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(If anything, leaving the limelight at 40 would have only bolstered his artistic credentials.)
And its also true that hes given us a lot of dreck in the last few decades.
And a tenor needs to hit those high notes once in a while.
Even if theyre wrong.
So sometimes theyre way off.
Theres a couple of roles that, you know, the needle screeched on the record.
And yet, the man has given us so many brilliant performances and theyre not all pre-1980.
But before we get to the list, lets go over some caveats.
(Whats my name?
Some of his recent, barely released films are being ignored.
(Sorry,Hangman.)
Ditto his documentaryLooking for Richard.And were setting aside his HBO work, which includesAngels in Americaand the forthcomingPaterno.
What that leaves are some truly skippable movies and some unassailable gems.
Pacino has made some terrible films that will make you wonder why he bothers.
And then you remember the masterpieces and forgive him everything … well, maybe not88 Minutes.
This is possibly the lowest-energy performance Pacino has ever given.
In this case, that would have been alotmore fun.
Actually, thebestyou can say aboutRighteous Killis that its so disposable you probably dont remember a thing about it.
34.City Hall(1996)If Al Pacino ever held public office, hed probably love the public-speaking part.
Pacino plays Manglehorn, an oddball locksmith whose only close friend seems to be a cat.
You watch him and keep thinking,Hey, wow, look: Thats Al Pacino dialing it down.
(It was absolutely destroyed, hesaid recentlyofRevolutions critical drubbing.
The movie was a box-office flop, but its merely bad rather than some sort of fiasco.
Pacino, wisely, would never play a fur trapper again.
30.Gigli(2003)I say everything twice: In in!
Its a nice effort here, but yeah, youll groan a lot.
Its a very actorly movie, full of passionate flourishes and self-indulgent moments.
But lowered expectations going in will certainly help.
22.Scent of a Woman(1992)HOO-HA!
Weve got this movie this low for good reason.
The movie sent him off in the wrong direction in ways that are still apparent today.
Its an embarrassing performance by a great actor totally unleashed and let to roam far too free.
The Academy, of course, gave him his only Oscar for it.
Does Pacino give a rousing game-time speech duringAny Given Sunday?
The movies plot twist Oh shit,Pacino is the Devil!
Pacino has overacted plenty of times, but at least inThe Devils Advocateits kinda justified.
Steven Soderbergh harnessed the mans effortless menace and cool for Willy Bank, the oily nemesis inOceans Thirteen.
role and gnash and gnaw into it like a grapefruit, juices flying everywhere.
The rest of the cast seems to be tiptoeing around him, and who wouldnt?
That doesnt make it less fun for us to witness.
16.Dick Tracy(1990)To date, Pacino has received eight Oscar nominations.
His role inDick Tracyis probably the one people most forget earned him a nod.
Is the note very enjoyable?
Knowing what we know now, its Pacino going full ham, as always.
But to seeyoungPacino doing it … what can we say, its a little bit more innocent and fun.
Scream away, Al.
Youre only young once.
scene first and foremost every time this movie comes up.
We think you know ours.
There are times he almost feels like a dancer here.
But with that acknowledged and lamented, his work inCarlitos Wayremains volcanic.
(For once, Pacino has a worthy sparring partner.)
It doesnt entirely hold up today, but that doesnt make it any less watchable.
Every one of Mamets profanities is a symphony coming from Pacinos mouth.
Seriously, he won forScent of a Womanand not this.
Pacinos last scene in this movie is as silently moving as anything hes ever done.
TheGodfathermovies (1972, 1974, 1990)Youre welcome to dismissThe Godfather: Part IIIas an unfortunate afterthought.
But even then, Michael Corleone remains the character that defines Al Pacinos cinematic legacy.
Pacinos dead eyes inPart IIIshow what a futile dream that was to harbor for the audience and for Michael.
