Line #12 Film/CarlitosWay


1	%%
2	%% Administrivia/ZeroContextExample entries are not allowed on wiki pages. All such entries have been commented out. Add context to the entries before uncommenting them.
3	%%
4	[[quoteright:325:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/carlitos_way_poster.jpg]]
5	[[caption-width-right:325:''"You think you’re big time? You’re gonna fuckin’ die big time!"'']]
6	->''"Favor gonna kill you faster than a bullet."''
7	-->-- '''Carlito Brigante'''
8
9	''Carlito's Way'' is a 1993 Creator/BrianDePalma film in which Creator/AlPacino plays a Puerto Rican gangster hoping to reconcile and start a new life after his five-year stint in jail. It's a far cry from being another ''Film/{{Scarface\|1983}}'', though ''Carlito's Way'' may be seen as its [[SpiritualSuccessor spiritual successor.]] Indeed, [[SpiritualAntithesis the two films are nearly inversions of each other]]; whereas Tony Montana rises from [[FromNobodyToNightmare a nobody to a prominent drug lord]], Carlito Brigante [[IJustWantToBeNormal attempts to reform]] after a life of notoriety. Both films however, go their way to show that gangster life is not all it's cracked up to be.
10
11	In [[TheSeventies 1975]], Carlito Brigante is [[JustGotOutOfJail released from prison]] with help from his lawyer and friend David Kleinfeld (Creator/SeanPenn), after discovering that the prosecutor's evidence has been gathered through questionable means. From this second chance at life, Carlito [[ReformedCriminal decides to reform himself for good]], vowing to stay legitimate and out of crime's way. He manages to buy a stake in a successful nightclub and rekindle his relationship with [[LoveInterest Gail]] (Creator/PenelopeAnnMiller), a beautiful dancer.
12
13	Unfortunately, Carlito's criminal past catches up with him - his former associates, along with an up and coming gangster [[IJustWantToBeBadass Benny Blanco from the Bronx]], attempt to cajole him back into the gangster life. Further complicating things, the FBI wishes to see Carlito put back in jail. But the biggest obstacle is Kleinfeld's dilemma with a mafioso boss Anthony 'Tony' Taglialucci, who is locked up inside [[TheAlcatraz Rikers Island]]; Tony T. wants Kleinfeld to spring him out, and Kleinfeld isn't sure of [[DisposingOfABody what other plans]] Tony T. has in mind for him afterwards..
14
15	The film was an adaptation of two novels by Edwin Torres: ''Carlito's Way'' (1975) and its sequel ''After Hours'' (1979). It left out several events of the first novel. Said events were eventually filmed for a prequel. ''Carlito's Way: Rise To Power'' was released straight to video in 2005. It covers the criminal activities of Carlito in the 1960s. The prequel was directed by Michael Bregman. The titular character was played by Jay Hernandez. The film remains relatively obscure, failing to gain much attention.
16
17	-----
18	!!This film has examples of:
19
20	* ActionPrologue: The delivery that Carlito accompanies his cousin on is this, given that it takes place a month before the main action of the film. It isn't specifically framed as a prologue, however, only being subtly disconnected from the main body of the film.
21	* AdaptationInducedPlotHole: Carlito gets angry when anyone compares Benny Blanco to him in his younger years, which is implied to be SuspiciouslySpecificDenial. The 2005 prequel establishes young Carlito as just as ruthless, but a much better man than the cocky, sycophantic and misogynistic jerk Benny is.
22	* AddledAddict: Kleinfeld becomes one as his cocaine use increases.
23	* AllGirlsWantBadBoys: beautiful, angelic ballerina (stripper!) Gail hooks up with drug dealing gangster Carlito and is sucked into his world.
24	* AlliterativeName:
25	** '''B'''enny '''B'''lanco from the '''B'''ronx.
26	** '''T'''ony '''T'''aglialucci.
27	* AnachronismStew: The movie is set in 1975, but...
28	** Riker Island's prison barge, where Kleinfeld visits Tony, didn't exist back then because the New York City Department of Corrections did not start using prison barges until 1988, and the Bain Correctional Center (which was used as the filming location of that scene) became operative in 1992.
29	** Songs that didn't exist yet such as "Disco Inferno", "I'm Your Boogie Man" (both from 1976) and "Got To Be Real" (1978) are used.
30	** The scenes at Grand Central Terminal show it in its 1993 state when it had just recently been renovated and cleaned up. At the time the movie takes place it was in horrible disrepair and absolutely filthy.
31	* AmoralAttorney: Kleinfeld is probably the worst kind of crooked lawyer. He steals $1 million from his own mob boss client, Tony Tagliaucci, then double crosses and murders him and his son. He also snitches on Carlito.
