Did you notice what happened to Al Pacino?

I don’t understand how the Michael Corleone Al Pacino turned into the Al Pacino that has existed ever since. It is not that he is older. It is that he is a totally different person.

This isn’t a new development. By the time Godfather III debuted the Michael Corleone Al Pacino was completely gone and this man was left in his place:

This is not a knock on Al Pacino. He is a great actor. But somewhere along the line, he changed in a way my instincts tell me is abnormal. His voice, body language and aura — totally unrecognizable.

Ravages of smoking?

To be clear, I’m not talking about a young, good looking guy becoming a weathered, older man. Robert Redford shows his age, but he’s clearly still Robert Redford. Deer Hunter Christopher Walken and Saturday Night Live Christopher Walken — older, but the same dude.

This has been bugging me for twenty years through the “HOO YAs” of Scent of a Woman and the (convincing) cackles of The Devil’s Advocate.

It’s like an 80’s-era Aaron Spelling TV show. A power greater than ourselves pulled a mid series body switch on our lead actor and no one cared to notice.

If “Al Pacino” climbs through my window tonight holding a knife in his teeth, I might be onto something. I’ll know I’m right if I get a loud, furious beating rather than a cold blooded offer I can’t refuse.