Al Pacino is the best of the best when it comes to acting. he is king when it comes to crime/drama but he has proven several times throughout his career that he can act exceptionally well in a variety of roles. If you have not seen many Pacino flicks, then start with the ones on this list, as they are his best.
10. The Godfather Part III - Rushed into production, and originally conceived to bail Francis Ford Coppola out of financial woe, the final chapter of the trilogy finishes the story of Michael Corleone, and actually does it in a just fashion. Often regarded as the worst in the trilogy, The Godfather Part III is still a damn good movie, and is better than a lot of the shit being made today.
9. Donnie Brasco - Co-starring Johnny Depp, this is another crime drama about an undercover cop (Depp) who goes under the wing of an aging gangster (Pacino). Based on a true story, this relative unknown is a great movie with great acting.
8. Serpico - Based on the true story Frank Serpico, a New York cop who goes undercover to expose police corruption. The character of Serpico is regarded as the ultimate good-guy.
7. Any Given Sunday - Oliver Stone's masterpiece about the lives of the fictional football team the Miami Sharks. The film mostly deals with the life of coach Tony D'Amato (Pacino), and his relationship with the team, as well as the team's owner, Christina Pagniacci (Cameron Diaz). Pacino really delivers in what is arguably his last great role.
6. Dog Day Afternoon - Like many Pacino greats, this film is based on a true story, and tells the tale of a 1972 New York bank robbery gone wrong. There are many powerful undertones in this movie, perfectly paired with the deep, complex character of Sonny Wortzik (Pacino).
5. Heat - Co-starring Robert De Niro, this movie is also a loosely based story about the relationship between a Chicago cop and robber. This movie takes place in the greater Los Angeles area with Pacino starring as the cop, and De Niro the robber. It is an intense thriller that also co-stars Val Kilmer, Ashley Judd, and Tom Sizemore.
4. Carlito's Way - The story of reformed drug kingpin, Carlito Brigante (Pacino), this film also co-stars Sean Penn as his coked-out lawyer friend. After being released from prison on drug charges, Carlito tries to make it in the real world through legitimate business, but finds it is a lot harder than he thinks. The character created by Pacino in this movie, is interesting at the very least, and serves as the cornerstone for a great movie.
3. Scarface - The story of the Cuban, Cocaine Kingpin Tony Montana. Easily Pacino's most quoted character. Tony Montana is the epitome of drug lord, as can be seen in his rise to power and glory on the streets of 19080's Miami. He's brutal, mean, and power-hungry, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have a soft-spot. We see who the true character of Tony Montana is when he starts to reevaluate his morals, and gradually becomes someone else. Chaos ensues for the remainder of the movie, all the way up to the bloody bang of an ending.
2. The Godfather Part II - The 1974 sequel to the 1972 masterpiece. This movie, however, is a masterpiece in it's own right. This movie more closely examines how Michael Corleone runs the family business after his family's relocation to the Nevada. Pacino takes advantage of his time in the second movie to expose the true evil Michael has buried inside him, as well as the many complexities and emotions he expresses. This movie is also great as it tells the early story of Michael's father, Don Vito Corleone, who as a young man, is portrayed by an Italian speaking Robert De Niro. If you loved the first movie, this is a must-see.
1. The Godfather - Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall, and Diana Keaton all co-star with Pacino in this movie, based on the Mario Puzo book of the same name. Puzo co-wrote the screenplay with Francis Ford Coppola, as he did with all three Godfather movies. The movie starts out showing the true nature of the business of the Corleone family, as one of New York's most powerful crime families. It initially shows Michael as the outsider of the family, unlike his father, and brothers. After there is an attempted murder on his father however, Michael's priorities change as he starts to embrace the family business. The real story of this movie is not about Brando's character, Don Vito, but about Pacino's character, Michael, and his transformation from family outsider to mafia kingpin. This movie, along with Part II, show the bigger transformation of a how a good man can become evil. They are also considered to be two of the best movies of all time, especially the first film.
