Carlito's Way: Rise to Power

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power

Promotional poster
Directed by Michael Bregman
Produced by Martin Bregman
Written by Screenplay:
Michael Bregman
Novel:
Edwin Torres
Starring Jay Hernandez
Mario Van Peebles
Michael Kelly
Luis Guzmán
Sean Combs
Giancarlo Esposito
Jaclyn DeSantis
Music by Joe Delia
Cinematography Adam Holender
Edited by Ramsey Denison,
David Ray
Production
company
Universal Cartoon Studios
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release dates
 September 27, 2005
Running time
 100 minutes
Country United States
Language English

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power is a 2005 prequel to Brian De Palma's 1993 film Carlito's Way, based on the novel Carlito's Way by Edwin Torres. The previous film was based on the Torres novel After Hours, but was retitled to avoid it being confused with Martin Scorsese's 1985 film of the same name. The film was written and directed by Michael Bregman, who produced the first film. His father, Martin Bregman, produced both films.[1] The film was released in theaters in New York and Los Angeles one day prior to being released on DVD.[2]

Carlito's Way: Rise to Power stars Jay Hernandez as Carlito Brigante, the character played by Al Pacino in the first film, and chronicles Brigante's rise as a heroin drug czar in 1960s Harlem, New York. The film also features Mario Van Peebles, Michael Joseph Kelly, Luis Guzmán as Nacho Reyes (Guzmán being one of three actors to appear in both Carlito's Way films, although as different characters. The other actors being Jaime Sánchez and Jaime Tirelli), Jaclyn DeSantis, Sean Combs, Burt Young, and Domenick Lombardozzi.

The film received mostly negative reviews, mainly for the stereotypical themes that were used, in how the racial groups were portrayed.

Plot

The story begins in the 1960s with three inmates in a New York prison — Earl (Van Peebles), Rocco (Kelly), and Carlito (Hernandez) — controlling their criminal empire within their cell. Upon their release, they all look to control the drug trade in Harlem, which is currently in a power dispute between the Italian Bottolota crime family and black gangsters led by Hollywood Nicky (Combs). Rocco takes them to Artie Bottolota (Young) who at first is reluctant to work with blacks and Puerto Ricans, but who eventually cuts a deal with them in heroin distribution. The friends also meet Artie's son, Artie Jr. Soon, Earl's troubled younger brother Reggie joins them. After Artie Jr. offers to shake hands with Reggie, when he sees he and Carlito at a strip joint, Reggie turns him down, saying "my brother was doing fine without you". Artie Jr. insults Reggie with a racial slur, spurring Reggie to curse him and spit in his face. Artie Jr. assaults Reggie, but the fight is broken up. Carlito urges Reggie to wait until Artie Jr. and his crew leave. The mobsters leave, only for Carlito and Reggie to be cornered by them outside.

Artie Jr. attempts to kill Reggie with a straight razor by cutting his tongue out, while Carlito is restrained. Rocco pulls up and tells Artie Jr. to let him go, reasoning they will "take care of him." Carlito also meets a young lady named Leticia and meets her brother Sigfredo. Carlito is then introduced to Leticia's entire family as a booker. Sigfredo knowing who and what Carlito really is and does, which leads to an immediate confrontation. After shooting Carlito with a .38 Special Colt Detective Special revolver, Sigfredo then has to leave and take his family as well to prevent himself any danger. Reggie, after being abandoned by Carlito, who Earl asked to take care of, attacks and kidnaps Artie Jr. outside of his house, with the help of two other thugs. After Reggie gets the ransom, he leaves Artie Jr. in the trunk of a car to die, but he is released by police and returns to his family.

The Bottolotta Family blames Carlito, Rocco, and Earl, who left with his girlfriend to get married, for assisting Reggie in the kidnapping. Artie Sr. puts out a contract on Carlito, Rocco and Earl until Reggie and his men are dead. The hitman contracted to kill them, Nacho Reyes (Luis Guzman), and Hollywood Nicky's driver help them find the two hoodlums who were with Reggie. Nacho tortures the two men to death and they give their dismembered body parts to Artie Sr. Carlito and Nacho find Reggie in an apartment, along with Earl who flew back to New York due to the situation. The four men draw guns, Nacho holding two .357 Magnum Colt Python revolvers & Carlito holding a .38 Special Smith & Wesson Model 64 revolver and Reggie threatens Carlito, preparing to fire on him. Earl chooses Carlito over Reggie, and murders his brother, sobbing over his body afterwards. Nacho leaves and Carlito, Earl and Rocco work for the Bottolotta Family, dealing heroin. The Bottolottas have them deal heroin for them, and then dismiss the three.

Carlito and Earl pay off the N.Y.P.D., the team led by the most corrupt, feared cops in Harlem to raid and kill the entire Bottolotta Family. Carlito, Rocco and Earl fly to the islands with Earl for his wedding. Earl retires, and Carlito reunites with Leticia, retiring temporarily.

Casting

The character of Hollywood Nicky played by Sean Combs is modeled off of a younger Nicky Barnes who would rise to become one of New York's top drug lords.

In the film, the character Earl played by Mario Van Peebles makes a reference to Governor Rockefeller setting some new drug laws into effect. This is in reference to the Rockefeller drug laws which are to date amongst the toughest mandatory sentencing laws for drug dealers.

Three actors appear in both Carlito's Way films. Luis Guzmán plays Pachanga in Carlito's Way and Nacho in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. Jaime Sánchez also plays roles in both films. Rudy in Carlito's Way and Eddie in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power. Lastly, Jaime Tirelli plays roles in Carlito's Way films. Valentin in Carlito's Way and Mr. Cruz (Leticia's Father) in Carlito's Way: Rise to Power.

Cast

References

  1. ↑ Scott Weinberg (2005-10-09). "DVD Talk". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2012-02-18.
  2. ↑ Anita Gates (2005-10-01). "Carlito, When He Was Young". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-02-18.

External links

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