15 Best Quotes from The Godfather Trilogy
The Godfather trilogy is packed with amazing lines of dialogue and these are the best of them all.
Decades after they were released, the installments of The Godfather trilogy continue to enthrall fans. The three films heavily lean towards crime and violence, but that’s not all they have to offer. The movies impress further by using different kinds of narrative tools which complement each other easily. Key details are sprinkled into the imagery, while the dialogue also helps lay the foundation for tragedy, drama, and humor.
Many of the trilogy’s quotes, therefore, remain iconic to this day. These remarks all serve different purposes. Some are meant to be words of advice, others are explanations, and a couple are simply uttered by people reacting to different situations. Whatever the situation the characters find themselves in, they make sure to piece their sentences together in a fascinating manner.
15“Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.” – Clemenza (The Godfather)
Betrayal is an unforgivable sin in the Cosa Nostra, so Clemenza is quick to act when he realizes his right-hand man, Paulie Gato, had something to do with Vito Corleone’s assassination attempt. He and Rocco trick him into joining them for a ride, making him believe they are shopping for weapons. On the way, Clemenza buys some cannoli for his wife, and when he gets out of the car to urinate, Rocco shoots Paulie.
Clemenza caring more about pastry than the homicide that has just happened is what makes the quote legendary. They might have been close friends, but because of his treachery, Paulie doesn’t matter to him anymore. It’s like he never even existed. Leaving the gun isn’t a rookie mistake on Clemenza’s part either because he had previously spoken about the importance of covering gun handles with tape so as not to leave fingerprints.
14“I’m Gonna Make Him an Offer He Can’t Refuse.” – Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
Right from the first few minutes of The Godfather, Vito is portrayed as a caring and compassionate man who is always willing to help those he cares about. Even on his daughter’s wedding day, several people are shown lining up and waiting for an appointment. The trend continues for the rest of the movie, with his godson Johnny Fontane (who happens to be an actor), arriving late on to seek a solution about the studio head, Jack Woltz, who has refused to cast him.
Vito reacts with certainty and promises to make Jack Woltz change his mind. He sends his consigliere Tom Hagen to talk to the man and when he shows some resistance, a different strategy is adopted. One morning, Woltz wakes up to find the severed head of his favorite horse Khartoum, on his bed. For Vito, forcing compliance is important because he has to be respected. When he allows one person to get away with saying no, other people will start doing the same.
13“Finance is a Gun. Politics is Knowing When to Pull the Trigger.” – Lucchessi (The Godfather: Part III)
When Don Lucchessi approaches Vincent in Italy and offers to be his friend, Vincent feels honored. However, he is hesitant because he is just a mere mobster, yet Lucchessi is well-connected in financial and political circles. The Don realizes that the young man is baffled, so he explains to him the importance of both.
According to Lucchessi, one might have all the money but if they don’t have the right political connections, they won’t get the same kind of power and influence as someone who does. Politicians get to pull a lot of strings and so wealthy people need them. It’s an important lesson for Vincent, one that eventually propels him to the top seat of the Corleone crime family.
12“It’s Not Personal, Sonny… It’s Business.” Michael Corleone (The Godfather)
The phrase “It’s not personal, it’s business” was coined by the real-world mob accountant, Otto “Abbadabba” Berman, back in the ‘30s, but it’s Michael Corleone that popularized it. Michael says after his brother Sonny tries to persuade him not to kill Captain McClusky and Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo. For Michael, the two have to go because they had made an attempt on his father’s life.
As a former Marine, Michael knows it’s important to retaliate. By killing the two men, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he hates them. He is only treating them the way they treated his people. And true to his world, Michael goes on to whack the two men inside a diner in what is undoubtedly one of the most iconic gangster movie scenes.