32	* AndThisIsFor: Vinnie when he enters Kleinfeld's hospital room to assassinate him.
33	-->'''Vinnie:''' There's a delivery for you, Mr. Kleinfeld.\
34	'''Kleinfeld:''' From who?\
35	'''Vinnie:''' ''[pulls out gun]'' From my father, and my brother!
36	* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:Carlito decides to let his lawyer, Kleinfeld, get killed by Vinnie T. for killing Vinnie's father. Then there's also Pachanga, who was killed after betraying Carlito at the end.]]
37	* BadassLongcoat: Carlito's black leather coat.
38	* BadGuysDoTheDirtyWork: And that's "bad" by the standards of a hardcore gangster, because they're TheMafia. [[spoiler: Carlito doesn't bother trying to get any revenge on Kleinfeld for betraying him, he just unloads his gun and leaves, knowing that the Italians are coming to take care of Kleinfeld.]]
39	--> '''Carlito:''' So long, [[spoiler:Dave]]. You got a beautiful future.
40	* BigRottenApple: The film is set in The Bronx, New York's most infamous crime-ridden district and during a time when crime in the city was among the worst in its history.
41	* BaitAndSwitch: Just as Carlito makes it to the train and the police gun down Vinnie T, [[spoiler: Benny Blanco shoots him three times, having been alerted by Pachanga to follow him]].
42	* BeautyInversion: The ruggedly handsome Creator/SeanPenn is nearly unrecognizable as the balding, bespectacled and generally sleazy David Kleinfeld.
43	* BenevolentBoss: Carlito is always polite and respectful with Rudy and the other waiters at the bar he owns, unlike the previous boss, Saso, who barks orders. When Rudy pesters Carlito about Benny Blanco's (very arrogant) request that he send Stephie to him, Carlito knows Rudy is just doing his job and reassures him that he'll handle it.
44	* BigBadFriend: [[spoiler: Kleinfeld has already sold out Carlito to the FBI with trying to frame him of cocaine dealing, even having offered to testify against him. Though interestingly, the FBI believe Carlito's attempt to go straight is genuine, and try to use him to instead bust Kleinfeld.]]
45	* BittersweetEnding: [[spoiler:Though Carlito dies in the end, Gail makes it out to the Bahamas with their unborn child.]]
46	* BoomHeadshot: [[spoiler: The way Vinnie T. disposes of Kleinfeld]]
47	* BottomlessMagazines: Averted. After firing a Colt .45 seven times, Carlito runs out of ammo and has to pretend to reload to scare some thugs.
48	* BrandishmentBluff: During the first shootout, Carlito steals a gun from the Dominicans and goes through the entire magazine before taking cover. Realizing he's out of ammo, he still pantomimes and boasts that he's reloaded. Even though the Dominicans should know better, they're still terrified of a vengeful Carlito Brigante and run out.
49	* BrooklynRage: Tony T., despite being Italian, is this flavor of threatening, being a stocky, brutish, meat-head with a Noo Yawk accent who promises Kleinfeld to "snap [his] neck like a breadstick".
50	* CallForward: Several lines in the 2005 prequel:
51	--> "You ain't X no more, <name>. You a Y now."
52	--> "Hey, remember me? <Name> <Nickname> from <place>?"
53	* CassandraTruth: Carlito has the problem of not listening to warnings from anyone that isn't a gangster.
54	** Gail constantly warns him about Kleinfeld. [[spoiler: She was right, Kleinfeld tried to sell him out to Norwalk the minute he got cornered.]]
55	** He also ignores Saso [[spoiler: who informs him Pachanga is spying for Benny Blanco. This one costs Carlito his life.]]
56	* ChekhovsGun: Kleinfeld's .38 snub-nose
57	* ChekhovsGunman: [[spoiler:Literally. At the end of the movie, after seemingly managing to avoid certain death, Carlito is gunned down by a young gangster he had several brief run ins with throughout the film.]]
58	-->[[spoiler:"Remember me? Benny Blanco from the Bronx?" * ''BLAM BLAM BLAM''* ]]
59	* ChronicVillainy: Subverted. Carlito is unwittingly involved in several crimes, but he never directly perpetrates any himself. Unfortunately, the FBI and others suspect him of this.
60	** Played straight with Kleinfeld however; the guy seems genuinely incapable of doing anything honestly. Norwalk informs Carlito of some of the crimes they suspect him of.
61	* ClusterFBomb: Kleinfeld when he's high on cocaine, contrasting his nerdy outlook. Also Benny.
62	* CombatCueStick: At a drug deal meeting with his nephew, Carlito makes a show of teaching some goons a trick shot at their pool table. When his nephew's dealer ambushes and kills the nephew, Carlito smashes a goon in the face with a cue before grabbing his gun to shoot his way out.
