Scarface (1983) Universal/Action-Drama RT: 170 minutes Rated R (pervasive language, strong graphic violence, brief nudity, sexual references, strong drug content) Director: Brian De Palma Screenplay: Oliver Stone Music: Giorgio Moroder Cinematography: John A. Alonzo Release date: December 9, 1983 (US) Cast: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia, Miriam Colon, F. Murray Abraham, Paul Shenar, Harris Yulin, Angel Salazar, Arnaldo Santana, Pepe Serna, Michael P. Moran, Al Israel, Dennis Holahan, Mark Margolis, Michael Alldredge, Ted Beniades, Richard Belzer, Paul Espel. Box Office: $44.6M (US)/$65.1M (World)
Rating: ****
“For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”
I’m probably misquoting the Biblical saying, but it’s the first thing that popped into my mind when Cuban drug lord Tony Montana (Pacino, The Godfather I-III) gazed upon the phrase “The World Is Yours” on the side of a Goodyear blimp in Scarface. Directed by Brian De Palma (The Untouchables), it’s a blood-soaked, bullet-ridden story of the American Dream turned into an American tragedy.
De Palma’s remake of the classic 1932 gangster movie isn’t a mere rehash. He updates the material, thereby creating a new masterpiece. He starts by adding historical context to his tale of crime, capitalism and greed with the incorporation of the 1980 Mariel Boatlift. I think it’s time now for a quick lesson in 20th century history. When the Cuban government announced they’d be granting leave to any and all citizens that wanted to immigrate to America, then-President Fidel Castro emptied the prisons and mental health facilities and sent them to Miami along with the refugees looking for a new life in a free country. Out of this mass exodus, a cocaine king is born.
Small-time hood Tony Montana arrives in America with big aspirations. He and his best friend Manny (Bauer, Thief of Hearts) are sent to Freedomtown, a Cuban refugee camp situated under I-95, where they bide their time until an opportunity comes along. In exchange for assassinating a former member of Castro’s government for powerful drug lord Frank Lopez (Loggia, Psycho II), they’re given their freedom along with green cards and menial jobs as dishwashers. It isn’t enough for Tony. He wants more.
Frank’s right-hand man Omar Suarez (Abraham, Amadeus) sends Tony and his friends- Manny, Chi Chi (Salazar, Walk Proud) and Angel (Serna, Vice Squad)- to buy a large quantity of cocaine from Columbian dealers. In the movie’s most infamous scene, the deal goes horribly wrong and Angel is dismembered with a chainsaw in front of Tony. Manny and Chi Chi storm the apartment just in the nick of time to rescue Tony who then executes the gang leader in the street.
With buy money and cocaine in hand, Tony presents it personally to Lopez who shows his gratitude by taking him under his wing. Of course, Tony isn’t satisfied being a mere errand boy for Lopez. He starts doing things without his boss’ permission like negotiating an unauthorized deal with Bolivian drug lord Sosa (Shenar, Best Seller). Tony also flirts openly with Lopez’s girlfriend Elvira (Pfeiffer, Grease 2). The two men eventually part ways with Tony striking out on his own. After an attempt on his life at a crowded nightclub, Tony executes Lopez and takes over his drug empire.
As we all know, a quick rise to the top is usually followed by a hard fall. In this case, it’s mainly because Tony gets addicted to his own product. He becomes extremely paranoid and mad with power. He’s fiercely protective of his younger sister Gina (Mastrantonio, The Color of Money), the only member of his family who wants anything to do with him. His mother (Colon, City of Hope) rejects him when he shows up at her home with money and promises of a better life, calling him a disgrace to all hard-working Cubans. ANYWAY, his downfall is one of epic proportions. It’s topped by one of the bloodiest, most spectacular shoot-outs this side of a Sam Peckinpah movie.
Scarface is an impressive piece of filmmaking. Working from a screenplay by Oliver Stone (Platoon), De Palma shows us how the American dream can become a nightmare in the wrong hands. Tony wants it all and wants it right away. Power is just as intoxicating and addictive as alcohol or drugs. His craving for money and power masks a tragic figure, one brought down by his own greed and hubris. Pacino gives a dynamite performance in the role. He makes you believe whole-heartedly that his character has gone insane with power. Not that he had far to go to begin with. His relationship with his sister borders on some kind of incestuous obsession. He gets violently jealous when he sees her with other guys. This too will lead to tragedy. Pfeiffer is equally terrific as a gold-digging coke whore with a heart of ice. She has an unforgettable scene in a fancy restaurant where she finally tells off an extremely stoned Tony after he comments to Manny that her womb is so polluted he can’t even make any babies with her. It’s one of many great dramatic scenes in this movie.
Scarface features a few truly electrifying scenes of violence. Some of it is over the top, but it suits the movie perfectly since Tony is also OTT. I don’t mean this in a negative way either. It feels just right for a movie made in a time of excess and hedonism- i.e. the 80s. The violence in Scarface caused a debate between De Palma and the MPAA. They kept slapping it with an X rating, but eventually changed it to R after a panel of experts confirmed it was an accurate portrayal of the real-life drug underworld. In a move I greatly admire, De Palma secretly released the uncut X version to theaters. LOL! Take that, ratings board!
De Palma really is a first-rate director. He would go on to make a couple of other great gangster dramas, The Untouchables and Carlito’s Way. With Stone’s help, he fleshes out the characters, steering away from depicting them as crime movie clichés. They’re not the cookie cutter drug dealers seen in countless action movies; they’re people who deal drugs for a living. Giorgio Moroder’s brilliant score adds a lot to this Scarface. He’s always been a talented composer, winning Oscars for Midnight Express and Flashdance. The cinematography by John A. Alonzo is top-notch. There are some truly impressive shots like the infamous chainsaw scene where the camera slowly pans from the motel room to Manny and Chi Chi waiting in the car and flirting with a girl back to the room’s interior where Angel is about to be dismembered.
Ultimately, Scarface is about the American dream gone out of control. It’s about a megalomaniac who really believes the world is his. It’s about the lavish lifestyle of a criminal. It’s a kick-ass action flick. It’s a movie classic. Scarface is many things and they’re all GREAT! It’s a quintessential entry in the gangster canon.