11“I Say We Make Him Dead. You Give Me the Order, I Take Care of It.” – Vincent Mancini (The Godfather: Part III)
Coup attempts are common in the mob and in The Godfather Part III, the Corleone crime family capo, Zoey Zasa, plots with Don Altobello, to get Michael out of power. An assassination attempt is, therefore, made during a meeting of The Commission, but it fails. Fearing Zasa will make another move, Vincent Mancini offers some rather straightforward advice.
Vincent’s words are inspired by both loyalty and a strong desire to please the boss. By offering a suggestion to whack Zasa and offering to do it himself, he ends up looking both proactive and brave. It’s such a kind of personality that makes Michael grow fond of him. It’s no surprise that he eventually names Vincent his successor.
10“Luca Brasi Sleeps with the Fishes.” – Clemenza (The Godfather)
The decision by the Corleone family to use Vito’s enforcer, Luca Brasi, to spy on the drug kingpin, Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo, doesn’t end so well. When Brasi pretends he is dissatisfied with Vito, Sollozzo sees through it and kills him. He then sends a fish wrapped in Brasi’s vest to the Corleones, and as everyone wonders what the message means, Clemenza explains that it’s a Sicilian way to say that someone’s body is now deep in the sea with fish.
The line went on to be iconic and has been referenced in many of the critically acclaimed gangster movies that came after The Godfather, since throwing bodies in water bodies is a common practice in the mafia. In the pilot episode of The Sopranos, Christopher and Big Pussy even argue about the correct way to say the statement, with the former insisting that it’s Louis Brasi, not Luca Brasi.
9“My Final Offer is This… Nothing!” – Michael Corleone (The Godfather: Part II)
Away from its endless violence, The Godfather: Part II is considered one of the best films about capitalism. In it, Michael chooses to expand the Corleone crime family’s empire to Las Vegas but is met with some resistance. Senator Pat Geary even meets him personally and demands a bribe by noon the next day or he’ll force him out of the state.
The senator clearly underestimates Michael’s stubbornness and courage. The bullying attempt backfires and instead of giving an answer the next day, the new Don does so immediately, letting Greary know that he isn’t going to pay a single cent. Michael’s words show that he is a different breed of mobster. The senator was clearly used to extracting bribes from other gangsters, but Michael won’t let it happen.
8“Look How They Massacred My Boy.” – Vito Corleone (The Godfather)
One of the saddest scenes in the whole trilogy plays out when Vito Corleone walks into a morgue to view the body of his son, Sonny. Vito’s eldest son had been lured to the Jones Beach Causeway before being sprayed with bullets by Barzini hitmen in order to avenge his brutal assault on Carlo.
Ordinarily, Vito is an emotionally robust person but, on this occasion, tears flow freely from his eyes. The reality breaks the Don’s heart because he had such high hopes for Sonny. Under normal circumstances, it’s him that could have taken over the family. Thankfully, the act doesn’t go unpunished. A war soon begins, and it eventually ends with Michael killing the bosses of all five families.
7“Just When I Thought I Was Out, They Pull Me Back In.” – Michael Corleone (The Godfather: Part III)
One of the most common gangster movie tropes involves mafia Dons trying to go legitimate as they grow older. It’s all understandable because as the bosses age, the willingness to deal with police and dangerous enemies reduces. As for Michael, he makes such steps by selling his casinos and forming the Corleone Group. He also invests in the billion-dollar real-estate company, Immobiliare. Unfortunately, he realizes that some of his men are attempting to double-cross him.
At this point, the feared mob boss has no option, but to get back to a life of crime and violence. He hates to dive back into the Cosa Nostra waters, but doing nothing will make him look weak. Michael’s facial and bodily expressions (which highlight his frustration), make the quote even better. Years later, the scene would be hilariously reenacted by Silvio in The Sopranos.
6“I Don’t Like Violence. I’m a Businessman. Blood is a Big Expense.” – Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo (The Godfather)
During negotiations with the Corleone crime family, the drug lord, Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo is quick to exert dominance and make his terms clear. The statement above is more of a subtle threat. Sollozzo insists that he doesn’t like violence because it interferes with business, but if anyone opts not to bend to his will, he is willing to let things turn bloody.
