Pacino detracted from the film

Rating: 7/10 (20 May 2006)

I liked the film a lot. It had some off moments but overall was a tight, fresh film. What spoiled it for me was Al Pacino's character. I must be missing something because everyone loves Pacino so much. But as I consider it, ever since the Godfather III I have felt he is too over the top. And the strange thing is that I really like his earlier work. So either I am off or indeed Al Pacino does not know how to fit his movie star presence into roles. Maybe he was competing with DeNiro in Heat. Yet I thought DeNiro totally brought his character off. SoI found myself rooting for Deniro and not Pacino. Though I do not think Michael Mann wanted either character to be rooted for, cinematically it should have been Pacino.