Carlito's Way (1993) Carlito's Way
Brian De Palma's adaptation of two novels by Edwin Torres — Carlito's Way and After Hours — follows a reformed heroin dealer who emerges from prison determined to go straight, only to be dragged back toward destruction by loyalty to a corrupt lawyer and a criminal world that refuses to let him leave. The film reunites De Palma with Scarface star Al Pacino but inverts the trajectory: where Tony Montana climbed, Carlito Brigante tries to walk away and finds that the exit is guarded.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Director | Brian De Palma |
| Writer | David Koepp (based on novels by Edwin Torres) |
| Stars | Al Pacino, Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, Luis Guzmán, Viggo Mortensen, Ingrid Rogers |
| Composer | Patrick Doyle |
| Cinematographer | Stephen H. Burum |
| Editor | Bill Pankow, Kristina Boden |
| Producers | Martin Bregman, Willi Bär, Michael S. Bregman |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Budget | ~$30 million |
| Box Office | ~$64 million worldwide |
| Release Date | November 12, 1993 |
| Running Time | 144 minutes |
| MPAA Rating | R |
| Filmed In | New York City |
Key Pages
Film & Story
Production & Craft
- Production History (Carlito's Way)
- Brian De Palma (Carlito's Way)
- Stephen H. Burum (Carlito's Way)
- Patrick Doyle (Carlito's Way)
- David Koepp (Carlito's Way)
- Edwin Torres and the Source Novels
Key Sequences
Analysis & Context
- Themes and Analysis (Carlito's Way)
- The Scarface Inversion
- Critical Reception and Legacy (Carlito's Way)