13 best films of the great Al Pacino

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The actor became famous as Michael Corleone from The Godfather and became a legend in crime films.

This charismatic Italian-American is known and loved by all movie fans. Even in the role of a criminal, Al Pacino creates a full-fledged image, explains the motivation of his character and makes the viewer see him as a person.

The actor began his career in the sixties in the theater, occasionally flickering in cameo roles in films. But literally after a couple of notable films, the best directors became interested in him, and Al Pacino became a real screen star.

1. The Godfather

Mario Puzo's The Godfather

• USA, Italy, 1972.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 175 minutes.
• IMDb: 9, 2.

The famous crime saga tells the story of the Corleone mafia family. Don Vito marries off his daughter. At the same time, his beloved son Michael returns from the war. The latter does not want to get involved in the cruel family business, but times change, and soon Vito Corleone is assassinated.

Francis Ford Coppola spotted young Al Pacino in Panic at Needle Park and offered to play Michael Corleone. The producers considered him not tall and experienced enough for this image. But the director insisted on his own. And for the role of Michael, Al Pacino received his first Oscar nomination. He got into the category "Best Supporting Actor", although he played the main role in the film. Because of this, Al Pacino did not attend the ceremony. Best Actor winner Marlon Brando also boycotted the award.

This role became decisive in the fate of the actor. He stunningly portrayed the changes in the character of the hero from the noble war veteran to the new leader of the crime family. In subsequent films of the trilogy, he returned to the image of Michael, showed the development of the character and his retirement.

2. Scarecrow

• USA, 1973.
• Drama, road movie.
• Duration: 112 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Fresh out of prison, Max and former sailor Lionel decide to travel across America in search of a better life. They have completely different personalities and dreams. But both heroes are lost and do not know how to live on. On the way, a lot of adventures and interesting meetings await them.

Aspiring director Jerry Schatzberg relied on the more famous actor Gene Hackman, who had already become famous thanks to "The French Connector". But young Al Pacino is not lost against the background of an experienced colleague, and often even draws attention to himself in general scenes.

3. Serpico

• USA, 1973.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

New York police officer Frank Serpico discovers that at his station, almost all of his colleagues are involved in a network of corruption. He refuses to join fraudulent schemes and becomes an outcast. The more Serpico tries to figure it out, the better he realizes that almost all police officers are corrupt to the very top.

This painting by Sidney Lumet is based on the real story of Frank Serpico, who published information about police corruption in The New York Times. And Al Pacino perfectly managed to convey the character of the hero and the difficult choices he faces. For this, the actor received another Oscar nomination, but lost to Jack Lemmon, who played in the movie Save the Tiger. But the "Golden Globe" that year was included in the collection of Pacino.

4. Canine afternoon

• USA, 1975.
• Drama, crime, biography.
• Duration: 125 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Several criminals are robbing a bank. They think they have everything well planned. But one of the participants in the operation escapes. The remaining two Sunny and Sal find themselves in a quandary: there is almost no money in the bank, and an attempt to burn documents immediately attracts the police. And now they have long negotiations ahead.

Another collaboration between Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino. Again a story based on real events, and again a triumph. The film won an Oscar for Best Screenplay and received five more nominations. Al Pacino also claimed the statuette for the role of Sunny. But this time the prize went to Jack Nicholson for his role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

5. Scarface

• USA, 1983.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 170 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Cuban criminal Tony Montana arrives in Miami in the early eighties. He wants to start a new life, but soon again gets involved in dark affairs related to drugs and murder. Tough character and intelligence allow Tony to rise to the very top of the underworld.

In the early eighties, Al Pacino's career began to decline. He starred in the disastrous films The Wanted and The Author! The author! " But then he received an offer to play the role of Tony in Brian De Palma's film - a remake of the classic 1932 film. The movie came out very cruel and at first all the bloodiest scenes were cut out of it. But "Scarface" was appreciated by critics and audiences alike. The actor himself considers this role to be the best in his career.

6. Glengarry Glen Ross

• USA, 1992.
• Drama.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Several experienced real estate agents find themselves in a difficult situation - the management sent them a new business coach. He promises the best employees expensive gifts and the worst employees firing. Competition reaches the point that someone steals documents from the office at night.