63	* DamnItFeelsGoodToBeAGangster: [[{{Deconstruction}} Deconstructed]] throughout the film. Everyone who believes in this trope is a young wannabe (or at best, an up and comer) that hasn't been in the game long enough to see how much it sucks. Older gangsters who've been in it awhile, such as Carlito, know the downside to the gangster life and have no illusions about it.
64	* DiabolusExMachina: See HopeSpot and FaceHeelTurn.
65	* DeliberatelyMonochrome: The opening scene is presented in black and white, with a SplashOfColor for the "Escape to Paradise" billboard Carlito stares at.
66	* {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler: Vinnie T]] takes at least two or three to the chest, drags himself covered in his own blood across Grand Central Station, and still keeps shooting.
67	* DirtyCoward: Kleinfeld is an untrustworthy, treacherous weasel who will use or sell out anyone he has to save his own skin.
68	* DisappointedInYou: Carlito feels something between disappointment and pity whenever he sees Kleinfeld slipping into some completely needless asshole behavior, like snorting coke, treating women badly, making an ass of himself or [[spoiler: killing a mob boss]]. [[spoiler: Even when he finds out Dave betrayed him, his reaction is not to get mad, but to berate him, covertly unload his gun and sarcastically tell him that he has a "beautiful future" ahead of himself.]]
69	* DiscriminateAndSwitch: Tony T. to Kleinfeld.
70	-->'''Tony T.:''' I never liked you, Kleinfeld. Not because you're a Jew, huh. [[SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX I know plenty of Jews]]. No, cause you're a lying piece of shit!
71	* TheDon: Tony T. is, if not a Don, a major mafia heavyweight, and he wants Kleinfeld to help him escape jail. He also openly states that he has very nasty things planned for Kleinfeld should Kleinfeld refuse.
72	* DrugsAreBad: Kleinfeld's cocaine habit culminates with him making big, stupid mistakes and then bigger and more stupid mistakes to try and cover up his earlier blunders.
73	* DutchAngle: Used pragmatically - whenever the camera tilts, it's levelling two or three faces which are at different heights. As it happens, [[MoodMotif this positioning occurs in especially tense moments]].
74	* EnemyMine: Defied by Carlito. [[spoiler: Norwalk offers Carlito complete immunity and asylum on the Bahamas with Gail if he testifies against Kleinfeld once he reveals the latter's betrayal. Carlito refuses because he places HonorBeforeReason and gets his revenge on Kleinfeld by emptying his pistol, not cooperating with the police.]]
75	* EvenEvilHasStandards: Tony T makes clear that his dislike of Kleinfeld has nothing to do with the latter being Jewish, even noting that he knows and gets along just fine with plenty of Jewish people.
76	* ExactWords: [[spoiler: Benny told Carlito that if he didn't kill him outside of the club that if he ever saw him again, he was going to kill him and boy he wasn't lying...]]
77	* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: Carlito's final voiceover has him calmly accept his death.]]
78	* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Carlito's best buddy Pachanga sells him out to a rival gangster, in the very end.]]
79	* {{Fanboy}}: Though he's a general thug and low-rent hood to others, Benny Blanco shows nothing but respect for Carlito (at least, the former version of Carlito).
80	* FatalFlaw:
81	** Either Carlito's past, his code of loyalty even to those who put him back InHarmsWay, or his determination to stay straight.
82	** Kleinfeld's stemming inferiority complex, which [[spoiler:leads to putting Carlito into deep trouble after he botches the Rikers Island breakout.]]
83	* FatIdiot: Saso (now Ron) who's vain, naïve and easily pushed around by tougher gangsters such as Carlito or Benny Blanco.
84	* {{Foil}}: Contrast Carlito's determination to stay straight with Kleinfeld's efforts to dig himself into a hole of his own corruption and stupidity.
85	* ForegoneConclusion: See HowWeGotHere.
86	* {{Foreshadowing}}:
87	** [[spoiler:Pachanga is mentioned early on to be interested in selling Carlito out.]]
88	** [[spoiler: Carlito's narration lampshades his treatment of Benny was a bad move, alluding him being more vicious than he let on for when he gets fatally shot by him in the end.]]
89	** Kleinfeld's gun.
90	--> ''''Kleinfeld:''' Would you fucking put that away? It's loaded! [[spoiler: ''(Not anymore.)'']]
91	* FreudianExcuseDenial: Invoked by Carlito at the start. He notes that his mother died when he was very young and how many criminals he's known with similar stories who use that as an excuse before shooting down that idea, saying he was already a "mean little bastard" when she was still alive.
