Now 86 years old, Al Pacino has been a star of the stage and screen for over six decades. Over that time, he’s earned countless awards, including the coveted Triple Crown of Acting. Back in 1994, he even secured his first major Lifetime Achievement Award, which came from the Golden Lion.
Many of these similarly titled awards have followed since, with each major ceremony eventually realising there’s a glaring space on their list in the shape of the legendary actor. In 2027, finally, SAG-AFTRA will honour Pacino with its Lifetime Achievement Award, joining Harrison Ford, Jane Fonda, and Barbra Streisand as the most recent winners.
Hit the Ground Running in the 1970s
Al Pacino made his film lead debut in 1971 with The Panic in Needle Park, seemingly primed to do a film for MGM next. Director Francis Ford Coppola had him down as his first choice for Michael Corleone early, and eventually swayed Paramount to not only cast him, but come to a settlement with MGM to feature in The Godfather.
The Godfather would go on to be hailed as one of the greatest films ever made. The year it was released, it swept awards season, and Pacino was a big part of its success. Both he and Marlon Brando were acclaimed for their performances, immediately becoming Hollywood icons for decades to come.
Pop culture certainly hasn’t forgotten about The Godfather. From its leads to the perfect lighting, shocking set pieces, and music, it’s a film that everyone has to see. It’s even expanded beyond film and into gaming. The 2006 video game went over fairly well, but where the name is at its most prominent now is in Slingo games.
Slingo The Godfather, an officially branded game, draws on all of the most iconic elements of the story, complete with the soundtrack and main characters to fuel the slot-bingo hybrid gameplay. It’s a titan of entertainment, and even though it was only Al Pacino’s second starring role, he’s a huge part of why it remains such a beloved film.
Returning to Those Lofty Peaks
You can debate if The Godfather is more Brando’s film than Pacino’s. With it being about a changing of the guard and a resistant heir taking the head of the family, you can see a balance throughout, even if it’s Brando’s Vito who is very much the iconic depiction of the film. The Godfather Part II puts Pacino fully in the hot seat.
Easily ranking alongside the likes of Aliens, The Terminator, and The Empire Strikes Back as the best sequels ever put to film, The Godfather Part II gets to fully realise the potential of Pacino’s character. It melds his hypnotic performances with a new level of cruelty and frustration under the weight of the crown.
Even so, there’s a case to be made for The Godfather Part II being outranked by a couple of other performances. In one film ranking for the legendary actor, Dog Day Afternoon is put right at the top, with The Godfather splitting it and Serpico before Part II and Scarecrow round out the top five. Given the quality of his performances in each, you’d easily get away with mixing up this top five any way you like, and it’d have a strong case.
Boasting such a storied career, the only surprise about Al Pacino getting the nod for the 2027 SAG-AFTRA Lifetime Achievement Award is that it’s taken until 2027.
