Al Pacino
Al Pacino portrayed Michael Corleone in The
Godfather trilogy with rare brilliance. From the emtional,
rebellious youngest son of Marlon Brando's Godfather to the
impassive resolve as the Don, Pacino developed a character
that literally walks off the screen into real-life. It is
a powerful performance in a powerful film, but more than that,
I will credit much of the Godfather's trilogy to the audience
embracing Michael Corleone's development from boy to man.
It was Pacino's Michael Corleone that the viewer empathises
with. Even when he eventually orders the murder of his brother
Freddie we remain seduced by Michael Corleone's charm. We
have seen all the wounds that have created a man able to murder
his brother. We understand. Brilliant direction from Francis
Ford Coppola, yes, but it was Pacino who embodied a character
and it is Pacino's charisma that oozes from everyone of Corleone's
pores.
After Godfather part 1, Al Pacino took on the
challenging role of Serpico and immediately we are made aware
of the richness and breadth of Al Pacino's talent. Serpico
is a radically different character from Michael Corleone,
but, again, is beautifully brought to life by Al Pacino, and,
as in Godfather, Serpico is marinated in Pacino's sublime
charisma. Serpico has the audience firmly entrenched on his
side and eating out of the palm of his hand as Pacino did
with Michael Corleone... Now I will jump to Al Pacino's role
in Heat. Not that the films in between were flops, on the
contary, if Al Pacino's career is anything it has been deeply
consistent and is peppered with cult classics like Dog Day
Afternoon. No, I jump to Heat because in this film Al Pacino
plays a police detective damaged by the break up of his marriage
and he shares the audience with another great, charismatic
actor, Robert De Niro who plays the mastermind leader of a
criminal gang who also has personal issues.The two oppose
each other. Which actor will attract the audience empathy?
The answer is both do and it the reason the film is so seriously
good. To have two great actors at the peak of theirs powers
playing two very strong characters directed by Michael Mann
makes for a piece of film history. For me the secret is that
Michael Mann allows his characters the freedom to breathe
in scenes. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro take full advantage
of this and the audience is rewarded with Al Pacino at his
very considerable best...
Tim Rees
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