92	* GambitPileup: Carlito once his mistakes catch up to him. [[spoiler: After Kleinfeld's death, Saso tries to steal his money and that costs him valuable time when he has to run for his life from Vinnie T. and company; after he narrowly escaped them, he's shot by Benny Blanco, whom Pachanga sold him out to.]]
93	* GangBangers: Guajiro, Carlito's cousin who's still in high school but already an errand boy to the local drug mob. He's really proud of it and hero-worships Carlito, but gets killed for it.
94	* GenreSavvy: Carlito is experienced and perceptive enough to see when a situation is pointing south and survives many plots that would have put anyone else out of business. At the end, when betrayals pile up, it gets too much and even then he acknowledges he should have trusted his gut about a few things.
95	* GoodCopBadCop: Bill Norwalk as the bad cop, always being stern and menacing, and his Hispanic assistant Valentin whose role is to butter Carlito up [[spoiler: to testify against Kleinfeld.]]
96	* FriendVersusLover: [[SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan Gail]] doesn't like [[ToxicFriendInfluence Kleinfeld]] ''at all'' and tells as much to Carlito, insisting that he cuts ties with him. Justified since Kleinfeld is acting erratically and possessively out of insecurity, [[spoiler:as well as anxiety because [[ThisIsYourBrainOnEvil he is planning]] Tony T's murder]] and really does get Carlito in trouble.
97	* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:Carlito was killed before he could escape on the train with Gail.]]
98	* HiddenWire: Norwalk's M. O. Carlito gets out of jail because Norwalk bungled one of these and taped him in an illegal fashion. He then sent Lalín, one of Carlito's past friends comes by for a visit, to have Carlito find Lalín, to get intel on who Carlito's selling drugs to (no one). Lalín claims he turned it off beforehand. [[spoiler: Since later Norwalk only cites "word on the street" on the fact Carlito is clean and he has no reason to hide the fact he sent Lalín, he may have really turned it off.]] Later Norwalk reveals he used it again to tape Kleinfeld [[spoiler: framing Carlito]].
99	* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Kleinfeld could have killed Vinnie in the hospital and saved both himself and Carlito, but Carlito made sure that couldn't happen by removing all of his bullets beforehand. By indirectly killing Kleinfeld and saving Vinnie, Carlito unknowingly causes his own death.]]
100	* HonorBeforeReason: Carlito in several instances, but it leads him into trouble. See TragicMistake.
101	* HopeSpot: [[spoiler:Carlito gets away from the Italian mobsters chasing him and it looks like he's going to make it to the train, but then Benny Blanco from the Bronx does Carlito in for petty revenge...]]
102	* HowWeGotHere: The movie starts with Carlito on the gurney.
103	* HyperAwareness: Carlito's ability to read the room and intuitively sense danger is what enables him to survive so far. It's demonstrated early on with the drug gang and then in the finale [[spoiler: when he sees Vinnie T disguised as a cop and thinks "that face and that uniform don't go together".]]
104	* IJustWantToBeBadass:
105	** Gaujiro, Carlito's wannabe {{Gang Banger\|s}} cousin, looks up to him but [[spoiler:gets killed for his efforts during a drug deal.]]
106	-->''You said they were your friends, but there ain't no friends in this shit business''.
107	** Kleinfeld when he pulls a gun on Benny Blanco. Carlito just tells him it's going to get him killed. [[spoiler: Ironically, it might have saved him when Vinnie came to the hospital, but by then Carlito had caught wind of Kleinfeld's betrayal and secretly unloaded his revolver.]]
108	* IKnowYouKnowIKnow:
109	** Kleinfeld and Tony T. who's pretty sure he ripped him off for 1 million dollars. [[spoiler: He was right.]]
110	** Norwalk and Carlito [[spoiler: about Carlito being with Kleinfeld on the boat when he murdered Tony and Frankie T.]]
111	* InspectorJavert: Subverted with Norwalk. [[spoiler: While initially being hell-bent on busting Carlito (Lalin says he "has a hard-on" for Carlito), he lets go of that and at the end even offers him complete immunity if he helps bust Kleinfeld instead.]]
112	* ItsAllAboutMe: David Kleinfeld, who has the unfortunate character traits of a chronic inferiority complex and a massive ego.
113	* ItWorksBetterWithBullets: [[spoiler: Carlito secretly unloads Kleinfeld's revolver so he's unable to defend himself against the mafia hitman waiting outside.]]
114	* JerkassHasAPoint: Tony Taglialucci is quite rude and aggressive towards Dave Kleinfeld because he (correctly) suspects that Kleinfeld skimmed $1 million in bribery money.
115	* JuniorCounterpart: It's frequently said that Benny Blanco is a younger version of Carlito. Carlito thinks Benny is just a cheap punk, (and, it's implied, [[IHatePastMe sees a lot of himself that he doesn't like in Benny]]) and does not take kindly to these comparisons.
