather without real world experience.
Michael, if I were to tell someone that some of the best lessons learned in life came from a former MOB boss, they'd think I was crazy. Thank you for uploading this. Your advice taken to heart.
I'm Puerto Rican and I love everything Italian. Most people don't know this, but there is a sizable percentage of Puerto Ricans that have Italian ancestry (not my case unfortunately). There was a great community of Corsican immigrants in the Island. I know Corsica belongs to France now, but it is ethnically Italian.
My thoughts exactly when I saw Carlito walk into the neighborhood. A lot of young kids today when you try to get them out of crime they will tell you that a real job doesn't pay enough or as much. They don't want to be an everyday Joe with a job and a family trying to pay bills.
I told someone that on RU-vid years ago. Someone had a problem with me that I said he was a real wise guy. The person said I didn’t know what I was talking about. I’m a liar. Apparently he must have done some research. Because he came back and corrected himself by responding back to my post on RU-vid. He admitted that he was wrong. But he did it in a way only an Italian can. I wasn’t mad. Because I knew I was right. I used to live in NYC. You would be surprised how many of these guy’s that they use in mob pictures are actual wise guy’s. His name is Frank Minucci. Tony T’s real name from the movie.
Fun Fact, Michael: IDK if you were aware of this, but both films "Q&A" and "Carlito's Way" were originally novels written by the same author, former NY State Supreme Court Judge, Edwin Torres. Outstanding review Sir, and thank you for sharing.
Michael, the line I got growing up was "If you hang out with the doers, you're gonna' get did". I always appreciated that advice. Applies to all kind of doers: liars, thieves, con men, and killers.
This movie was amazing. There is a scene where Sean Penn double crossed the Mob Boss and Carlito said “you just killed us”. And he had a line about having to go along for the ride no matter what. I felt that line. Like when I was younger. I’ve been along in the car, with “friends” filled with regret and wishing I could get out.
They need to make a movie on Micheal Franzese. A lone survivor of the Mob Life underworld...Mob Ties with no lies. He survived because of his street smart wits and a strong heart that pumps no fear.
Michael I’m half Italian, my grandfather was full Italian, born and raised in Harlem 1937 and passed away in 2017. I’ve heard so many of these mob stories from his mouth and I’m happy I found your channel. Makes me feel like I’m sitting in the kitchen with him again over spaghetti and meatballs.
@@delanodegenie6970 Both his parents are from Naples he was born in 1937. They came over on the boat through Ellis island. Think before you write something idiota.
What’s really cool is that the mob guy at the Prison is actually a former ex-mobster that also turned his life around by embracing god. His name is Frank Minucci. He wrote a book called “Brother Frank”. It would be totally awesome if you would review that book.
I'm from the UK and love listening to the stories from you! Much appreciation for what you do with the gang bangers to set them straight great guy thank you!!
10:23 these are the same types of "friends" that if you quit drinking or smoking they'll try and get you to do it again. Because they don't want to change, but they also dont want you doing better than they are
Every Puerto Rican I knew including myself had this movie and Scarface in their vhs collection when I was growing up. Al Pacino always gets a pass from me. He can play a Latino any day.
Lol. Ya both buggin🤣 Ill giv Pacino a pass cuz hes a Bronx kid, like myself. But mistaking him for a LATINO? Neeeeeeeeeeeeeveeeeeeeer!!!!! Tony Montanas accent has to be one of the worst latin accents in all of cinematic history. And Carlito Brigante didnt even have any latin accent (which is fine since he was raised in NYC)
@@elrubio687 Even as a kid I knew he wasn't Latino and I also knew his Cuban accent was over the top but Scarface wouldn't have been the same without him. It was the right performance at the right time and that's one of the reasons why that film became a cult classic. I love how he played Carlitos Brigante too. Nowadays it's different. Actors can't play different ethnicities or even handicap roles anymore.
I experienced some experience like Carlito when I was a teenager. I took to stealing at the age of fourteen . It lasted two years. It took me four years to make people forget my misdemeanor. Now I am a father to three kids and a teacher. I identify with the protagonist.
"Favor gonna kill you faster than a bullet." Great movie. Carlito's Way and Donnie Brasco are overshadowed by some of the other big name movies in the genre, but I really enjoy them both.
Carlito's Way is one of my favorite Al Pacino movies, he also did extremely well in the movie Heat with other stars such as Robert de Niro and Val kilmer
It's because of watching this flick..later in my life after being released from Arizona doc.. .for drugs.....i left ARIZONA..went to OKLAHOMA in a small town and meet a beautiful redhead who I've been married to for 29 years...yeah Michael.. This move made me think about THE BIG CHANGE....and I did it THANKS to GOD & this movie. Love your channel brotherman👍keep it going
Great film very long but epic, Sergio leone’s best film going away from his typical westerns. Still using the extremely close up shots that he is known for. The sound track really makes that film.
