Review of Scarface (1983) by Todd B — 04 Oct 2012

A gangster powerhouse film that features the greatest climax in cinematic history. And I am not kidding. 'Scarface's ending is the stuff of legend. There is literally no better climax to a motion picture that I have ever seen. The shots are absolutely jaw-dropping.

But as for the movie as a whole, Brian De Palma's 'Scarface' is a visual exercise in dramatic pacing, storytelling, and Al Pacino's extremely versatile acting. This film often draws comparisons with what I believe to be the greatest motion picture of all time, 'The Godfather,' since both films are classics and both deal with famous gangster mythology...and both feature a terrific Al Pacino in his two most famous roles. However, the two films, and Al Pacino's characters in both of them, couldn't be more different. They are both gangsters of sorts, yes, but they are two totally different gangsters with totally different motives.

While Michael Corleone descended into the mafia world to protect his family and maintain the dominance of his family's honor and influence, Tony Montana is exactly what the movie poster says he is: a man who loved the American Dream...with a vengeance. An exile from Cuba, Montana is character that, above all else, strives to be himself in the most glorious and violent way possible. One way to realize that potential, and the most appealing way to Montana, is the pursuit of that American Dream --- something that was denied to him during his years as a criminal in Cuba.

Overall, Pacino's Scarface character is a violent, visceral celebration of individualism while also illustrating the consequences of its excess. Montana's ambition knows no bounds, save for the promise to himself to always be himself. In his own lines, "All I have in this world is my balls and my word, and I don't break them for no one." 'Scarface' isn't so much a story of character transformation as it is an analysis of what happens when ambition, rage, and passion are carried to the extreme. The film does this gloriously well. I have seen very, very few character studies better than this.

If you haven't watched 'Scarface,' see it this weekend, even if you are not a fan of gangster films. In fact, you should definitely see it in that case. It is one of the most theatrical, melodramatic (see what I did there?), and passionate displays of organized crime in America. The reason why 'Scarface' resonates so strongly with so many people is that Pacino's timeless performance as a gangster determined to make his mark on the world comes together with a masterful story that tells an unforgettable tell of his rise and fall.

That, and the ending doesn't hurt either. 'Scarface's climax rocks so much because, not only is it entertaining and breathlessly exciting, it also sums up the character of Tony Montana in such a beautiful and tragic way. For that is what 'Scarface' ultimately is: a tragedy of epic and magnificent proportions. I won't say anything beyond that concerning the theme and ending of the film, save for the fact that there simply isn't anything else like them in cinema.