When a movie is a hit the studios in their infinite wisdom know that have to
do a follow up. Usually this is in the form of a sequel, following events that
occur after the main film but sometimes they opt for the prequel, a look at the
younger versions of the characters. This is the case for the newly released to
DVD Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power. Although this film is based on the first in a
series of novels by Edwin Torres it is best if you forget the original movie and
take this one as a stand alone film. Jay Hernandez takes on the role made famous
by Al Pacino. Carlito Brigante. As the film opens Carlito is musing over the old
neighborhood while waiting for his release from prison. He grew up in New York
City’s Spanish Harlem. There Puerto Ricans have settled in hopes of providing a
better life for their children. They are also surrounded by two other very
strong ethnic groups, the blacks on one side, the Italians on the other. There
has traditionally been an air of bitter animosity between the three factions
especially in the realm of criminal enterprises. Ironically Carlito has two
cellmates in prison, a black man Earl (Mario Van Peebles) and a low level
Italian mobster Rocco (Michael Kelly). The scene where we first see the trio is
straight out of the Goodfellas with Rocco cooking a gourmet Italian meal for his
friends. Rocco and Earl are more into the business side of crime, both feel that
they are somewhat above the street wise Carlito. Still, they have a business
opportunity for him. The mob has started to get into the lucrative heroin
business and what to corner all three ethnic groups in upper Manhattan. Once the
three are released Rocco brings his partners to meet with his boss, Artie (Burt
Young) and his hot headed son Artie Jr. (Domenick Lombardozzi). They agree to
supply the drugs for a piece of the profits and all seems right to Carlito. He
is on the top of the world, commanding respect everywhere he goes. In one night
spot he notices a man arguing with the coat check girl Leticia (Jaclyn DeSantis).
Carlito is taken by her spirit and after a few refusals on Leticia’s part soon
they are a couple, she just couldn’t refuse that age old allure many good girls
find with the charming bad boy. Most of
Spanish Harlem is under the iron fisted rule of Hollywood Nicky (Sean ‘Diddy’
Combs), a man that is rich beyond most people’s dreams but never lost his street
smarts. When he finds out that a minion is skimming a little off the top of the
take Nicky goes into a crowded bar, shoots him dead, takes the money from his
pocket and chats with the shocked patrons. He even goes so far as to order a
soda and pays for it with the money he just took back, it’s not the money that
is important, no one takes anything from Hollywood Nicky. Investigating crime in
the neighborhood is a pair of cops called the Jeff Squad, Big Jeff (Tony Cucci)
and Little Jeff (Giancarlo Esposito). They are not above using a tire iron to
help get their way. Carlito may just want a peaceful business and the love of
Leticia but with all the violence around him it is hopeless. Things heat up when
Earl decides to retire and asks Carlito to take care of his militant brother
Reggie (Mtume Gant) who immediately gets into a violent beef with Artie Jr.
When I first heard that a prequel to Carlito’s Way was coming out I expected
to see the events that where the cause of his last incarceration. Instead the
story goes to the middle of his life, how he rose from a convicted car thief to
a major drug kingpin. There is a lot of the Goodfellas here, not just the scene
describe above. Carlito is a tragic figure in the classical sense. He wants to
go straight but circumstances seem to conspire against him keeping in his life
of crime. Carlito is smart, not just in the street sense but there is an innate
intelligence to the man. Certainly if he devoted the energies he spends on
criminal enterprises to more lawful pursuits he would be a successful man. Earl
and Rocco frequently point out to him that he has to get rid of his temper and
realize he is a business man now.
Jay Hernandez does an admirable job as the younger Carlito. He is believable
as the tough street wise thug and as a man capable of a tender relationship with
his girlfriend. Hernandez makes this particular manifestation of Carlito his
own, separate from the version depicted by Pacino. He has a commanding screen
presence that was enjoyable to watch. The man may not have the talent of his
predecessor in this role but then again, who does. Jaclyn DeSantis does well as
the belabored girlfriend. She also displays a soft side juxtaposed with the
tough New York City Latina. Her talent here compliments Hernandez perfectly. A
lot of very talented actors show that ability shins though even in smaller
roles. Mario Van Peebles portrays Earl as a man that rose from the streets and
now sees himself as a business man, not unlike any that works in an office. It
is a shame that Giancarlo Esposito is not given a more substantial role. I have
always enjoyed the talents of this actor and here there was just too little to
showcase him. Sean Combs, better known currently as just ‘Diddy’ is nothing less
than perfect as Hollywood Nicky. If there is anyone that can play a man of
wealth and power, used to his slightest wish heard as an absolute command it is
Diddy. While many singers seem to demand leading roles right away Combs had the
intelligence to take on smaller roles to learn to hone his acting skills.
Michael Scott Bregman took on the daunting task of continuing a story first
told by a director like Brian De Palma. He displays a lot of talent in the way
he paces the film and with the attention he pays to the details. He nails the
look and feel of 1960’s upper Manhattan, a place I know fairly well. Bregman
strike an excellent balance between the action sequences and showing the dilemma
that affects the lead character. Exposition is handled in a natural, unobtrusive
way that does not make the film drag at any point. I was impressed with his
direction from the first scene, black and white sweeping down over the city
showing the people going about their lives. The narration of Carlito nicely sets
up the reset of the film.
Although originally planned for a theatrical release Universal decide to go
direct to video instead. I have to agree that the home theater was a better
choice, although good the film would not hold up against the bigger budget
rivals. The anamorphic 1.85:1 video was excellent. There was not a hint of
distortion or artifacts to mar the enjoyment of the film. The color balance was
true to life and consistent. The audio was presented in both Dolby 5.1 and DTS.
While both where very good the DTS did provide better backfill. Both utilized
all six speakers well, the action pounding through the sub woofer to emphasize
the action. There where a couple of interesting extras provide. One features a
look at the trio as the build their crime empire while another details what it
took to recreate the famous neighborhood of Harlem in the 1960s. There are a
couple of deleted scenes added to the mix but it was easy to see why they ended
up on the editor’s floor. While not as good as Carlito’s Way this film stands up
as a worth while watch.
Posted 9/30/05