Review of Scarface (1932) by Matthew D — 25 Aug 2018

A raucous blaze of glory.

Scarface (1983) is Brian De Palma taking everything about the 1980's and turning it up to 11. The girls, cocaine, guns, dealing, and debauchery is unlike any other gangster movie. This is De Palma moving the camera across atrocity. He points out the flaws in these criminals that you love to watch, but you cannot take your eyes away from the violence. It is intense, funny, and poignant. Witness corruption, bribery, and gunfire with a reckless abandon.

Al Pacino is the real star of Scarface. You laugh at his jokes and listen in to his Cuban accent, but you are stunned by his brashness and cunning. Pacino's plays Tony Montana with a vicious flair that you cannot help but love. It's an eccentric performance for an eccentric time. Scarface is as intense as Pacino ever gets.

Michelle Pfeiffer is gorgeous and sultry as Elvira Hancock. You'll never forget Pfeiffer after seeing her in Scarface. But she is not just a pretty face. Pfeiffer takes on the greed and boredom of the mob's hedonism and addiction with a sincere passion. I love her role in Scarface. She shines a mirror on how depraved and unsustainable their lifestyle really ends up.

Similarly, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio is excellent as Gina Montana. She portrays a good woman trying to live her life, only to have it upended by Tony Montana's ambitions and selfish desires. She has several memorable scenes to her credit.

Next, I would like to give a shoutout to the supporting actors Steven Bauer and F. Murray Abraham for their respective parts. I like how they play the henchmen characters quite a bit.

Notably, Scarface is first major credit for Oliver Stone. Stone wrote Scarface. No easy feat, but an admirable one as his memorable one liners and complex crime plot are excellently written. Stone had greatness all lined up for him clearly with how deep his characterization of Tony Montana dives and how he sets up the fall of Scarface. It is a testament to great screen writing that Stone wrote Scarface with such iconic characters and quotable lines.

Lastly, Giorgio Moroder scored Scarface. His haunting synths and escalating sounds underline the tumultuous nature of Scarface and all its violence. Moroder is just a phenomenal composer. His numerous musical accomplishments speak for themselves, Scarface being another brilliant piece of art.

Overall, Brian De Palma directed another gangster epic with Scarface. Like his movie The Untouchables, this is as classic and influential as they come. Enjoy the greed of it all.