116	* JustTrainWrong: Amtrak trains to Miami, Philadelphia, and other points south from New York City leave from Penn Station, not Grand Central Terminal. Likely intentional, as Grand Central is more photogenic than Penn Station since the latter's demolition in the early 1960s.
117	* KarmaHoudini: [[spoiler:Benny Blanco from the Bronx]] not only escapes his karma, but [[spoiler:defies Carlito's as well]].
118	* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler:Kleinfeld and Pachanga at the end.]]
119	* KickTheDog: After all the trouble Carlito went through to help him, [[spoiler: Kleinfeld has already betrayed him to the FBI anyway.]]
120	* KosherNostra: Kleinfeld, who's already an AmoralAttorney working for the mob, goes down a path to become a gangster himself, and he's Jewish, making him this by default.
121	* TheLoinsSleepTonight: Implied by Steffie when she tells Carlito that Kleinfeld can't have sex with her due to all the coke he does, which is and can be a permanent side effect to drug abuse.
122	* TheLoad: Averted with Tony T's people. You'd think a morbidly obese guy like [[FatBastard Joe Battaglia]] would slow them down [[spoiler: when they chase Carlito at the railway station. Sure, Joe stops to catch his breath after climbing an escalator, but he looks down and notices Carlito lying down on he descending escalator. If he hadn't, they would have missed him.]]
123	* TheMafia: Tony T. and his family are gangsters of Italian origin, and at a time when the mafia still ruled the New York underworld.
124	* MartialPacifist: Carlito's a seasoned criminal with a feared reputation, but he still wants to live a peaceful life before leaving New York. He only shows anger and violence against guys like Saso, Lalin, and Benny Blanco after they really push his buttons.
125	* MayDecemberRomance: It's never really commented upon but Carlito is considerably older than Gail (Al Pacino is twenty-four years older than Penelope-Ann Miller.)
126	* TheMillstone: Kleinfeld gets Carlito out of jail. After that, he only gets in the way of Carlito's goal to clean up his act.
127	* TheMole: Carlito's friend Lalín is wearing a wire as part of the FBI's attempt to bust Carlito, but he's found out quickly. [[spoiler: Also Kleinfeld and Pachanga.]]
128	* MyGirlIsASlut: Carlito isn't incensed at all when he sees Gail dance at a strip club. On the contrary, he's captivated. Later he enjoys watching her moves when she dances with some Italian guy at a bar, not jealous in the slightest. The one who acts possessive then is Kleinfeld.
129	* {{Narrator}}: Carlito narrates throughout the movie, stream-of-consciousness.
130	* NeckSnap: Tony T. threatens Kleinfeld with that. "Like a breadstick".
131	* NervousWreck: Kleinfeld. It's a result of his {{White Collar Crime}}s, paranoia, inferiority complex and the drugs. [[spoiler: Selling his best friend out and planning Tony T's murder take a toll on him too]]. It's all in stark contrast to everyone else's NervesOfSteel.
132	* NiceToTheWaiter: Carlito treats the waiter, Rudy, with enough respect, unlike patrons like Benny Blanco or the club's previous owner, Saso, who constantly yells at him and orders him around.
133	* NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished: [[spoiler:In an altercation with Benny Blanco, Carlito roughs up and humiliates Benny, but chooses to spare Benny's life, despite knowing that doing so is an enormous risk and may make people think he's gone soft, which could put a target on Carlito's back. Benny kills him in return.]] He also helps Kleinfeld out of gratitude for Kleinfeld getting him out of jail which [[spoiler: Kleinfeld repays by trying to set him up to save his own ass.]]
134	* NoHonorAmongThieves: Carlito discovers this the hard way, getting betrayed three times [[spoiler: by Lalìn, Kleinfeld and Pachanga.]]
135	* NoodleIncident: Characters would often talk about incidents and people from the past that aren't in the movie. Example:
136	-->Oh, Carlito! I heard of you, man. You used to run smack with Rolando.
137	* NotSoDifferentRemark: A strange kind. Benny Blanco is not assuming more than anyone else [[ReformedButRejected that Carlito never changed]], and tries to treat him with the utmost respect. Carlito however still thinks he is trying to pull this off and violently rejects him, obviously because of [[IHatePastMe how much Benny reminds him of himself at the peak of his younger criminal days]].
138	* NotSoHarmlessVillain: [[spoiler:Benny Blanco at the end.]]
139	* OffOnATechnicality: Carlito got out of jail because of a prosecutor's mistake.
140	* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Kleinfeld has an absolutely epic moment of this when he realizes Carlito took the bullets out of his gun, leaving him defenseless against Vinnie Taglialucci.]]
