In the 1993 Brian De Palma film Carlito's Way, Carlito Brigante vows to go straight after getting out of jail on a technicality, only to find that his criminal past proves difficult to escape. I know that Al Pacino has been in some terrific movies, but I think this is one of his best. It is a thriller that is a worthy reunion for De Palma, Pacino, and producer Martin Bergman after the success of Scarface.

The idea that we all have a past that we can't shake is an interesting premise for the film that creates tension. On watching this film, I could see that Carlito was getting dragged into situations where he didn't want to be, but his instinct would have him do just one more job and be free of it. Unfortunately, the reality was that he couldn't shake his past, and you could predict the ending.

Sean Penn also shines in this film as Carlito's sleazy lawyer and best friend, David Kleinfeld. So much for good friends. After being sold out by Kleinfeld, Carlito kills him and plans to get out of town. Eventually, Carlito's past catches up with him, and he is killed boarding a train with his pregnant girlfriend.

The film is predictable in its plot, but great actors and a great director pulled it off. It's no Scarface, but I have this film in my top ten of all-time great movies.