A statement like this is part of the reason why Sollozzo is such a great villain. He beams with confidence and sees no problem in forcing his will on others. Unfortunately for him, he begins suffering from delusions of grandeur, so much so that he underestimates Michael Corleone, something that eventually leads to his downfall.
5“I Don’t Fear You, Michael. I Just Dread You.” – Kay (The Godfather: Part III)
Think of some of the worst couples in movie history and you have Michael and Kay. Early in the trilogy, almost every single conversation involving the two is an argument. However, by the third installment, they appear to have matured and put the animosity behind them. Kay is now married to the attorney, Douglas Michelson, while Michael has become so religious and generous that he is now being honored by the Catholic Church for his contribution.
Kay attends the honoring ceremony where Michael asks her if she still fears him. Well, Kay gives a rather interesting response, stating that she just hates what he is capable of doing to others, not necessarily what he can do to her. It’s an honest answer and one that perfectly defines the nature of their relationship.
4“I Believe in America!” – Bonasera (The Godfather)
In the opening scene of The Godfather, the undertaker, Bonasera, visits Vito Corleone, and informs him that his daughter was assaulted, and the culprits are still walking free. Bonasera then erupts into a passionate monologue, claiming that he has always known America to be a decent country, so the incident has really disappointed him.
For Bonasera, it’s not a case of him completely losing hope in the country, He simply wants the image he has of the country to be restored. So long as there are people who can still help him get justice, America will remain pure in his eyes. Luckily for him, the Don happens to be in a good mood because his daughter is getting married. He vows to help, on condition that he will ask Bonasera for a favor too in the future.
3“Power Wears Out Those Who Do Not Have It.” – Carlo (The Godfather: Part III)
There’s plenty of plot armor in The Godfather trilogy, so most of the people that attempt to backstab Michael, including Don Lucchessi. Upon learning of his treachery, Vincent gives an order for him to be whacked. Michael’s Sicilian friend, Carlo, is the person sent to do the job and before taking Lucchesi’s life, he says the words above, which are actually a message from Michael.
The quote means that those who don’t have power end up being burdened by it the most. They either concern themselves too much with the activities of leaders or they work day and night to bring them down. On the other hand, those with power simply enjoy it without worrying too much about those that are beneath them.
2“I’m Smart, and I Want Respect” – Fredo (The Godfather: Part II)
During his brief time in the trilogy, Fredo is depicted as the black sheep of the family. He is lazy, irresponsible, and disloyal. Interestingly, a part of him still feels he deserves better. In one of his heart-to-heart conversations with Michael, he laments about being passed over for the position of Don. He also curses out about being sent to do errands all the time.
Fredo is somehow right about being ignored. As the second child, he was the one that should have taken over after Sonny was killed. However, he is hardly qualified for the job and Vito knew that from the start. He is completely naïve and delusional, so much so that he isn’t aware that respect can never be demanded. It has to be earned.
1“I Have A Special Practice. I Handle One Client.” – Tom Hagen (The Godfather)
When the studio head Jack Woltz refuses to cast Vito’s godson, Tom Hagen is sent to talk to him. Tom introduces himself as a lawyer and when Woltz presses him further about his specialty, Vito’s consigliere gives an answer that’s both vague and specific.
It isn’t surprising that Tommy is so economical with the details. The Cosa Nostra values secrecy, so he cannot go telling everyone what his exact role in the family is. All that Woltz deserves to know is that he is a personal lawyer. In the scene, Tom’s composure impresses as much as his remark. As a powerful person, Woltz thinks he can intimidate Tom and make him feel inferior, but the consigliere remains calm throughout the entire interaction.
Best Quotes From Al Pacino Movies, Ranked
Al Pacino has some of the most iconic lines in cinema history. Here are his best movie quotes.