After the success of Scarfaces, Pacino had another setback, and for several years he even completely stopped acting. But the comeback came out great. In the film Glengarry Glen Ross (also known as The Americans), the actor has a supporting role. But Al Pacino attracts attention no less than Jack Lemmon, who played the central character.

7. The smell of a woman

• USA, 1992.
• Drama.
• Duration: 156 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 0.

Student Charlie Simms finds himself a part-time job: he has to watch out for a blind retired Colonel Frank Slade while his relatives are away for Thanksgiving. But it turns out that Frank has no plans to stay at home at all. The heroes embark on a strange and exciting journey that will change their lives.

The role of the blind colonel is another important step in Al Pacino's career. For her, he finally received a well-deserved "Oscar". In the same year, he was nominated for a supporting role in Glengarry Glen Ross. This was a unique occasion for the award.

8. Carlito's way

Carlito's Way

• USA, 1993.
• Drama, thriller, crime.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

The major drug dealer Carlito Brigante is released from prison and returns to his beloved woman with the firm intention of starting a new honest life. But his criminal past does not let him go. In addition, a close friend of Carlito got involved in a dangerous adventure and the hero will have to help him.

Al Pacino did not let go of the image that formed in The Godfather and Scarface. All the same Brian De Palma again called him to play a criminal and drug dealer. But the actor is really great at such roles.

9. Scrum

• USA, 1995.
• Drama, thriller, crime.
• Duration: 170 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Nick McCauley's gang has old comrades who always help each other, and therefore all their robberies are successful. But after a particularly brutal crime, Vincent Hannah, the best detective in Los Angeles, is taken to capture them.

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have already starred together in the second part of The Godfather, but then their characters did not intersect. In "Fight," the confrontation between the policeman played by Pacino and the criminal De Niro turned into a standard of acting. In this film, both the action and the long dialogues of the characters are equally good. The next time the famous actors met in the movie "The Right to Kill". But it was not possible to repeat the success - the new work was severely criticized.

10. Donnie Brasco

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

FBI agent Joe Pistone under the name Donnie Brasco infiltrates one of the criminal gangs in Brooklyn. He is assisted by an aging criminal nicknamed Lefty. Soon the heroes become real friends, and Donnie has to choose between loyalty to duty and the desire to help a loved one.

And again a story based on real events. Al Pacino played here the criminal Lefty, who is in charge of Donnie Brasco with his life. In the world of the police and the mafia, his hero came out the most controversial. After all, Lefty simply cannot imagine another life and sincerely wants to establish communication with his son.

11. Devil's advocate

• USA, 1997.
• Drama, mysticism, thriller.
• Duration: 144 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Young lawyer Kevin Lomax became famous for the fact that he can win the case, even if he defends the inveterate villain. He is invited to a large New York firm that specializes in protecting millionaires. It is led by the mysterious John Milton. But he clearly has his own plans for Kevin.

The main intrigue of this film was revealed already in the title itself. But even without this, it is not difficult to recognize the incarnation of the devil in the sinister image of Al Pacino. His piercing eyes and skill allowed the actor to become one of the best villains in the history of cinema.

12. Your own person

• USA, 1999.
• Drama, biography.
• Duration: 157 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 9.

Jeffrey Wygand worked for a large tobacco company in a very high-paying job. But at some point, he decided that it was simply impossible to hide the real data on the number of deaths caused by smoking. Then the producer of the popular TV show Lowell Bergman interviewed him exclusively, and soon both faced very tough attempts at pressure.

The film is based on real events, and Jeffrey Wygand himself claims that all the details were conveyed absolutely accurately, only a couple of names were changed. Russell Crowe played the main role here, and Al Pacino got the role of the producer of the television program "60 Minutes" Lowell Bergman - a brave and uncompromising man.

13. Insomnia

• USA, 2002.
• Drama, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 118 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Experienced police detective Will Dormer, together with his partner, goes to a small town to investigate the murder of a girl. Soon they find a suspect - a lonely Walter Finch. But then the detective's partner accidentally dies. This incident greatly affects Dormer, especially since the criminal himself wants to communicate with him.

The famous Christopher Nolan shot an excellent remake of the Norwegian film of the same name. The director very subtly approached the selection of actors. The harsh and gloomy Al Pacino plays a police officer here, and Robin Williams, whom everyone is used to seeing in comedic and lyrical roles, appears as a villain.