All About Al: The Pacino podcast

Carlito's Way is another classic crime movie that Al Pacino has made during his illustrious career. It tells the story of a gangster who tries to go straight and tries to win back the woman he loved & lost. Along the way Carlito's old enemies, and friends, return to try and tempt him back to his old life. One of those old friends is Lalin, a wheelchair user, tries to trap Carlito into talking...

The Godfather Part III receives a lot of criticism. Many were not interested in seeing Michael try to find redemption and live a clean life. However, if viewed as an epilogue, as Coppola suggested, then it gives new life to the film. Also, it shows a man trying to do right by the family he has neglected his whole life. It features a different type of performance from Pacino, one where Michael is f...

The Godfather Part II is seen as one of the greatest sequels ever made. It features Al Pacino reprising his role as Michael Corleone alongside Robert De Niro playing a young Vito Corleone. It's about the rise and fall of the Corleone family. Ambitious and epic in scope is The Godfather Part II. Film critic Jen Johans joins the podcast to discuss this iconic sequel. Johans talks about is the sequel...

The Godfather is arguably the greatest film ever made. An absolute masterpiece. It helped kick-start Al Pacino's career with his masterful portrayal of Michael Corleone. So much has been written about the The Godfather, mainly by men. So, film critic Katie Smith-Wong joins the podcast to discuss this legendary film from a female perspective. Katie talks about how she see's Michael not as a husband...

The Panic in Needle Park was Al Pacino's first starring role in the movies. It's a story of Heroin addict Bobby (Pacino) and his clean-cut girlfriend Helen (Kitty Winn) as they frequent the area in New York known as Needle Park. Directed by Jerry Schatzberg and written by husband/wife duo John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. Released in North America in 1971. The film and it's director were nominat...

American Traitor: The Trail of Axis Sally tells the true story of Mildred Gillars (played by Meadow Williams), who was forced to sing defeatist war propaganda tracks by the Nazis. She was captured by the Americans and sent to trail. Her lawyer James Laughlin (played by Al Pacino) tries to redeem her reputation. This little seen historical drama was released during 2021, when the world was caught u...

Al Pacino playing the Devil should be a big enough sell to anyone. Add into the mix Keanu Reeves, as the hot-shot lawyer who is seduced by a big-time New York City law firm, and Charlize Theron, as his wife who begins to be plagued by visions and nightmares. It's a film that speaks about vanity, ego, greed, jealousy, lust and the loss of innocence. It also features some excellent scene chewing fro...

Glengarry Glen Ross features an all-star cast including Alan Arkin, Alec Baldwin, Jack Lemmon, Ed Harris, Jonathan Pryce and, of course, Al Pacino. Based on David Mamet's play about real estate salesmen trying to get even with their bosses by stealing the good sales leads. Director James Foley joins the podcast to discuss working on the film. He talks about how he first met Pacino, what it was lik...

To celebrate the birthday of Al Pacino (25th April 1940), All About Al: The Pacino Podcast welcomes Jane and Kalie from The Pacino Pod to discuss the man himself and why his filmography is so fascinating. A wide-ranging discussion that takes in a lot of Pacino's work and where Jane and Kalie stand on the good, and not so good, performances he has given through the years. All About Al: The Pacino P...

Any Given Sunday is a exhilarating film about an American Football team. It see's Al Pacino play the coach of the Miami Sharks, an embattle coach who is trying to get his team to all pull in the right direction. He also faces problems from the team's new owner. It's on and off the field turmoil. The film features a huge ensemble cast including Jamie Foxx, Dennis Quaid, James Woods, LL Cool J, Math...

It's rare for Al Pacino to appear in an advert. However, in 2013 he made an advert for Sky in the UK. A brief 1 minute advert advertising their broadband service. It was directed by Peter Lydon. Lydon joins the podcast to discuss making the advert with Pacino. In this discussion, peter talks about how involved Al was with the process, what it was liking directing him and why he received late-night...

Insomnia seems to be the forgotten Christopher Nolan film when discussing the directors filmography. But it stars Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank - three Academy Award winners. How can it be forgotten/overlooked? BBC Radio 2 film critic James King joins the podcast to discuss why Insomnia is such an intense film, how Pacino's performance is so natural and what makes this a great remake....