141	* TheOner: During the climax, Carlito arriving at the Grand Central and avoiding being seen by his pursuers is presented as an uninterrupted take that goes on for nearly three minutes.
142	* PayEvilUntoEvil: [[spoiler:Kleinfeld]] uses Carlito to murder a prominent criminal because of his own egotism and gets Carlito a mark on his back from [[spoiler:the Mafia]]. Carlito lets him have what is coming to him by arranging his death.
143	* PillowPistol: [[spoiler:Kleinfeld]] keeps one while he is recovering in the hospital. Carlito tells him to keep it in plain sight [[spoiler:and unloads it]]. Cue OhCrap from [[spoiler:Kleinfeld]] before he is shot by [[spoiler:Vinnie T.]].
144	* PretenderDiss: Carlito does not like gangster wannabes. At all. The problem is the guy he directed the comment to, [[spoiler: Benny Blanco]], wasn't a gangster wannabe. He was a young modern version of Carlito himself. It's even pointed out in the film.
145	-->''"Maybe I don't give a shit! Maybe I don't remember the last time I blew my nose either.. Who the fuck are you, I should remember you? What, you think you like me? You ain't like me motherfucker, you a punk. I've been with made people, connected people. Who've you been with? Chain snatching, jive-ass, maricón motherfuckers. Why don't you get lost? Go a head, snatch a purse. Come on, take a fuckin' walk."''
146	** The original novel and the prequel show that Carlito was indeed better than Benny Blanco, but not for what he's accomplished as a gangster. Behind his tough exterior, Carlito was honorable and hated having to be a gangster, which is why he decided to get away from that after he got out of jail. He would also never treat a woman the way Benny treated Stephie. Benny had all of young Carlito's ruthlessness but none of the honor and [[YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame Carlito didn't appreciate the superficial admiration of someone like that]], especially because [[OldShame he hated that side of himself.]]
147	* POVCam: Carlito on the gurney.
148	* PrisonChangesPeople: Carlito resolved to live lawfully after his experiences in prison.
149	* ProperlyParanoid: Tony T is absolutely right to suspect Kleinfeld of stealing from him.
150	* ProtagonistTitle: The name of the movie refers to Carlito Brigante leaving the gangster life behind.
151	* PsychoStrings: When Kleinfeld visits Tony T. in prison. [[spoiler: It serves to foreshadow Kleinfeld's villainous schemes.]]
152	* ReallyGetsAround: Steffie sleeps with both Benny Blaco and Kleinfeld, then later bluntly asks Carlito why he never tried to sleep with her. This is true of a number of her friends too, as they start turning a party of Kleinfeld's into a semi-public orgy, much to Kleinfeld's chagrin.
153	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Norwalk, the prosecutor who sent Carlito to jail to begin with. He's resentful of seeing him go free but he does acknowledge that he has been making a genuine effort to keep clean and as such [[spoiler: doesn't believe when Kleinfeld tries to set him to save his own skin and instead makes Carlito the offer to testify against Kleinfeld and receive immunity and plane tickets out of the country.]]
154	* ReformedCriminal: Carlito Brigante, or so it seems.
155	* {{Retirony}}: Carlito is resolved to get out of gangster life, but it just keeps sucking him back in.
156	* RewardedAsATraitorDeserves: [[spoiler:Benny Blanco]] is smart enough to dispose of [[spoiler:Pachanga]] after his betrayal of [[spoiler:Carlito]].
157	** [[spoiler: Carlito lets Kleinfeld be killed by a vengeful Vinnie T. by emptying his gun.]]
158	* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Vinnie T., after [[spoiler:his father Tony T. and brother Frankie T. are killed in the botched Rikers Island breakout. Unfortunately, Carlito gets mixed up in it.]]
159	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Neurotic, insecure Kleinfeld who gets pushed around by criminals (and is sick of it) and confident, calm Carlito who's a LivingLegend in the underworld.
160	* ShadowArchetype:
161	** Benny Blanco is an unpleasant reminder of how nasty Carlito used to be.
162	** In a meta-example, Carlito is this to Tony Montana from ''Film/{{Scarface 1983}}''.
163	* ShoutOut:
164	** When he visits Gail at night, Carlito takes a peek into her apartment by [[Film/TheShining putting his face into the half-closed white door]].
165	** Carlito's sarcastically refers to himself as "[[Literature/TheLeatherstockingTales The last of the Mo-Ricans]]" in the final narration.
166	* ShoutingShooter: One of Vinnie T.' s hitmen yells his lungs out while chasing [[spoiler: Carlito]] in the final scene.
167	--> '''Sony Manzanero:''' [[AtomicFBomb MOTHAFUCKAAAAA!]] I'LL KILL YAAAAAAA! MOTHAFUCKAAAAA!
