Book Review: "Sonny Boy" by Al Pacino

I had been waiting for this book since last year and honestly, I don't think anyone is disappointed by this giant narrative about one of Hollywood's most beloved and talented megastars. One of the last true movie stars of his era to still be alive and working, Al Pacino is perhaps one of the most expansive actors with the most range. From the iconic Michael in The Godfather Trilogy to portraying Shylock and doing that incredible speech in The Merchant of Venice. From Dog Day Afternoon to his Oscar-winning performance in Scent of a Woman. When it comes to Al Pacino, nobody could possibly have anything bad to say about him and this book goes on to prove that and solidify his space in movie history as one of the greatest actors to ever live.

As we open the story, we see Al Pacino's upbringing as one fraught with conflict and that is inner-conflict. First of all, we know that his parents split up and that he was also raised in a small home with a big family at a time when the Italians of America were not treated very nicely at all. He talks about his childhood as if it were, though, the best time of his life. He had friends, he went places and he did things - something that many of us (I'm talking about us millennials) did not experience at all. So, good for him that he was able to use something to overcome the adversity of the time. It was a stunning few chapters.

Another one of the sections goes through his time in the theatre and I thought that this was especially something great because who would not want to listen or read about Al Pacino's time acting in theatre? Of course, nobody. He is one of the greatest of all time and so, when it comes down to it there is a lot to learn there, but also Pacino keeps us entertained by mixing in parts of his social life with the theatre performances. For example: there is quite an odd decision he has to make when going to perform Richard III by William Shakespeare. This decision effectively ends a relationship he was having.

When we get on to his fame concerning The Godfather it is not too much of a new thing since we have already been told about it many times beforehand. Al Pacino tells us the story of how he worked with Marlon Brando and how he found his place in the world of acting. I will say that the reader must get ready for him being incredibly modest about his role and even though he acknowledges it made him famous, he does not talk too much about the fact that it is revered as being the most iconic role in all of 20th century cinema. He attributes it to working with Coppola whereas, I believe that Coppola should attribute the success of the trilogy to working with Pacino. But then again, that's just me.

As we move through the book we get a taste of everything that Al Pacino has encountered in his film time including the rock bottom that he was once in and the people he has met over the course of the years. I will have to say though that Pacino though a great storyteller, is not so good at owning his achievements so get ready for him to be incredibly humble about everything from earning himself a place in the theatre groups to getting his Oscar for Scent of a Woman. Be that as it may, it is a brilliant book on the whole.

All in all, I thought that this book was one of those that we could all possibly learn something from. For example: even someone like Al Pacino has his bad days and if I know that then maybe I can feel slightly better that I might be able to get through my own. And again, Al Pacino has had such incredible wins that have changed the landscape of 20th century cinema which we can regard as something we are thankful for. This has possibly been one of the most amazing autobiographies I have read to date let alone this year.