I’m not going to pull any punches here. It’s been sad watching the career of Al Pacino the last few years. It’s been like watching a once great boxing champion… maybe one of the greatest of all times… hang on too long and getting his face beat to a pulp in just about every fight he takes now.
Righteous Kill
S1mone
The Recruit
88 Minutes
Two For The Money
These aren’t just bad movies… he was bad in them. The one bright shining ray of hope from him in the last 10 years was his BRILLIANT performance in the 2004 version of The Merchant of Venice where he played Shylock the Jew. No seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him better.
Word is now coming out that Pacino is taking on the historic character of Napoleon in the upcoming film “Betsy and the Emperor. The good folks over at MovieWeb give us this:
In a story from The Hollywood Reporter, Al Pacino will be playing Napoleon in the adaptation of Staton Rabin’s children’s book “Betsy and the Emperor.” GC Corp. picked up rights to the project that had been originally owned by the Bob Yari Co. John Curran (The Painted Veil) will direct the movie from a screenplay by Brian Edgar. Production on the film will begin in late autumn.
Considering how well he did the last time he was handed a legendary character (Skylock), I’m anxious to see how Pacino steps up to this one. The old champ may get beat a lot… but I still root for him when he gets in the ring.
I think the real problem for Pacino is that he doesn’t seem to know what roles he is meant to play. His recent sort of “cop” roles have also been really bad films.
There are great parts for him, he just doesn’t seem to be able to find them. Napoleon could be amazing.
John, you’ll be happy to know that Pacino will be doing King Lear on Broadway, and there is talk that a film version may happen as well.
I think Al Pacino would benefit greatly if he realized he should be playing parts suitable for his age, he can’t pull off the same characters he did in the late ’80s and early ’90s. Righteous Kill is a great example of this.
I mean Al Pacino, age 68 (69 on April 25), will be playing Napoleon, a man who died when he was 52.
some have already been mentioned but yeah he was good in Angels in America. Insider and Any Given Sunday were both 99 so long time ago but still good.
I went to see the Merchant of Venice when this new theater opened by my house. It was opening weekend for that film and I swear that on a saturday (early around 7) no one was in the theater except me and my two friends. Movie was fantastic and no one watched it! Such a shame.
I know it’s a mini-series but he was really good in Angels In America, and well there was also Insomnia. Most of his work recently hasn’t been very good though.
hoo-haa!
alfredo is still awesome baby.
HOO AAH!!
xD
Hey! I liked The Recruit!
=]
me too
Me 3!!! That was a cool movie.