Review of Scarface (1983) by Nbfc — 09 Jan 2018

A loose remake of the 1932 film of the same name, Brian De Palma’s epic chronicle of the violent rise and fall of Cuban drug kingpin Tony Montana (Al Pacino) garnered mix reception from critics upon release due to it’s violence, profanity, and graphic drug use. Since it’s release the movie has gone through extensive revaluation, now regarded as one of the best mob movies ever made and has been extensively referenced in pop culture (especially in hip-hop and most visibly in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City).

Seeming to take a break from ripping off Hitchcock, De Palma ultra-stylized direction gives way to a lot of memorable sequences such as the infamous “chainsaw” sequence and the climactic assault on Tony’s mansion (SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!!). Not only that, but the screenplay written by Oliver Stone (which was written while battling his own cocaine addiction) is littered with endless quotable dialogue and elevates the sleazy gangster affair into an almost Greek tragedy level of high-art.

Al Pacino’s over-the-top accent can get a little grating at times but even though it clocks in at nearly three hours, it never stops being ferociously entertaining.