168	* ShutUpKirk: Kleinfeld at the end when he gets sick of Carlito berating him on his morals:
169	--> '''Carlito:''' [[spoiler: Never betray your friends, Dave.]]\
170	'''Kleinfeld:''' Fuck you and your fucking self-righteous "code of the goddamn street". Did it get you out of a 30-year stint in jail in 5 years? No, it didn't. I did. Did it get you acquitted four fucking times? No, I did. Your whole world is this big and there's only one rule - you save your own ass!
171	** ShutUpHannibal: Carlito just brushes it all off.
172	--->'''Carlito:''' [[DisappointedInYou "Save your own ass!"]] [[spoiler: ''leaves him to do exactly that, having just unloaded his gun'']]
173	* SignatureMove: Norwalk and his HiddenWire. He pulls it on Lalin and [[spoiler: Kleinfeld]]. Possibly something to do with how his illegal use of it got Carlito out of jail, so he's trying to prove himself again.
174	* SissyVillain: Somewhat justified (the sissy part) with Carlito's EvilFormerFriend [[spoiler: Lalìn]], who rats him out to the FBI and is a whiny and broken shell of himself. Not so justified with [[spoiler: Kleinfeld]] at the end.
175	* {{Slimeball}}: Kleinfeld. The guy doesn't have a single redeeming quality. He's smarmy, scheming and utterly dishonest, and has deep-seated insecurities that cause him to [[BoisterousWeakling lash out at people who can kick his ass effortlessly]]. He also treats women like crap and is a coke addict. He gets in over his head into evil schemes and when he can't pull his weight, he has to drag other people (Carlito) to get him out of his messes. [[spoiler: He also framed Carlito, his best friend, despite knowing full well he's staying clean, just to get Norwalk off his own back. The kicker? He didn't even have to do that - Norwalk didn't even ask about Carlito before Kleinfeld offered his fake story.]]
176	* SomeoneToRememberHimBy: [[spoiler:Carlito himself finds out that Gail had an unborn child before dying.]]
177	* SpiritualAntithesis: As noted above, it's practically a complete inversion of ''Film/Scarface1983'', including by way of a ShoutOut:
178	** The protagonist is quickly involved in a scene where they're about to be unwittingly killed, but fight their way out of it.
179	** In ''Film/Scarface1983'', Tony Montana is utterly incensed by someone dancing with his sister, his... [[BrotherSisterIncest ''love'' interest]]. Here, Carlito takes pleasure in watching his ''actual'' love interest dance with a man who's similarly skilled, and comments on appreciating the beauty of their movement. Of course, it's Kleinfeld who takes offence to this...
180	* StaircaseTumble: Carlito subjects Benny Blanco to this while kicking him out of his club.
181	* SubwaysSuck: The climax is centered on Carlito rushing to reach Gail at the Grand Central Terminal and get out of town together, all while avoiding the assassins chasing him through the crowded New York subway system.
182	* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Tony T hates Kleinfeld for being a slippery lawyer but wants his help in breaking out of jail. [[spoiler: He has a good reason since Kleinfeld did rip him off, but Kleinfeld kills him first]].
183	* TimeSkip: Lampshaded. After the murder of Carlito's cousin, Pachanga offers his condolences. Carlito is annoyed that he's only saying this now, when a month has passed. Other than Carlito having made a bit of money in the club, there are no obvious signs that any real time has passed besides this line.
184	* TooDumbToLive: Kleinfeld makes many mistakes in his constant paranoia and feelings of inferiority, leading to [[spoiler:the majority of the trouble for Carlito after the breakout and his own KarmicDeath in the end.]]
185	** Most of his betrayals Carlito couldn't foresee, but not paying [[spoiler: Pachanga]] and ignoring the rumors he hears about him [[spoiler: spying for Benny Blanco]] is a case of this trope.
186	* TooKinkyToTorture: Gail teases Carlito that if he doesn't break down her door, chase her around, get her naked and force herself upon her she won't succumb to his charms. He promptly fulfils her fantasy.
187	* {{Tragedy}}: ''Carlito's Way'' is a tragedy of character in the backdrop of high-risk, stark gangster life.
188	* ATragedyOfImpulsiveness: Carlito Brigate himself is pretty level-headed, but his lawyer friend David Kleinfeld dooms the entire cast by [[spoiler:impulsively killing his mob boss client during a jailbreak. This might be a subversion, though, as Carlito suspects that Kleinfeld planned to kill the mob boss all along and played Carlito himself for a fool.]]
189	* TragicMistake:
190	** Carlito probably would have avoided all his troubles [[spoiler: with Tony T. had he'd told his friend Kleinfeld to take a hike]] but his personal code prevents him from doing so.
