My first thought is Dog Day Afternoon. He's in almost every shot, not overacting, and it's a tense story that increasingly makes things tougher for the inept criminals. Yet scenes like 'Attica!Attica!'are joyous and have you rooting for Al/Sonny all over. I won't spoil the ending, but I first saw this when I was pretty young, and it was hard-hitting. And still is.

Pacino embodies the character of Sonny. Although it's based on true events so may not have gone quite like the movie.

So my vote goes to Dog Day Afternoon.

Jack and Jill

Tough to choose one but from later in his career I loved his turn in Donnie Brascoe. Playing probably the lowest ranked gangster of his career he doesn't go to Loud Al once.

The Godfather

Tricky because I've only seen 23 of his films and wikipedia has him in 54 films. He's done about a dozen belters so going just by how much pleasure it's given over the years I'd go with Heat. Technically probably not his best film but it strikes a nice balance between well made film and great action with some great shoot out chase type gubbins.

My wild card pick might be Cruising.

Can't beat Dog Day Afternoon but it was fun watching the odd Scarface clip after Mark Margolis died.  He has one (attempted) arsed cigs moment that I'd forgotten about, just after he's fucked it--"aye it's no big deal i'll do it next month", a cute but fleeting different side to him

I'll have to watch this thread to see if anyone's into Glengarry Glen Ross, I haven't seen it and wasn't sure whether it's on the bridge to stereotypical Pacino acting

Off the top of my head, Serpico, Dog Day Afternoon, And Justice For All, Carlito's Way

Sea Of Love (1989). Obviously, he's made better films but there was something about this hard nosed murder mystery that took my fancy at the time.

Also I think it must be one of the first movies that used an old jukebox 50's/60s ballad to juxtapose the sentimentality of the American dream with the nightmarish reality of today. Now, that device is a total cliche.

I'm looking at you From on Sky Sci-Fi.

He's such a captivating screen presence in Heat. Didn't fully get his performance the first time I watched the movie, but on each repeat viewing I love his approach more and more. And of course what makes it even better is the understated co-lead performance by DeNiro.

Dick Tracy. Not even a joke.

Glengarry Glenn Ross is an interesting one, as - much like Heat - Pacino goes big but it's clearly part of the character, and he does it in such a way that it's clear that he's playing someone who presents himself as outsized so as to dominate the situation. It feels much more natural in that setting too, as pretty much everyone in the sales room is going big in one direction or another for basically the same reason - it's just that Ricky Roma is the best there is at it.

He's brilliant in Glengarry Glen Ross, although I just love that movie and everyone in it.

Quote from: Mobius on August 18, 2023, 07:07:38 AMHe's brilliant in Glengarry Glen Ross, although I just love that movie and everyone in it.

My opinion also!

Quote from: chuckles on August 17, 2023, 10:45:02 PMI'll have to watch this thread to see if anyone's into Glengarry Glen Ross,

Stagey but I like it. Haven't watched it in a few years but the Baldwin piece will pop into YouTube every now and again and I watched it the other day. Pacino gets a go as well, the whole never open your mouth until you know the shot speech.

If you like men standing in one room all pontificating endlessly to each other it's just the ticket. Great cast as well. Everyone in it is someone.

Pretty much everything that's been mentioned is stellar. I love Glengarry Glen Ross. He is brilliant in Dog Day Afternoon and Serpico and obviously The Godfather. I'm glad Sea of Love got a mention too. A favourite of mine.

I do also like Insomnia which is post "Hoo hah" but a very good performance.

The Local Stigmatic, simply in terms of the absolute near-Stella Street weirdness of Pacino's dog racing obsessed Cockernee 'youth' (even down to the fact, the original play has Pacino's character rattle on about Jimmy Hill, the film, to seem more friendly to Yanks, even though it never got a proper release, changes it to David Frost, even though this is Ultra Quiz '84 era Frost).

You know what I still haven't seen Dog Day Afternoon. I'll have to be boring and pick The Godfather Part II.

Quote from: Glebe on August 18, 2023, 06:09:46 PMYou know what I still haven't seen Dog Day Afternoon. I'll have to be boring and pick The Godfather Part II.

I'm going to hedge my bets and say The Best of The Godfather.

Quote from: checkoutgirl on August 17, 2023, 10:20:57 PMMy wild card pick might be Cruising.

I loved the colourful handkerchiefs in that one.

Serious answer, another vote for Serpico. First time I saw it I was about 14 and gave up halfway through because it was so boring. I didn't know bupkis at 14.

Quote from: George White on August 18, 2023, 08:26:20 AMThe Local Stigmatic, simply in terms of the absolute near-Stella Street weirdness of Pacino's dog racing obsessed Cockernee 'youth' (even down to the fact, the original play has Pacino's character rattle on about Jimmy Hill, the film, to seem more friendly to Yanks, even though it never got a proper release, changes it to David Frost, even though this is Ultra Quiz '84 era Frost).

"Nothing but a dirty little wipPET"

Saw thread title and said to self "Little Big Man!"

but he isn't in that

Quote from: convulsivespace on August 18, 2023, 12:23:37 AMHe's such a captivating screen presence in Heat. Didn't fully get his performance the first time I watched the movie, but on each repeat viewing I love his approach more and more. And of course what makes it even better is the understated co-lead performance by DeNiro.

And he's got a GREAT ASS

Glengarry Glen Ross is Lemmon's film for the most part, but his performance is perfectly underscored by Pacino and works a lot better for it. Pacino largely underplays as a brooding barfly salesman (when he's with Pryce anyway) in comparison to Lemmon's increasingly desperate Gil "Son of a Gun" Gunderson. Their conversation at the end of the film is the standout scene, Baldwin be damned.

His Michael Corleone is the acting that rightly defines him but I still enjoy his hoo hah when I'm in the mood. He seems to be having the most fun in The Irishman and his scene with Stephen Graham in the restaurant is the best part.