YMMV / Carlito's Way

• Adaptation Displacement: Many people don't even know that the film was based on the novel much less its sequel.
• Catharsis Factor:
  • After all the shit he's pulled and all his horrid behavior, seeing Kleinfeld get his head blown off by Tony T's son is enormously satisfying.
  • Pachanga getting shot by Benny Blanco from the Bronx seconds after betraying Carlito is quite satisfying.
• Funny Moments:
  • Benny Blanco (from the Bronx) tries getting it on with Carlito in the nightclub after some rassling. It doesn't end well for him.
  • Dave Kleinfeld completely losing his shit upon seeing Louie getting a handjob in front of his villa.
  • Also see You Have Out Lived Your Usefulness.
  Carlito: Saso, man. That's Saso. Used to be Ron.
• Moment of Awesome:
  • Carlito taking down a group of mooks with a pool cue and managing to convince them he's reloaded after running out of ammo.
  • The entire hospital confrontation, culminating in Carlito taking the bullets out of Dave's gun and allowing him to get killed by Vinny T.
  Carlito: Adiós, counselor.
  • The final chase and shootout through the Grand Central station is a thrilling action climax directed, edited and scored to perfection. Ending up making its Hope Spot conclusion so much more crushing. You really believe that Carlito will run away with Gail after proving himself to be so awesome, and Benny Blanco suddenly showing up to gun him down always feels like a Cruel Twist Ending even though the movie's prologue established that Carlito will get shot.
• Moral Event Horizon: When Kleinfeld kills Tony T and his son.
  Carlito: There's a line you cross, you don't never come back from. Point of no return. Dave crossed it. I'm here with him. That means I'm going along for the ride, the whole ride. All the way to the end of the line, wherever that is.
• One-Scene Wonder: Viggo Mortensen as the wheelchair-bound Lalin.
• Retroactive Recognition: John Ortiz makes his film debut as Carlito's cousin.
• Spiritual Licensee: This film alongside another De Palma flick Scarface (1983) and Miami Vice was one of the main inspirations for Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with Tommy Vercetti's lawyer Ken Rosenberg basically being an Expy of Dave Kleinfeld.
• Tear Jerker: Although a Foregone Conclusion already, Carlito gets shot just before he makes it with Gail on the train.
  Carlito: Tired, baby. Tired.
• Vindicated by History: As is so often the case with Brian De Palma, this films was pretty much shrugged off and dismissed when it came out. It's now widely regarded as one of his masterpieces, alongside Blow Out and Scarface (1983), some even preferring it over Scarface for having a more sympathetic main character.
• Wheelchair Woobie: Lalín, blackly introduced as a "stand-up guy".

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