Name of the Film: Scarface
Starring: Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
Al Pacino plays Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant who wants the world and is more than prepared to take it.
Scarface to me is a classic example of cult cinema. From its constant references on MTV cribs (every house shown has a copy!) to it’s endlessly quotable script (the two most famous being “All I got in this world are my balls and my word and I don’t break them for no one!” and “Say hello to my little friend!”)
It has a place in popular culture now, and it is easy to see why. Its a rags to riches story, a fairy tale for men. Any man wants to be the guy in the room that everybody respects and the character Tony Montana is not afraid to take what he wants. That idea combined with Al Pacino’s charismatic performance is enticing.
So Scarface is brilliant and well loved by many people but in my opinion it isn’t a great film. Don’t get me wrong I think it is awesome but it does have some problems.
The soundtrack has aged badly and most of the characters beyond Tony are incredibly shallow creations with a few of them having no real resolution (Michelle Pfeiffer gets served particularly badly in both respects in this case).
How ever it is a film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone, and those two combined, even if they aren’t on top form, are better than most other people working in cinema today.
Scarface gets by primarily on great dialogue and a great performance by Pacino and both are great enough that most of the other elements of the film don’t really matter.
I think it’s cool even if it does have it’s faults.
Did I enjoy the film? Yes
Would I recommend it to my friends? Yes
Will I buy it on DVD/Blu Ray? Yes I bought it today
If it was a mate would I let it date my Sister? Probably not, he is too obsessed with his own sister to be interested in mine.
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