Directed by:
Michael Bregman

Written by:
Michael Bregman (screenplay)
Edwin Torres (novel)

Cast:
Jay Hernandez (Carlito Brigante), Mario Van Peebles (Earl), Luis Guzmán (Nacho Reyes), Sean ‘Puff Daddy’ Combs (Hollywood Nicky), Michael Kelly (Rocco), Giancarlo Esposito (Little Jeff), Jaclyn DeSantis (Leticia), Burt Young (Artie Bottolota Sr.), Mtume Gant (Reggie), Domenick Lombardozzi (Artie Bottolota, Jr.)

For some unexplained reason, Michael Bregman – the producer behind Carlito’s Way (1993) – thought it somehow necessary to bring a prequel to this great gangster film to television. Then again, maybe it’s not so strange: I haven’t read Edwin Torres’ novels, but I can imagine the source material is compelling.

The movie draws from Torres’ book series on the criminal life of Carlito Brigante, specifically the first book, also titled ‘Carlito’s Way’. Brian De Palma’s 1993 film took that title because, at the time, they chose not to use the second book’s title, ‘After Hours’, to avoid confusion with Martin Scorsese’s 1985 movie of the same name.

The story revolves around a young Puerto Rican, Carlito Brigante, who starts a heroin-dealing ring with his Black partner Earl and Italian partner Rocco. In this sense, the title Rise to Power isn’t really suitable – they’re already fairly established from the start.

True, they’re small compared to New York’s real power players: the Bottolota family also known as the the Pleasant Avenue Gang, and Hollywood Nicky, who run the city’s drug trade. Still, the trio is accepted, albeit under certain conditions.

Things go well at first, but then Earl’s brother shows up and he’s a loose cannon. The peace the boys have built isn’t going to last.

Jay Hernandez, who also appeared in Hostel around this time, doesn’t have the charisma or acting chops to come anywhere close to portraying a young Al Pacino. This is distracting. Add to that a terrible love plot, and the beginning is pretty bad. The second half is more engaging, as the problems that erupt are entertaining, but then it ends in a way that almost completely undoes the ending of the original.

In the end, this is only worth a look for gangster film completists like me. Otherwise, there’s little to enjoy here.

Rating:

Quote:
CARLITO BRIGANTE: “Buy the ticket. Catch that plane, and never come back. Otherwise your parents gonna be using that money for your funeral.”

Trivia:
Luis Guzmán played a big part in Carlito’s Way. He also appears in this movie, but in a different role.