Al Pacino began his career with his film debut in the 1969 film, Me, Natalie. He then went on to star in Panic in Needle Park (1971), which gained him the attention of director Francis Ford Coppola. Since then, Pacino has gone on to star in countless films and has had some of the most iconic lines in cinema history, made all the more famous by his emphatic acting. This is a list of his best ones.
13The Irishman
“I’m not looking to blame anybody. But if there’s any blame going around, it’s the Kennedys. His kids killed him. Let me tell you that. He’s not dead, but he’s going. He’s going. They killed him! They’d give anybody a heart attack.”
The Irishman is based on the 2004 nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt and is directed by Martin Scorsese. The 2019 film stars Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino and uses de-aging technology on the main cast. The Irishman is the most expensive and the longest Scorsese film to date. With the film being over three hours long, fans even created a schedule on when to pause the film to take breaks. The film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and has some of the best acting from Pacino, who stars as Jimmy Hoffa. The Irishman is now streaming on Netflix.
12…And Justice for All
“You’re out of order! You’re out of order! The whole trial is out of order!”
…And Justice for All is a satirical drama about an idealistic lawyer trying to win a case against a corrupt system. The 1979 film is directed by Norman Jewison and received two Academy Award nominations. Al Pacino stars as the idealistic lawyer Arthur Kirkland, and includes this famous line which has been parodied countless times in media.
11The Godfather Part III
“Just when I thought I was out…they pull me back in.”
The Godfather Part III is the final film in The Godfather series and is directed by Francis Ford Coppola. In The Godfather Part III, Pacino returns as Michael Corleone and tries to right the wrongs of his past. Although the 1990 film was considered a let-down after the first films, it does give Pacino some memorable lines.
10Serpico
“You know what they say, don’t you? If you love a man’s garden, you gotta love the man!”
Serpico is a biographical crime drama and one of the best Sidney Lumet movies, and stars Pacino as the undercover detective Frank Serpico and documents his struggle with the corruption within the NYPD. The 1973 film was a critical success and was nominated for multiple awards. Serpico is now available on Starz.
9Donnie Brasco
“A wise guy’s always right; even when he’s wrong, he’s right.”
Donnie Brasco is one of the best undercover cop films ever made, with a great cast including Johnny Depp, Anne Heche, and Pacino. The 1997 film is based on the 1988 nonfiction book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia and is directed by Mike Newell. Depp plays Donnie Brasco, an undercover detective, while Pacino plays Lefty Ruggiero, an enforcer in the Bonanno crime family. This film is one of the movies that made 1997 a great year for cinema. Donnie Brasco is now streaming on Netflix.
8Scent of a Woman
“There are two kinds of people in this world: those who stand up and face the music, and those who run for cover. Cover is better.”
Scent of a Womanis about a prep school student who takes a job helping a blind and medically retired Army lieutenant colonel. The 1992 film is directed by Martin Brest and stars Chris O’Donnell and Pacino as Lt. Col. Frank Slade. Scent of a Women is at the top of Pacino’s filmography and has a bunch of memorable lines.
7Dog Day Afternoon
“He wants to kill me so bad he can taste it! Huh? ATTICA! ATTICA! ATTICA!”
Dog Day Afternoon is a biographical film about the 1972 robbery and hostage situation at a Brooklyn Chase branch. The 1975 film is directed by Sidney Lumet and stars Al Pacino as Sonny Wortzik and John Cazale as Sal Naturile. This line has become iconic and is one of the most recognizable in cinema history, a rallying cry for the underclass. It is no surprise that this great movie has been preserved by the Library of Congress.
6Any Given Sunday
“On any given Sunday you’re gonna win, or you’re gonna lose. The point is — can you win or lose like a man?”
Any Given Sundayis easily one of the best football movies ever made and also one of the best Oliver Stone films. In the 1999 film, Pacino plays Tony D’Amato, the head coach of the once-great football team the Miami Sharks. Pacino also delivers one of the greatest inspirational speeches of all time at the climax of the film. Any Given Sunday is now streaming on Netflix.
