| Scarface | |
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Tony Montana (Pacino) is a criminal with a violent past, shipped out to America as part of a purge by Fidel Castro to rid Cuba of the gangs plaguing the country. Refusing to settle for a moderate existence, Montana and his friend Manny (Steven Bauer) are quickly hired by a local drugs baron to take care of business. Having some success and coming into money, Montana returns to his mother and sister (Mastrantonio) to try and make amends for earlier misdemeanors. Although his mother refuses to even acknowledge her wayward son, Gina is delighted to see her brother. This leads to an uncomfortable tension between to two which is compounded when Manny begins to fall for Gina as well... much to the fury of the over-protective Tony. In the mean time Montana himself is set on taking it all from his 'boss' including the trophy wife (Pfeiffer) and lucrative business contacts in South America. As Tony sits on top of his world with more money than he can spend he begins to break his own rules, chiefly getting 'high' on his own supply. As he struggles to trust anyone around him, the corrupt police begin to turn on him as do his friends. The once loyal South Americans turn on Tony for botched attempts to keep him out of prison and it all leads to a brutal conclusion. Having played GTA: Vice City far too much a few years ago, i am overly familiar with most of the films locations including Montana's mansion. It is as clearer sign of the excess that grips Tony as any of the copious cocaine snorting on show. Pacino manages to play Montana as an entirely dislikable character... and yet also makes him into a hero to millions. There isn't a rap artist out there who wouldn't quote lines or steal poses from Tony Montana, even the black and white poster has gained cult status.  Beneath all the show-stealing however there are some subtle moments which Oliver Stone has written into the fast-paced script. The relationship between Gina and Tony builds throughout the film, and her happiness appears to be intrinsically linked to her Brother's desires. Also De Palma manages to show quite cleverly show the lack of satisfaction in the lives of the characters, no matter how much they own or take. That's something Jay-Z and the rest would be well advised to take on board as well as the fast cars and sharp suits. Rating: **** Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Robert Loggia Cassam Looch |
As part of the ongoing re-releases from Universal, this iconic 1983 gangster epic is one of those i have managed to miss/avoid up until this point. Sure i know the lines (and the LINES if you catch my drift) from the film, but i've never sat through it's entire 163 minute runtime and never been tempted by the late night TV outings or by that DVD sat in the corner. 
