Here are some of my reviews for some of Pacino's
films. The ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 10.
| Film: ...And Justice for All
Year: 1979 Comments: This movie combines drama with satire, and does it very well. Pacino is very funny in the helicopter scene, and his speech at the end is very moving. This is a movie that seems to get lost in the mix of all of Pacino's great films, but I think that it is one of his finest. Rating: 9/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Any Given Sunday
Year: 1999 Comments: Very cool Oliver Stone film with Pacino playing a coach for a professional football team. Pacino is wonderful as the coach and reigns supreme in this ensemble cast. Very good support form Jaime Foxx, James Woods, and Dennis Quaid. Fans of Pacino will love the ending. Any Given Sunday is simply the greatest football film ever made. Rating: 9/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Carlito's Way
Year: 1993 Comments: Nice ganster flick by the hit and miss Brian De Palma. Some very memorable lines here by Al, as he plays an ex-con trying to go leave a life of crime behind him and become a legitimate businessman. Sean Penn and Penelope Ann Miller give solid support. Nice companion to Scarface. Pacino=King of Accents!!! Rating: 7/10 |
![]() |
| Film: City Hall
Year: 1996 Comments: Interesting thriller with John Cusack playing the deputy mayor of New York City. Pacino plays more of a supporting role. However, his speech in the church should NOT be missed. Pacino once again brings his slick persona to the screen and creates another memorable character. Cusack and Danny Aiello are also very intriguing. Rating: 7/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Devil's Advocate
Year: 1997 Comments: Good thriller with Pacino playing the role of the devil. Despite the poor performance by Keanu Reeves, the movie works. Mostly because of Pacino in all his devilness. It's fun to see Pacino playing the lawyer and the devil. Great speech near the end. Rating: 8/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Dick Tracy
Year: 1990 Comments: Kind of a silly movie with Warren Beatty as the detective in yellow. The highlight of the film is Pacino's over the top performance as Big Boy Caprice (which earned him an Oscar nomination). Good cameo of Dustin Hoffman as Mumbles. Watch it for Pacino, unless you're a Dick Tracy fan. Rating: 6/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Dog Day Afternoon
Year: 1975 Comments: A very funny and dramatic tale starring Pacino as a bumbling bank robber. Next to Scent of a Woman, perhaps Pacino's best performance. John Cazale and Charles Durning add to a great cast. One of the best films of the 70's. Rating: 8/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Donnie Brasco
Year: 1997 Comments: Excellent tale of mob life with Pacino as the aging wise guy who takes Johnny Depp under his wing. Depp is quite good as Donnie Brasco, but Pacino once again gives the best performance as Lefty. I think that this is one of the most underrated films of all time, which should have gotten Oscar consideration. Rating: 9/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Frankie & Johnny
Year: 1991 Comments: Engaging romantic comedy with Pacino as an ex-con who woos fellow diner worker Michelle Pfeiffer. Pfeiffer is very, very good in this movie, and the other workers in the diner are funny too. Pacino is amusing and does great as a nice guy. He is very likable, and the movie has a fun, light-hearted touch to it. Rating: 7/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Glengary Glenn Ross
Year: 1992 Comments: Adapted from the play by David Mamet, Glengary Glenn Ross tells the story of four real estate agents and a contest to see who can close the most deals. Real estate seems like a boring subject, but this movie is anything but boring. Alec baldwin is excellent as the insulting "motivator". Ed harris, Kevin Spacey, and Alan Arkin are all very good as well. Jack Lemmon gives a performance, I think, worthy of an Academy Award. Pacino plays the hotshot of the group and once again blows the audience away with some great lines. Probably the best ensemble cast ever. Rating: 10/10 |
|
| Film: Godfather, The
Year: 1972 Comments: One of my favorite movies of all time. An excellent screenplay with an outstanding ending. The highlight of the film is Pacino's dramatic transformation from a young war hero to a cold hearted mob boss. Also, good supporting roles by Robert Duvall, James Caan, and Richard Castellano. And who can forget Marlon Brando, who IS the prototypical mob boss. Rating: 10/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Godfather part II
Year: 1974 Comments: Considered by many to be the greatest sequel of all time. An entertaining picture with Robert DeNiro playing a young Vito Corleone. The past sequences are quite entertaining, but the modern tale drags a bit. Still, Pacino is once again mesmerizing as Michael Corleone. Good support by John Cazale, Diane Keaton, and Lee Strasberg. Rating: 8/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Godfather part III
Year: 1990 Comments: The final installment in the series, with Pacino as the aging mob boss. Pacino is really fun to watch in. this movie (check out the confession scene). It's intriguing to see Michael Corleone's attempt to redeem himself before God. Good support by Andy Garcia, Eli Wallach, and Joe Mantegna. Rating: 8/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Heat
Year: 1995 Comments: Entertaining L.A. crime saga that features the teaming up of Pacino and DeNiro. Deniro and his gang of crooks are very cool. Pacino is even cooler as L.A. cop Vincent Hanna. The meat of the movie deals with relationships, but there is also plenty of action. Well-crafted and indepth story. Rating: 9/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Insider, The
Year: 1999 Comments: An exciting, intelligent thriller about real life whistleblower, Jeffrey Wigand and the 60 minutes producer who wants to tell his story. Russel Crowe did a great job portraying an older man and Christopher Plummer was right on target as Mike Wallace. Pacino was awesome as usual and made the audience really root for his character. Overall, one of the best movies of all time. Directed by Michael Mann(HEAT). Rating: 8/10 |
|
| Film: Insomnia
Year: 2002 Comments: A very well crafted pychological thriller directed by Christopher Nolan of Memento Fame. This is definitely one of Al's greatest performances in years. Well deserving of an Oscar nomination, and hopefully a win. This movie keeps you intrigued the whole way through as we watch Pacino grow tired, both physically and psychologically as well. Hilary Swank is pleasant enough and Robin Williams is solid as well. Go see this one!!! Rating: 9/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Looking for Richard
Year: 1996 Comments: Pacino directs and stars in this documentary which follows the production of Shakespeare's Richard III. Pacino plays an excellent Richard, and it's cool to see how Al acts in real life. Winona Ryder and Kevin Spacey give good support, and the movie is fun, even for non-Shakespearean fans. Rating: 7/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Scarface
Year: 1983 Comments: Pacino plays Tony Montana, a "cuban refugee" who gets into a life of crime in Miami. The movie is overlong and violent, but Pacino IS Tony Montana. His accent is excellent, even though the movie isn't. Still though, it's entertaining. Rating: 6/10 |
![]() |
| Film: Scent of a Woman
Year: 1992 Comments: Probably the best acting I've ever seen by Pacino. He deservedly won an Oscar for this wonderful movie. It runs a little long, but it is worth every minute. Lt. Colonel Frank Slade is one of the most memorable characters Pacino has played. Chris O'Donnell is also quite good in this film. Rating: 10/10 |
![]() |