5The Godfather Part II
“There are many things my father taught me here in this room. He taught me: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”
The Godfather Part IIwas both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather (1972) and was directed by Francis Ford Coppola. In the 1974 film, Pacino reprises his role as Michael Corleone, now the Don of the family, and he again delivers an incredible performance. Although upon its release, The Godfather Part II received mixed reviews, it is now regarded as one of the greatest films in cinema history.
4Heat
“I gotta hold on to my angst. I preserve it because I need it. It keeps me sharp, on the edge, where I gotta be.”
Al Pacino has some great lines in the 1995 crime drama Heat, but his best comes at a more somber moment and truly shows the range of the actor. The film is written and directed by Michael Mann and stars Pacino, Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, Jon Voight, and Val Kilmer. Pacino plays Lieutenant Vincent Hanna, the lead detective investigating a string of robberies and murders while juggling a wife and stepdaughter. Pacino recently said that if they ever remade Heat he would cast Timothee Chalamet as Lieutenant Hanna. Heat is now available on Starz.
3Glengarry Glen Ross
“You wanna learn the first rule you’d know if you spent a day in your life. You never open your mouth until you know what the shot is.”
Glengarry Glen Ross is a classic salesman film and truly captures the pressures of what it is like to work for a commission. The 1992 film was adapted by David Mamet from his 1984 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and directed by James Foley. Glengarry Glen Ross stars Pacino as top earner, Richard Roma, and has Pacino delivering some of his best acting. Glengarry Glen Ross is now available on Peacock.
2Scarface
“You wanna f*** with me? Okay. You wanna play rough? Okay! Say hello to my little friend!”
Scarface cemented Pacino in cinema history by giving him one of the most recognizable lines to ever be written (thanks to writer Oliver Stone). In the 1982 film, directed by Brian De Palma, Pacino plays the notorious drug lord, Tony Montana. This line starts one of the all-time best shootouts in movies and probably one of the best conclusions to a crime drama. Scarface is now streaming on Peacock.
1The Godfather
“Fredo, you’re my older brother, and I love you. But don’t ever take sides with anyone against the Family again. Ever.”
The film that put Al Pacino on the map was Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 film, The Godfather. In The Godfather, Pacino plays Michael Corleone, the youngest son of Don Vito Corleone. Although Coppola thought the film would be a ‘special failure’, it was a massive success and has become one of the most discussed films of all time.
Best Al Pacino Movies, Ranked
With his latest movie, Sniff, set for release later this year, this is a great time to take a look at the last seven decades of Al Pacino movies.
Javier Bardem is what the Spanish would call “uno de los mejores”, one of the best. Exceptional actors are a commodity in this day and age, and those who are must have taken inspiration from something or someone truly special. Bardem once declared, “I don’t believe in God; I believe in Al Pacino. And that’s true. If I ever get a phone call saying, ‘Would you like to work with Al Pacino?’ I would go crazy.” Whilst the world argues over politics, religion, and cultural disparities, this great Spanish actor identifies a seismic piece of discourse that would have the potential to unify the globe over one matter, bringing us all together – Al Pacino truly is amazing.
Updated April 13th, 2023: If you’re a fan of Al Pacino and his bombastic acting style, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve updated this collection of his best films with additional content and even higher quality.
Born to Italian immigrants in East Harlem, New York City, Alfredo James Pacino’s rise from virtual obscurity to critical acclaim was rapid. Pacino made his movie debut in 1969, playing Tony (a minor role) in Me, Natalie. Just three years later, Pacino was starring as Michael Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola’s trailblazing gangster epic, The Godfather.
Since his on-screen baptism, the Dog Day Afternoon star has built a cinematic legacy spanning seven decades, from his first film in 1969 to House of Gucci with Jared Leto in 2021. With his latest movie Sniffset for release later this year (and many people anticipating his other upcoming films, Billy Knight and Knox Goes Away), what better time to take a look at some of his best films.
