Learn what makes the Godfather tick? Perhaps not.

Advantages: insight into Al, cheap,
Disadvantages: not enough stories

...If you're looking for a biography on Al Pacino, one of cinemas great actors, then you might like this book. Or not! The book is basically a bunch of interviews conducted by Lawerence Grobel with Al over the years, since the beginning of the Actors career. Lawerence is Pacinos friend and one of a few people Pacino has trusted enough to open up to slightly. If you are looking for a warts and all biography of the Oscar winner, then you won't get it. You will get some interesting thoughts about films Pacino is doing at the time of the interviews or a few snippets into his early life but nothing comprehensive. A few small stories here and there but mainly about his movies. I did like the dialogue that the interviews produced. You learn something about Al's personality reading it. Its unlikely any other book or source would be able to...

rafomania 17.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Al Pacino: The Authorized Biography - Lawrence Grobel, Al Pacino

Al Pacino at his best!!!

Advantages: Believe in the American Dream
Disadvantages: No disadvantages

...Where can you start!!!! Say hello to my little review,haha. I have the DVD, I have the poster, I have the game and I even have the Scarface sticker on my PS3. One time I even had the video, no good now though seeing that theres not many video players around,haha. Al Pacino is one of my favourite actors. This film definately suits the way in which he acts, and is definately a classic. I am sure everyone you know has seen this film and there is a good reason for it. Everyone likes to pretend that they are a modern day Tony Montana. The story follows the struggle of an ordinary man trying to make it big in America. Al Pacino starts off working at a diner and believes that there are better things in life for him and decides to go down the road of being a run around boy and eventually drug dealing. Great story behind...

scouser87 12.05.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Scarface (DVD)

Al Pacino Goes Realtime

Advantages: Thriller delivered by the minute
Disadvantages: A bit TV looking

...I first published this review over a year ago, however in a recent update to the Ciao system the review and the product were jettisoned from the website. As luck would have it though over a year on the movie now is scheduled for a cinema release this summer. So I have updated the review, and made some edits. Anyone seen a good Al Pacino movie lately? I don't believe I have seen a movie of his for 10 years that I'd watch more than once He had a nice run in the 90's Scent Of A Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carlito's Way, Heat, The Devil's Advocate, and on some levels you could even include Frankie & Johnny and Godfather 3; but then it seems, or at least in my eyes he has become the American version of Michael Caine signing to pretty much anything he is offered. 88 Minutes is not a classic, but it's a sign that this star is about to...

sghawken 18.03.2008 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of 88 Minutes DVD

The Burj Al Arab

Advantages: Read Opp
Disadvantages: Price

...This review is about my time at the magnificent and luxury hotel the Burj Al Arab. I was lucky enough to spend two nights at this hotel during New Years Eve and New Years day 2008/2009. I had a friend who?s dad did a tone of import export business and thus I even managed to stay their for free, yes that?s right for free, under the condition that I paid for all my own food, and drink, which I was more than happy to at the time. Now everyone has either heard about this hotel, been their or at least seen the pictures of what it looks like, and let me tell you its even more breathtaking in real life. This review will hopefully give you an insight into the hotel, information regarding all the rooms in particular the one I stayed in, what the facilities are like, what the food and bar is like as well as the service provided by the hotel...

jaygami1986 12.08.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

Al Pacino - a legend

Advantages: Pacino and de Palma again
Disadvantages: It's been done before (not as well though)

...For me this film sees Al Pacino at his best (or certainly close to it), teaming up again with Brian de Palma (Scarface anyone?) this is a superb mobster flick. Whilst many would argue that it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, which is an almost impossible task, it does everything that should be in such a film superbly. Also it includes a barely recognisable Sean Penn, as a coked-up lawyer, who puts in a dazzling performance. The film follows Carlito Brigante's (Pacino) life after he is released from prison on a technicality; once a famous drug dealer Brigante is desperate to go straight but realises that it is almost impossible... his quest is to earn $90,000 and retire onto a tropical island. He tries to achieve this by running a nightclub unfortunately circumstances and his reputation work against him. It ends up...

Mercury 16.11.2000 (09.01.2001) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Carlito's Way (DVD)

Pacino, De Niro, Jack Nicholson et al

Advantages: Brought back happy memories
Disadvantages: none!

