Pacino's accent was an abomination
Anyone thought he sounded convincing as a Puerto Rican?
shareAbsolutely not, but Puerto Ricans I know don't care because they're smitten that an Italian guy portrayed them on the screen.
Contrast that with actually casting a Puerto Ricans and those same people would shoot them down as "not a real Puerto Rican" because he speaks Spanish like a Yanqui or some shit like that. LOL
"They're smitten that an Italian guy portrayed them on the screen".
Wasn't he supposed to be a Puerto Rican of Corsican descent?
And isn't Al Pacino Sicilian?
I don't recall anything like that. There's a brief scene at the club where NY Mafioso mention to Carlito that he looks Italian though. Either way, he doesn't sound PR, Corsican, or Italian. If anything he sounds like a Cajun version of Fofhorn Leghorn. Al used the same accent in "Scent of a Woman", "Heat", "Devil's Advocate", and "City Hall"
share"If anything he sounds like a Cajun version of Foghorn Leghorn. Al used the same accent in 'Scent of a Woman', 'Heat' 'Devil's Advocate' and 'City Hall' "
This! ๐
I definitely agree with that. Al Pacino is no doubt a generational talent, but he unfortunately began "mailing it in" during the 90's and onward.
As they call it. His "ho hah!" phase.
To answer your question. I can't remember exactly where I got that from? Or if it was mentioned in the book. But haven't you noticed that Southern Europeans (Spanish, Italian, Portuguese) don't look that much different from white Hispanics? At least, phenotypically. Which is why Antonio Banderas (Spaniard) could get away with playing a Mexican in "Desperado". The aforementioned Pacino, not only played a Puerto Rican in this particular movie. But also a Cuban in "Scarface". And let's not forget that Andy Garcia (Cuban) played an Italian in Godfather III. And that Colombian kid that also played an Italian in "Bronx Tale".
Al Pacino playing a Puerto Rican makes more sense to me than Viggo Mortensen does. And don't get me wrong! I love the guy as an actor. But when I think of BORICUA, DE PURA CEPA! Viggo Mortensen is last thing that comes to mind! ๐