Review of Scarface (1983) by Napstrpsx — 30 May 2011

Perhaps my favorite movie of all-time. Often compared to legendary heavyweight The Godfather, and often as inferior. That is to a large point understandable depending on your taste. However, Scarface is a very different film. I like that it manages to fit in a lot more humor and I find the very human characters the big draw. The Godfather has a much more calculating tone, whereas Scarface is much more volatile.

What makes the movie so great is that it doesn't hold your hand and tell you what to think of Tony Montana or anyone else. It lets you take its wide cast of colorful characters. To me, Tony is a manifestation of very human desires - but he has a fascinating drive, passion, and intensity that is unparalleled. While it is a cautionary tale, I find plenty to admire in him. Unlike Michael Corleone in The Godfather, he is not thrown into the dark world of organized crime - he largely throws himself in. (with the help of hard drugs) But, we understand where his lust for the American Dream comes from when we consider his smothered upbringing.

I feel that the movie has aged very well and isn't nearly as cheesy as a lot of movies from its era. It did what it set out to do. Sit back and enjoy the ride.