Title: Scarface
Writer: Oliver Stone
Director: Brian DePalma
Casts:
Al Pacino as Tony Montana
Steven Bauer as Manny Ray
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira
Robert Loggia as Frank Lopez
Year: 1983
“Me, I want what’s coming to me.” “What’s coming to you?” “The world, Chico, and everything in it.” – Tony Montana in “Scarface”
Brian De Palma’s 1983 film “Scarface” chronicles the journey of a Cuban refugee-turned-criminal to the top echelon of the drug trade. Tony Montana, the film’s hero, rises from petty crimes and small jobs to the top of an international drug trading circuit. This is a strictly linear film, with a traditional presentation style. The film features an iconic performance by Al Pacino and is considered a standard of American gangster films. Pacino’s performance in Scarface, roughly a decade after a blockbuster role in “The Godfather” series, showed both his range as an actor and the potential for crime dramas and action films to tell a variety of stories in an aesthetically striking manner. De Palma’s decision to cast Pacino as his hero has a huge impact on the film’s overall effect because the actor has delivered a number of iconic performances in this genre. If De Palma were to have cast an unknown, the film may not have made the iconic impact it did on the gangster movie genre.
The film features a highly stylized appearance throughout. Cars, sets and costumes are impactful because they are modeled after specific idiosyncratic Miami 1980’s fashions. Examples of this are colorful floral shirts and suits, flashy fluorescent dance clubs, gold jewelry, and luxury cars, particularly convertibles with stylized interiors (a convertible with leopard print upholstery makes an appearance) (Robin S, 2011). The film’s original audience certainly would have connected with this element of the film as the 1980’s culture of Miami was relevant on a national scale during this era (Beverly and Houston, 1996).
The film begins with Montana’s arrival in America, in a camp for refugees in Miami, Florida. Montana is paid to murder a dissident Cuban intellectual. However, Montana holds no grudge against this man for his politics. He simply commits the crime in order to further himself. Montana and his friend Manny then leave the camp and begin working as line cooks. The work is unsatisfactory for Montana who has a strong drive to succeed. Montana and Manny become involved with a drug cartel and begin doing small jobs for Frankie Lopez.
While working for Lopez, a drug deal goes bad leading to a violent confrontation that Montana miraculously survives. This scene in particular demonstrates an important aspect of the film: violence. Montana is held at gun point as his associate is brutally dismembered with a chainsaw in front of him. This choice in plot and presentation speaks to the film’s commitment to realism. “Scarface” is a period piece and De Palma misses nothing in his candid depiction of Miami’s Cuban crime wave. The costume and setting, the style of car in the scene, and the situation that unfolds are all referencing a real era of history in Miami (Beverly and Houston, 1996). De Palma is dramatically and faithfully documenting a period in Miami’s history where the drug trade was thriving (Movieclips, 2011).
Montana and Manny continue to rise through the criminal ranks until Montana usurps Lopez and takes control of the cartel. Montana connects with other international drug traders but ultimately falls because of his recklessness and greed. The story takes the form of a criminal parable in its second half as it details Montana’s downfall. Montana is unable to maintain his position at the top of the drug trade partly because of his lack of hesitation to commit extreme acts of violence. This aspect of the film is faithful to its genre. Many crime films feature a “fall from the top” conclusion coupled with a “rags to riches” exposition. Throughout the film the story is told in a forthright and candid manner, focusing on realism and character rather than unique or innovative presentation of events. The movie is conventional in its plot, but excels in the conventions it adopts. It has a striking and unique aesthetic in addition to an intense performance by the lead actor rather than a unique or innovative mode of storytelling.
References
Beverly, J., & Houston, D. (1996). Notes on Miami. Boundary, 23(2), 19-46.
Movieclips. (2011, June 16). Chainsaw Threat – Scarface (2/8) Movie CLIP (1983) HD. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg7goEASO5E.
Robin S. (2011, December 28). Scarface – cadillac scene. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q2b7MWNbmA
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