0
0
The man with a booming voice when he starts yelling at you and getting that look into his eyes. Pacino’s career has spanned over five decades with iconic roles that everyone will remember. Homeboy played a mob boss where you don’t go against the family. He played a ruthless Cuban refugee who wanted the world and everything in it. Screamed Attica at the top of his lungs. Pacino is one the greatest actors to live.
Michael Corleone-The Godfather Trilogy
In the Godfather trilogy, Pacino plays the youngest son of Vito Corleone, a Sicilian immigrant who builds a Mafia empire. Pacino is such a baby face in the first two films and Pacino is great in the role. What Pacino does is show the slow descent of a man who began innocent to a stone-cold mob boss killer. You see it Pacino’s body language. Honestly, there were times when I was scared of Pacino. The ending of Part Two was chilling as Pacino sat on the bench just looking out. Also, Pacino showed zero emotions in the first one when his baby was getting baptized.
Tony Montana- Scarface (1983)
If there is one movie that Pacino is known for, it is his role as Cuban refugee Tony Montana, who arrives in the states with nothing in Miami and becomes a powerful drug lord. No matter what, the rap community LOVE this movie because it is a violent rags to riches story. Pacino is the best in this role as he says the F-word more times than anyone else. This is the film where Pacino became such a legend, and you have to love the violent tendency. Pacino made so many people want what’s coming to them. The World and Everything in it.
Lt. Col. Frank Slade- Scent of a Woman (1992)
The role that won Pacino the Academy Award for Best Actor. Pacino was excellent in this role as an irritable, blind, medically retired Army lieutenant colonel. Pacino was sometimes vicious, told it how it was an did a phenomenal job portraying a blind man. That final speech was excellent to watch as he carried this movie from the minute he came on to the last scene. Congrats on the win Mr. Pacino. Hoo-ha!!
Lieutenant Vincent Hanna- Heat (1995)
Pacino is freakin intense as Lieutenant Vincent Hanna. Heat is an all-time classic film with the iconic bank robbery scene. Pacino plays Vincent as a man who is outstanding at his job but shit as in his personal life. As he famously quoted, “My life’s a disaster zone. I got a stepdaughter so fucked up because her real father’s this large-type asshole. I got a wife, we’re passing each other on the down-slope of a marriage – my third – because I spend all my time chasing guys like you around the block. That’s my life.” Pacino goes hard in this role and never lets up. He is funny when he needs to be and freakin intense and insane the other times.
Detective Frank Serpico- Serpico (1973)
The babyface but bearded Pacino plays Detective Serpico and his struggle with corruption within the New York City Police Department. In his eleven years of service, Serpico became a whistleblower that led to the investigation by the Knapp Commission. Like always, Pacino is intense as always but this time he shows the detective in a fearful state as they believe you don’t snitch on anyone. The police are just as bad as criminals. Pacino always brings his A-game.
Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice- Dick Tracy (1990)
I almost completely forgot about this role. Pacino was AMAZING as Big Boy who is an analogy for Al Capone. I remember watching him play this role when I was a kid and being intimidated because he was intense, round and never really smiled. All Pacino did was yell at his goons for failing to kill Tracey and for some odd reason having walnuts around him. Definitely watch this film because Pacino is a scene stealer in this one.
Tony D’Amato- Any Given Sunday (1999)
In this Oliver Stone directed film about a professional American football team, Pacino plays the head coach of the Miami Sharks. Pacino plays Tony D’Amato, who seems to be over the hill in coaching but has the respect and championships. Pacino showed a man who is highly devoted to his team than his personal life. It’s hard being a coach. Pacino does a great job as being a coach. Having the up and downs of a season weigh on him along with management all over his ass. You have to be strong willed to coach a player like Willie Beamen.
Carlito “Charlie” Brigante- Carlito’s Way (1993)
Pacino stars as Carlito Brigante, a Puerto Rican criminal who vows to go straight and to retire in paradise. Like his role in the Godfather, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Carlito’s criminal past brings him right back in as he tries to escape. Pacino is good in this role and the movie has become a cult classic but it feels the same as Scarface. Not as extreme as Scarface but another dealer who wants to bounce. It is a fun watch.
Sonny Wortzik- Dog Day Afternoon (1995)
The biographical film where Pacino yells “Attica” many times in front of a bank. The film chronicles the 1972 robbery and hostage situation led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile at a Chase Manhattan branch in Brooklyn. Pacino is strong as Sonny Wortzik, as the first-time robber. You see that as Sonny, he is all over the place as the cash drop was missed and he just messes up over and over again as a crowd builds in front of the bank. Watch the film to see Pacino yell “Attica” because its one of AFI all-time movie quotes.
Jimmy Hoffa- The Irishman (2019)
In Martin Scorsese’s long ass film about Frank Sheeran, a truck driver who becomes a hitman and his time working for the powerful Teamster Jimmy Hoffa. Pacino plays Jimmy Hoffa, an American labor union leader who served as the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) from 1957 until 1971. He disappeared and that has become legendary in itself. Pacino is excellent as Hoffa who hates when people are late and will fight anyone. The whole prison scene when he fights one dude was funny because seeing two old people scrap is entertaining. Once again, be ready to almost sit through four hours of film.
