Carlito's Way: Ultimate Edition

Reviewed by:
Paul Ulane

The best source for hip-hop quotes this side of Scarface earns the deluxe treatment on DVD, and you don't have to rock rims or shoot radio hosts to enjoy it. Instead of tacking on a couple of extra minutes to attract buyers with an extended version, the Ultimate Edition is nothing more than the original flick backed up by the perfect complement of extras. A sit-down with director Brian De Palma reveals his thoughts on constructing the perfect hit, recruiting real made men to play gangsters, and, even worse, dealing with movie critics. The best extra material comes in the previously unreleased deleted scenes, including raw performances from Al Pacino, Sean Penn, and Luis Guzman. The traditional "Making of" isn't revolutionary, but still uncovers trivia facts from Edwin Torres (the author of the two books that spawned the movie) about who inspired the characters, the history of the Latino gangster, and the history of Al Pacino playing Latino gangsters.