Al Pacino’s birthday is April 25 and he is now 85 years old. The prolific, charismatic Hollywood actor is best known for compelling roles where he tends to play crime bosses, thieves, or cops. He’s even played the Devil. To celebrate his birthday, why not watch any of the following intense 10 Al Pacino performances? Read on and take your pick.
Most Powerful 10 Al Pacino Performances
1. The Godfather
Second only to Marlon Brando in acting excellence, Al Pacino plays Michael Corleone. He is the youngest son of Vito Corleone, also known as the Don, a Sicilian immigrant and mafia boss. His older brother Frederico (“Fredo”) is too timid, and his other older brother Santino (“Sonny”) is too hot-headed for handling the family business. Radiating a dangerous aura, he initially went to college and joined the Marines before returning home. As the up-and-coming heir to the crime family, Michael is wise and gets his siblings out of trouble. This movie was known as Pacino’s breakthrough role.
2. The Godfather: Part II
The saga continues as Michael Corleone succeeds his father after his death. He attempts to control casino operations in Cuba to legitimize the family business. However, he is also harboring many enemies and a desire for vengeance. There is an assassination attempt on the Corleone house. Diane Keaton as Kay, Michael’s wife, shocks everyone when she says, “It wasn’t a miscarriage. It was an abortion, Michael. Just like our marriage is an abortion.” Definitely one of the best and among the 10 Al Pacino Performances.
3. The Godfather: Part III
Michael Corleone finally tries to remove himself from the mafia and all past associations, but still ends up getting his loved ones hurt. His best line from this movie is, “Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgment.” While not as powerful as the previous two Godfather movies, it is still one of the top 10 Al Pacino performances as part of the Francis Ford Coppola series, and Michael’s character development.
4. Serpico
Al Pacino is Frank Serpico in Serpico, a film about an incorruptible New York City cop. His character gets him shunned and put into dangerous situations by his partners. He goes public with his accusations of corruption when his superiors ignore him, making him a target.
5. Scent of a Woman
Scent of a Woman is a melodrama, but you could also say it’s a comedy in a dark sense. A retired Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army, Frank (played by Pacino) is blind and difficult to deal with. He also needs looking after. A young high schooler, Charlie, needs the money and agrees to care for him over Thanksgiving. Little does Frank’s niece know that Frank will be spending it in New York.
6. The Devil’s Advocate
Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) has big dreams as a defense lawyer and wants to settle down and have children with his wife. After accepting a high-powered position at a New York law firm, he learns more about his mentor and the firm’s head, John Milton (Al Pacino). Milton turns out to be more than just a corrupt lawyer as Lomax’s wife, Mary Ann (Charlize Theron), has frightening, supernatural experiences. This made the list for 10 Al Pacino performances because of how well he plays the Devil, who is also Lomax’s father.
7. Carlito’s Way
An iconic ’90s movie, Carlito’s Way is about a former prisoner who tries to put his past criminal life behind him. It’s an incredibly realistic, grouned drama where Pacino plays the main character wanting to redeem himself against an inescapable life of crime.
8. The Panic in Needle Park
Heroin addiction is not romantic, but that doesn’t mean heroin addicts can’t have love. Pacino plays one half of a young couple struggling with the drug while living in New York City. It’s a harsh, gritty, dramatic look at the difficulty of a relationship under the influence.
9. And Justice for All
Here is a dramatic satirical film where Al Pacino plays Arthur Kirkland, a Baltimore defense attorney. His cases are filled with violent crimes until one day he is asked to defend Judge Fleming. Fleming is accused of brutally assaulting and raping a young woman, and Kirkland already hates him. However, he is initially keen on defending his innocence until he discovers evidence to the contrary.
10. Dick Tracy
When you have a cast that includes Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, Madonna, Dustin Hoffman, and James Caan, it’s going to be a great movie. This crime action movie stars Pacino as Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice, who is the leading crime boss in what resembles 1930s Chicago. He kills his rival, Lips Manlis, after tricking him into signing the deed over to Club Ritz. Then, he steals his girlfriend Breathless Mahoney, the witness to his murder. Police detective Dixk Tracy is determined to arrest him and he and his girlfriend Tess Trueheart end up adopting a street urchin named Kid. Caprice is ugly, angry, violent, and tricky, and will stop at nothing to get back at Tracy.
10 Al Pacino Performances of an Incredible Career
For over 50 years and counting, Al Pacino has been gracing us with his magnetic presence on-screen. He’s acted as a lawyer, a cop, an army veteran, a crime boss, a heroin addict in love, and the Devil. Each of these 10 Al Pacino performances is incredibly well-done and in-depth. Whatever movies you choose to watch from this list, even if you repeat them, they will be sure to impress.
