The Name conjures up images of glamour and violence: Michael Corleone of the Godfather; Serpico, the renegade cop; and Tony Montana, the vicious gangster better known as "Scarface".

Andrew Yule, the critically-acclaimed biographer of Sean Connery and David Puttnam (Fast Fade) was given exclusive access to Pacino's friends and associates, making this the only authoritative biography of one of the most volatile and brilliant actors of our time. Includes many rare photos of Pacino and the women he has loved - on and off screen!

the book can be perceived as not a true bio by some as it doesn't go real deep into al's life...it mainly explores and reveals his work..but then you will find that al pacino's life is "the work"..al pacino is the definition of what a actor is..and you will see that after reading this book..the author yule is given access to lots of sources and it is a authorized bio..as he gives lots and lots of great quotes from marty bergman,charlie laughton,and pacino himself...which are great.

how it goes it is will basically go in order by all the work he's done and it will tell stories about what happened behind the scenes it will give quotes of all the people involved and will show what happened..then afterwards it will always show you what "professional" critics wrote about the work..which i think is a good idea..it sheds light into how the work was perceived at the time...

and what i really took to heart from this book is how much critics are scum..not that the author portrayed them as this..i just can't believe how much critics have without mercy assaulted and attacked pacino...pacino gives his blood to his work...he gives everything...he immerses himself so deeply into his characters that it is almost scary...and sometimes he will put so much work in and so much sweat and then you see these critics sitting on their fat butts just bashing his work..these talentless nobodies destroying all pacino has done..and it is really sad and really angers me..i have really never payed that much attention to "critics" but now i see just how disgusting these people are...to spit on someones art is shameful.

you will learn alot from this book..about al pacino and dustin hoffman and their quiet rivalry of sorts...you will learn about john cazale and james hayden who's careers and lives were ended too short..and you will learn alot about pacino and his work.

i highly reccommend this great book by andrew yule if you are a pacino fan or if you are just an actor or like acting..this should be in every actor's library as an example of what a true actor is.


Great Read   February 17, 2003
panagiota kambouris (Boston, MA United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

Al Pacino: A Life on the Wire is a great book! I am very impressed because even though Al Pacino went through a lot of hard times in his life, he made it. He is a real fighter, and he has proven that people should never give up; they must follow their dreams. Yule presented Al Pacino's life in general in an easy-to-follow way, and the reader can understand things well about Al Pacino as a person. I especially like Al's sense of humor, his passion for his job, and his attitude towards marriage. Al is definitely a free spirit and an accomplished actor!


Kirkus Review in error.   June 4, 1999
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

In response to the Kirkus Review of Life on the Wire: The book does not report that Al Pacino's mother left him at three. She died when Pacino was 22 years old. Pacino's father left the family when Pacino was 3. The book clearly states these facts.