10Donnie Brasco
1997’s Donnie Brasco is arguably one of Al Pacino’s most underrated movies. From Four Weddings and a Funeral director Mike Newell, the screen adaptation of Donnie Brasco’s autobiographical novel, My Undercover Life in the Mafia, is electric. Starring alongside Johnny Depp, Pacino portrays mobster Lefty Reggeiro, an enforcer for the notorious Bonanno crime family in New York.
At this point in his career, Pacino was seasoned, a virtuoso when it came to posing as a gangster; it was all in a day’s work, or in his case, a dog day’s afternoon. He plays a man kept on the fringes of the mob, very much a spindle in the wheel, nothing more, nothing less. He plays this aging mobster as a man suffering from cancer and responsible for overseeing the new recruit, Donnie, who unbeknownst to him is an undercover FBI operative.
9The Irishman
Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman was something of a double-edged sword; it simply can’t get any better than the heralded trio of Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, and Joe Pesci performing together, but this is their last hurrah appearing in the same project, as they later confirmed. A Netflix Original Film, The Irishman follows the true story of Jimmy Hoffa (Pacino), a teamster trade-unionist, and his bodyguard Frank Sheeran (De Niro).
The film documents Hoffa’s treacherous, attempted ascent of the US political ladder, and the various misdealing, corruption, and scandals that were entwined with Hoffa’s political motivations. A three-and-a-half-hour runtime for most films would perhaps be considered overkill, but under a Scorsese flagship, the heavyweight narrative is perfectly matched by its heavyweight cast, and Pacino is utterly brilliant as Hoffa.
8Serpico
Based on the true story of ex-New York cop, Frank Serpico, Sidney Lumet’s grit-infused classic features Al Pacino fresh off the back of his career-defining performance in The Godfather. The biographical drama Serpico concerns Pacino’s Serpico, a straight-edged police officer, who holds his integrity above all else, even in spite of the rampant corruption going on within the NYPD during the 60s and 70s.
Uncompromising in his morally reproachful stance, the officer’s refusal to deviate from his strict code of ethics sees him lead a challenge on those that extort from criminals, a challenger that jeopardies the whistleblower’s entire career.
7The Insider
Al Pacino and Russell Crowe team up with director Michael Mann for this semi-fictionalized drama, centered on the real story of Jeffery Wigand, a tobacco industry whistle-blower. Al Pacino’s depiction of CBS producer Lowell Bergman is as authentic as it is wholehearted.
The Insider remains as poignant as it was 23 years ago, and champions the core values of journalistic integrity by separating fact from fiction and by holding accountable the powers that be. In a world dictated by major corporations, the sentiments echoed in this screenplay act as a refreshing, albeit alarming, reminder of what perseverance and defiance in the face of adversity can achieve.
6Carlito’s Way
Based on Edwin Torres’ novel of the same name, Carlito’s Way had purportedly interested Al Pacino 20 years prior while he was training in a New York boxing gym in preparation for his film, Serpico. After several years of legal technicalities and a number of attempts to get the film made, it was eventually picked up by director Brian De Palma and screenwriter David Koepp.
The movie chronicles the life of Carlito Brigante, following his early release from a 30-year prison sentence. Determined to reform his life, Carlito is quickly but inadvertently re-submerged into the murky waters of New York’s criminal underworld. Along with a dazzling performance from counterpart Sean Penn, as Lawyer Dave Kleinfeld, Al Pacino exudes slick, razor-sharp charisma and the devilish valiance that makes him such a likable handful in this gripping crime drama.
5Heat
The film world is entitled to feel a tad aggrieved at the fact that there are only four films that star Al Pacino alongside Robert De Niro, and Michael Mann’s Heat is a part of that exclusive club (although they only appear in two scenes together), and it certainly doesn’t disappoint. Perhaps it’s insulting to liken this masterpiece to a game of cat and mouse, so instead, it’s more befitting to analogize it to a fiercely competitive game of chess.