191	** [[spoiler: Carlito's death at the hands of Benny Blanco from the Bronx would have been all avoided had he left Benny Blanco from the Bronx alone in the nightclub, killed him like Pachanga wanted to, or just gotten rid of Pachanga who everyone knows can't be trusted.]]
192	** Alternatively, actually paying Pachanga could have kept him from selling Carlito out.
193	** Simply not tipping his hand about leaving town, especially to [[spoiler: Pachanga]], would have made for a happy ending.
194	** Carlito doesn't know it, but by personally taking revenge on [[spoiler: Kleinfeld]], he prevented him from shooting [[spoiler: Vinnie]]. With [[spoiler: Vinnie dead]], Carlito might have had more time to escape.
195	** And of course, [[spoiler: leaving a beaten and humiliated Benny Blanco alive so he turns up at the last minute and shoots Carlito in revenge.]]
196	* TooDumbToLive: In-universe example. Carlito is ''pissed'' that Kleinfeld would be so stupid as to kill a mafia boss and his son. And this is the same boss from whom Kleinfeld had already ripped $1 million. When he confirms the extent of Kleinfeld's villainous stupidity, Carlito delivers a very cutting remark as to just how in over his head he is.
197	-->'''Carlito:''' [[YouCantGoHomeAgain You ain't a lawyer no more, Dave.]] You a ''gangster'' now. On the other side. A whole new ball game. You can't learn about it in school, and you can't have a late start.
198	* ToxicFriendInfluence: All Carlito wants is to go clean, but Kleinfeld keeps involving him in his schemes. [[spoiler: He makes him an accomplice in a mafia boss' murder, and also tries to sell him out to the FBI who only leave Carlito alone because they know he's clean and want to bust Kleinfeld instead]].
199	* TrappedInVillainy: Kleinfeld. [[spoiler: Ripping one million dollars from Tony T makes him fear for his life since [[IKnowYouKnowIKnow he knows the guy would figure it out and have him killed the moment he's free]]. Thus he needs to kill Tony first and requires Carlito's help. To gain immunity for the theft, he sells Carlito out to Norwalk, while taking care that Carlito doesn't learn about that when Norwalk sends another snitch to listen in on him. In the end the stress, the drugs and his insecurities make Kleinfeld a mess who can't keep track of his own villainy and he gets killed for it, dragging everyone else down with him]].
200	* {{Troll}}: Carlito pisses off the jury at his release trial, turning it into a farce with a speech that the judge thinks fits better at an awards ceremony. He also doesn't miss the chance to mockingly claim he's been "born again like the watergaters", which is an obvious jab at Norwalk for taping him illegally and thus creating the circumstances that allowed for Carlito's release.
201	* TwerpSweating: Norwalk, part of the job description. With Kleinfeld it takes little more than a glare [[spoiler: to make false allegations against Carlito]]. With Carlito, it's a NoSell.
202	* UngratefulBastard:Even after Carlito goes out of his way to help him get out of the mess he's created for himself with Tony T, [[spoiler: Kleinfeld still tries to sell him out to save his own skin.]]
203	* VillainousBreakdown: Under the influence of drugs [[spoiler: and planning Tony T's murder]], Kleinfeld breaks down constantly, whether it's a threat from Tony T, a visit from Norwalk, or making plans with Carlito. At a dinner party with Carlito and Gail the night before Tony T's jailbreak [[spoiler: and his murder]] he loses it and his behavior alarms everyone.
204	* WhatTheHellHero: Even though Carlito had his reasons for sending away Benny's champagne, he would have saved a lot of trouble by just accepting the innocuous gift.
205	* WhiteCollarCrime: Kleinfeld is being investigated for some of these. [[spoiler: Namely, bribery, money laundering and theft of $1m.]]
206	* WhosLaughingNow: Kleinfeld loves to ask people who've threatened him before [[CatchPhrase "How does it feel?"]] when the tables turn. He reveals to Carlito he feels that way about a lot of people.
207	* YouHaveOutLivedYourUsefulness: [[spoiler:Benny Blanco from the Bronx to Pachanga.]]
208	-->[[spoiler:"Naw, you stay here!" ''BLAM'']]
209	* YourApprovalFillsMeWithShame: The reason Carlito hates Benny Blanco. While the younger guy is just as tough and ruthless as he himself used to be, he's also a slimy, petty jerk who bullies those weaker than him and sucks up to the stronger ones. Carlito gets especially irritated because when he first met the guy, Benny acted like a jerk but when he saw it was Carlito he was talking to, he immediately started kissing his ass and kept doing so while bullying everyone else.
210	-->'''Saso:''' Carlito, what are you doing this for? This guy is you twenty years ago!\
211	'''Carlito:''' [[PretenderDiss Never me! Never me!]]
212	----

Context Film / CarlitosWay