10 of my favourite films with the legendary Al Pacino.
One of the greatest living actors, Al Pacino, is turning 80. Reason enough to look at his great body of work - here are my 10 favourite films in which he plays a major role (cameos have not been considered).
Scent of a Woman (1992) by Martin Brest
A blind man is far from helpless, being a tough retired colonel; however, he needs some help in his every day life and hires a young college students in need of money.
The Insider (1999) by Michael Mann
A two-man-show by Pacino and Russell Crowe as two men pushed to the brink. Pacino is a TV producer who lures a scientist (played by Crowe) to make an appearance on his TV show, which has serious consequences for both when the tobacco industry gets involved.
The Godfather II (1974) by Francis Ford Coppola
One could certainly also put The Godfather I & III into this list, but I chose the second one because it has the bigger stage for Pacino than the first, and it is much better than the third (despite Pacino's iconic grieving scene). In a nutshell, the films follow a family of Italian mafiosi in America.
(see also Trilogies & Sequels)
The Merchant of Venice (2004) by Michael Radford
Based on the play by William Shakespeare, this film is a close adaptation using the real text and a historical setting in Venice. Pacino's acting of iconic character Shylock is magnificent, and brings the story to life.
Scarface (1983) by Brian de Palma
A remake of the original 1932 film, this film transfers the action to Miami, where a Cuban immigrant named Tony Montana searches his luck. When he becomes successful in illegal business, things are getting out of control.
Heat (1995) by Michael Mann
A classic police & robber story, which is made great by the actors (besides Pacino, also de Robert de Niro and Val Kilmer) and the suspense.
The Irishman (2019) by Martin Scorsese
For the first time, Pacino has joined the dream trio of director Scorsese and actors Joe Pesci and Robert de Niro. The resulting gangster epos is based on a biographical novel and includes partly real historical characters, and is every bit as great (and long) as one might expect.
The Devil's Advocate (1997) by Taylor Hackford
A rising young lawyer (Keane Reeves) starts working at a big law firm and is mentored by the successful and alluring boss (Pacino). When he gets deeper into the world of his mentor, good and evil are starting to blur. Great performances by both actors.
Looking for Richard (1996) by Al Pacino
An unusual side of Pacino, who also directed this documentary, is visible here. Explaining Shakespeare to the average audience is not an easy task, but Pacino is trying it with interesting results. Mainly for an audience with some sort of interest in Richard III and/or theatre, this less-known production tells a lot about the person Al Pacino.
Any Given Sunday (1999) by Oliver Stone
If you're into sports movies, this is a good one, set in the world of (American) football. Showing the stressful world in which coaches and players try to make their living, this film lives mainly from its great cast: besides Pacino, Jamie Foxx, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, Dennis Quaid and LL Cool J star.
(Images: IMDB)