Dog Day Afternoon is one of Al Pacino's greatest films. It still stands the test of time today. Based on the true story of two friends who try to rob a bank. But the robbery doesn't go according to plan. Released in 1975 and starring Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Penelope Allen and more. It was written for the screen by Frank Pierson and directed by Sidney Lumet. Actor Sandra Kazan disc...

Al Pacino and Michelle Pfeiffer re-team for a rom-com set in a diner in New York City. Adapted from the Broadway play by Terence McNally and directed for the screen by Garry Marshall, it see's Johnny, just released from prison, gets a job in a diner and falls for a waitress named Frankie. He is a bit of a loner and keeps to himself but is determined that their romance will blossom. Romance and mys...

Writer Garry Michael White used his own experiences to write the story for Scarecrow. The film depicted two lone guys joining up to trek across America. It was Al Pacino's third lead role and it placed him opposite Gene Hackman. However, troubles between the two actors and studio interference caused problems when making the film. However, it went on to win the Palme D'or award at the 1973 Cannes F...

Righteous Kill saw the re-teaming of Al Pacino and Robert De Niro after the masterpiece that is Heat. However, their second film together wasn't well received by critics and audiences alike. Australian film critic Blake Howard joins the podcast to discuss what went right and wrong with the film, who is having a good time making the film and why he has never seen the film before. All About Al: The...

Singer/Songwriter Rozalla sang the theme song for Carlito's Way. She also had two amazing experiences with Pacino. She explains how she came to record the theme song, what it was like first meeting Pacino and how their second meeting at the film's premiere was show-stopping. All About Al: The Pacino Podcast is written, edited and presented by Mark Searby. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Al Pacino doesn't get many figures dedicated to him or his characters from toy manufacturers. As it is coming up to the gift giving season and maybe some are looking for an Al Pacino figure for their collection, I talk to ex-Funko marketing guru Chris Sully about what makes a successful Funko Pop, why there are so few Al Pacino figures and whether the man himself would need to give authorisation f...

As Scarface celebrates its 40th anniversary this month, actor Pepe Serna talks about appearing in the film. He discusses how he got the role as Angel Fernandez, Tony Montana's right hand man, what it was like working with Pacino and why he think the film is now bigger than ever. This episode of the podcast ties in with the 4k re-release of Scarface in UK cinemas. Here are the programme notes: http...

Film critic Victoria Luxford talks about her love of the mini-series Angels In America. The show is about several disparate but connected individuals who go through the AIDS crisis in the mid-1980s. The first three episodes premiered on HBO on 7th December 2003. The following week would see the remaining three episodes air. The show would go on to win many awards for its cast and crew. Luxford dis...

International film critic, broadcaster, author and journalist Alan Jones joins the podcast to talk about Carlito's Way. Jones discusses why he thinks Carlito's Way is one of the best movies to feature disco in it and how it gets it right. He also talks about interviewing Brian De Palma and why the director will never forget him. This episode is released to tie-in with the film's 30th annivers...

Roberto Bentivegna co-wrote the screenplay for House of Gucci. Based on shocking real events, the drama is about the Gucci family and how the Italian fashion dynasty was brought to it's knees thanks to betrayal, decadence, revenge -- and ultimately murder. Bentivegna talks about how he worked closely with director Ridley Scott on each draft of the screenplay, who he had in mind for the character o...

Marthe Keller co-starred with Al Pacino in the race car melodrama Bobby Deerfield. Playing the impulsive and enigmatic Lillian, who Pacino's Deerfield falls for while struggling to overcome grief. Yet Lillian has a dark secret herself. Keller talks about how she had to audition for Pacino, what their relationship was like during filming, and afterwards, and why she thinks director Sydney Pollack's...

Gabrielle Anwar starred in Scent of a Woman with Al Pacino. Her screen time might have been less than fifteen minutes, yet her appearance is one of the most iconic sequences from an Al Pacino movie. Anwar discusses how she got the role in the film, what training she went through and what it was like dancing toe-to-toe with Al Pacino. All About Al: The Pacino podcast is written, edited and presente...

COMING SOON! September 2023. A brand new podcast series about the career of Al Pacino. Presented by film critic and Al Pacino: The Movies Behind The Man author Mark Searby, this fortnightly podcast series will be a deep dive into the work of the iconic actor. It will feature interviews with actors, directors, producers, film critics and academic scholars. All About Al: The Pacino podcast begins on...