How to Pick Al Pacino Films

Al Pacino, considered one of the greatest screen actors in film history, usually portrays fiery characters in films like "Scarface" and "The Godfather" films. He's appeared in dozens of movies, playing everything from a comic strip character to Richard III. Here's how to pick Al Pacino films if you're in the mood to buy or rent a film with some intense acting.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

1. Choose "The Godfather," Pacino's most famous film. Francis Ford Coppola insisted on hiring the young upstart from the Bronx over a handful of well known thespians for this 1972 film. Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corelone, the heir to his father Don Vito's (Marlon Brando) organized crime empire earned him an Oscar nomination. Then watch Al reprise his role in the films "Godfather II and III."

2. Check out Al's other famous early roles. His first major role, he played a drug addict in "Panic in Needle Park." After the first Godfather film made him a household name, he turned in inspiring performances as a sympathetic bank robber in "Dog Day Afternoon" and a doomed race car driver in "Bobby Deerfield."

3. Marvel at Pacino's over-the-top performance as "Scarface," a Cuban immigrant-turned-cocaine-kingpin. Watch "Sea of Love" where Pacino played a hard-bitten New York City detective who falls in love with a potential murderess, played by Ellen Barkin. But Al's role as New York City cop Frank Serpico in "Serpico" remains his most powerful portrayal of New York's finest.

4. View some of Pacino's few comedies and romances. They include the film adaptation of Terrence McNally's play, "Frankie and Johnny," where Pacino stars as a recently released inmate who falls for lonely waitress Michelle Pfeiffer. Al portrayed Big Boy Caprice in the screen adaptation of "Dick Tracy" and received another one of his seven Oscar nominations for his role as Dick Tracy's nemesis.

5. Watch Pacino's blustery performance in "The Devil's Advocate" portraying Beelzebub himself. Despite Pacino's penchant for playing powerful and violent characters, he finally won an Oscar for his role as a blind, womanizing veteran in 1992's "Scent of a Woman."