Your gonna FUCKIN' DIEE BIIGG TIIMEE! Fucking love it! Carlito is a amazing character. This is when I fell in love with al pacino. I thought he was spanish in reality. He had to be. You can't play carlito and NOT be spanish of some kind.
One of my favorite movies. Sean Penn is great in this movie, probably one of his best roles. Carlito is such a tragic character because all he wants to do is get his money and get out of town so he can go into a car rental business, and he just gets in deeper and deeper. Ironic that the movie Q&A was mentioned, since both the novels that the two movies were based on were written by the same author.
"No drugs, they never did convict me on no drugs!" Great flick but Mike please once upon a time in America sometime soon and make sure it ain't the chopped up, shortened, censored, bastardized one
My all time favorite movie, so relatable and so many great lines throughout the film as well as an excellent portrayal of the consequences of mistakes he made surrounding himself with snakes instead of making a clean break
I got out of the life 21 years ago right before I turned 30, after the tragic loss of my Bestfriend. I walked away, I changed my number, I moved to another state, and I never contacted anyone from that life ever again. It’s been 2 decades and it wasn’t easy. I spent many years becoming one way, it took a few years to learn to become something new. Normal? Normal for me, I’m alive, I’m not drug or alcohol addicted, and I’m not a prisoner to that life or in a cell. God is Grace 🙏
Yeah, the actor was from my county a comedian named Jorge Porcel, very big here in the 70s, a bit of an asshole though, i think that was his bigger role.
So glad you covered this movie. This is one of my favorite mob films, and one of my favorite films in general. The top of my list, as far as mob movies, will always be Goodfellas, but then comes Scarface and Carlito's way. There is not a weak scene in the entire film and so much good, but not obvious foreshadowing. Such a great supporting cast of actors that have been in dozens of movies. One of the scenes that I love is when he and Gail are in bed, talking about their lives. He describes what life was like in his neighborhood and how opening this car rental business is his dream, and asks her, "Didn't you ever have a dream". She then explains about her life and how she now hates her dream. That one line tells us how important it would be for her to escape to something new as much as it would be for him. This is, by far, Sean Penn's best performance. When I watch this I have to remind myself that it is Sean Penn because he is so deep in the character. His character is a lying scumbag and knows it. The scene where they come back on the boat and Pacino tells him he's a gangster now, but it's not something you can learn in school or get a late start on is fantastic and really sets you up for his fall. This is one of those movies I recommend to many people.
@@michaelfranzese Mike,love your channel and your honesty but Carlitos Ways is based on the second of two books by Edwin Torres who ended up being a judge in NYC. To add confusion the first book which documents Carlitos life before Jail is called "Carlitos Way" and the story which documents Carlitos Way after his release from jail is called After Hours,they are both great books though and are definitely worth a read.Thanks for answering back.Massive respect from England
Wow this channel has come a long way. I remember when Michael first announced he was starting his own youtube channel I was so excited. I must have checked and rechecked every day for a new video when he only had one old video on it lol. Now there's almost 500k and its only been like under a year I think maybe a year. Good job Michael.
Great movie and great video on it. Enjoy your breakdowns. It was Sean Penn’s character Klienfeld that Carlito found out was betraying him not Pachango. Pachango was a surprise at the end.
My favourite scene is Pacino's rooftop scene where he watches Gail dance in her ballet class to Lakme's Duo des Fleurs. His face softening when he sees her from a distance is wonderful acting. He looks 20 years younger (great camerawork too :-) ). The chemistry between Miller and Pacino in this movie is incredibly strong and comes through in most of their scenes together.
@@non-governmentissued4174 as Mike Corleone said to Hagen after machine guns ripped his bedroom, "our associates are businessmen. their loyalty is based on that." (tho Rocco did give his life to whack Roth).
Been wanting to see a review from Mike on this film. Carlito's Way is one off my favourite films of all time; based on how well the storytelling was executed. There is also somewhat of a wider context beyond the plot in that this was a reunion between director Brian De Palma and Pacino who first worked together on Scarface a decade earlier. In many ways I envisioned the character of Carlito as somewhat of a second chance for the ill-fated Tony Montana; i.e. Montana being reborn as Carlito Brigante in a cold New York courtroom. I taught in Richmond, London for a number of years and I would initiate new classes by playing them that courtroom scene. I would get them to identify the main players in the scene; judge, lawyer and defendant and then get them to draw parallels between the examining boards, teachers and themselves in relation to what they were going to come up against during the academic year ahead; great memories!! All in all I thoroughly enjoyed this review from the perspective of someone who knows this life intimately. Shalom.
“You don’t owe anything to anybody that is going to pull you back into the wrong way of life “ respect from Tbilisi,Georgia (Caucasia) i learn a lot from u, especially after 35