...of Tom Cruise's better performances in my opinion too. 5. "You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? You talkin' to me? Then who the hell else are you talking... you talking to me? Well I'm the only one here." ~ Taxi Driver (1976). De Niro talking to a mirror, back in the day when he made first class films. A man on the edge. 4. "Free at last, free at last!" ~ Carlito's Way (1993). One of my favourite Pacino films. 3. "You were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!" ~ The Italian Job (1969). This had both Michael Caine and Benny Hill, what more could you want?. If you see the copy from 2003, you'll see they've taken away a wonderful script and some of the best lines and moved the action to LA, via Venice. 2. "Attica, Attica, Attica!" ~ Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Another favourite Pacino film, this time when he's getting the crowds...

kevin121 17.01.2009 (04.03.2009) · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Top 10 Quotations

Simone with Al Pacino.

Advantages: Shameless satire of Hollywood
Disadvantages: Major plot loopholes, dumb characters.

..."Simone" from 2002, a movie that suffers heavily from major loopholes in the script and plot by relatively still new director, Mr. Andrew Niccol. Some of the problems the movie has though are another overrated and average performance from Al Pacino and actress Catherine Keener. Pacino has delivered some great performances in the past, but recently we've seen him basically play himself, an obnoxious celebrity who thinks he is God's gift to actors. Speaking of which the loudmouth comic, Jay Mohr is extremely funny in this flick. The Plot Viktor Taranksy (Pacino) has just lost one of his major stars, in the middle of making of a movie, because he doesn't want to shell out the money she's actor for. Taransky pathetic life, despite being one of the most s a Hollywood director, is about to change. Luck is about to step in, in...

Gamedude 19.10.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Simone (DVD)

The Inimitable Al Pacino & A Whole Lot Of Drugs

Advantages: gritty, moving, well cast
Disadvantages: depressing, unpolished, cruel

...and the director's opinion but I can tell you this -a junkie is almost invariably neither a good person nor a bad person really, it's just that their addiction often drives them to do things they wouldn't usually do. It is my sincerest belief that the greatest mistake a junkie could do is to start -not what he does after. So this here is a tale of pain, desperation, love, destruction and addiction grittily told through the relationship of Bobby (Al Pacino) and Helen (Kitty Winn) against the backdrop of an intersection of two streets in central New York City known to junkies as Needle Park. The story starts off innocently enough as we see how Bobby and his light-hearted personality catches the eye of out-of-work freelance artist Helen. Soon they both fall in love -him for her beauty and quiet ways, her for his charm and warmth. Almost inevitably...

habitualdamnation 07.04.2006 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Panic In Needle Park (DVD)

FREE DVDs

Advantages: Free trial, large choice, post included,new realeases
Disadvantages: see review

...I like movies and I like freebies, so when you get offered both in one swoop you?re bound to accept! I used my two week free trial with this company and remained with them for a couple of monthsbefore moving on to try many other companies free trials (and winning a new DVD player on Tesco DVD rental site on their free trial offer). I then had an email from DVDs 365 asking me to go back, and offering me a free DVD if I did so. I had just left Tesco (with my new DVD player) so I chose to go back with them. ∆◊◊ THE SERVICE THEY OFFER ∆◊◊ Basically it?s like going to a video shop and hiring films on DVD, except you don?t pay for each film you chose ? rather a monthly fee for which you can watch as many movies as you can fit in, for us this is usually around 8 a month (2 a week usually weekends...

dabmim 15.11.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of dvds365.com

Al Pacino Goes All Jack Bauer

Advantages: Pacino returns to form
Disadvantages: Strong TV cast makes you believe this is a TV movie

...Anyone seen a good Al Pacino movie lately? I don?t believe I have seen a movie of his for 10 years that I?d watch more than once He had a nice run in the 90?s Scent Of A Woman, Glengarry Glen Ross, Carlito?s Way, Heat, The Devil?s Advocate, and on some levels you could even include Frankie & Johnny and Godfather 3; but then it seems, or at least in my eyes he has become the American version of Michael Caine signing to pretty much anything he is offered. 88 Minutes is not a classic, but it?s a sign that this star is about to start polishing his awards again. Jack Gramm is a forensic psychiatrist, as well as doing his actual job, he is a university lecturer and kind of celebrity when it comes to murder trials, his face appears on every TV channel during the big trials, as a result he is a face that is loved....and hated. What starts as...

sghawken 22.07.2007 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of 88 Minutes (DVD)