Highly-skilled bank robber Neil McCauley (De Niro) carries out a series of heists with his crew of accomplices, despite being under the attentive eye of Lieutenant Vincent Hanna (Pacino), who is out to catch the mastermind criminal. Roger Ebert described Heat as,“The greatest heist movie ever made. It includes the best bank robbery scene ever filmed (by far) and also the most influential”.
4Dog Day Afternoon
After the peerless Sidney Lumet and Al Pacino had already collaborated on Serpico, 1975 was only going to get better for the actor-director duo, with the critical love-in surrounding another gritty biographical crime drama, Dog Day Afternoon. However, this time, rather than playing an ethically righteous cop, we see Pacino on the other side of the law, as a bank robber. His rendition as down-on-his-luck Sonny Wortzik, a petty criminal, and vastly inexperienced in the ruthless world of robbing banks.
In desperate need of money to pay for his girlfriend’s operation, Sonny along with equally out of their depth accomplices, Sal (John Cazale) and Stevie (Gary Springer) embark on a bank heist that goes terribly wrong. Dog Day Afternoon offers a fascinating character study, a psychoanalytical breakdown of the central protagonist, Sonny, a man steeped in this almost incomprehensible complexity.
3Scent of a Woman
Remarkably, Al Pacino recorded his only Academy Award win for his magnificent portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade in Martin Brest’s Scent of a Woman. It tells the story of blind war veteran Frank Slade, who forms an unlikely friendship with his schoolboy caregiver Charlie (Chris O’Donnell). Embittered, unceremonious, and domineering are just some of a shortened list of characteristics one would attribute to Lieutenant Colonel Slade.
As the Oscar triumph suggests, this is one Al Pacino’s finest performances, in a career littered with them. Frank Slade’s resistance to conformity constantly wrestles with the film’s spirited, human voice, and the natural urge to care. Pacino compliments being a scary authoritarian with immaculate comedic awareness. Al Pacino’s performance radiates through this beautiful, hilarious, and heart-warming movie and makes it one of his best.
2Scarface
“Say hello to my little friend” may sound like a pervert about to flash someone in the street, but it’s arguably one of the (if not, the) most famous lines in one of the most famous death scenes in cinematic history. Uttered by the drug-lord Tony Montana in Brian De Palma’s Scarface, during his cocaine-fueled psychotic episode, the line is the culmination of the story of a Cuban refugee, Tony Montana (Al Pacino), and his accomplice Manny (Steven Bauer), who arrive in America in search of a better life.
The pair quickly become immersed in the illegal world of drugs and narcotics, taking on several drug kingpins along the way, and gradually making their way up through the ranks of power and influence in their newfound profession. Tony struggles with his personal demons and is subsequently demented by his own drug use, relationship troubles and his increasingly large bank balance.
Al Pacino plays Montana with such pizzazz and conviction, and succeeds in making him a truly detestable and grotesque character. While at the time of its release, it received little in the way of critical reception, nor was it nominated for any Academy Awards, it has since amassed popularity and status as a cult classic.
1The Godfather Trilogy
Unsurprisingly, Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather trilogy has been touted as the best film series ever made, and it is unquestionably a breathtaking feat of filmmaking. The Godfather revolutionized the gangland crime-drama genre, setting a precedent and blueprint for how future films of the like should be made. More generally, it transformed cinema and has subsequently transcended the realms of film, and has become a point of social reference. Goodfellas, Scarface, Donnie Brasco, The Departed, (the list goes on), have all taken a piece of The Godfather in one way or another.
The trilogy follows the story of the Corleone Italian-American crime family. Patriarch Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and son Michael (Al Pacino) become embroiled in a vicious mob war between several other crime families. The trilogy centers around themes of love, loss, loyalty, betrayal, and revenge, while Michael Corleone battles to salvage his marriage, family, and business. Al Pacino solidified his status as a legend of film just a few years after launching a career in the industry.