Scarface (1983)

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant takes over a drug cartel and succumbs to greed.

Director:

Brian De Palma

Writer:

Oliver Stone (screenplay by)

Stars:

Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer, Steven Bauer

Top Rated Movies #106 | Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Al Pacino	...	Tony Montana
Steven Bauer	...	Manny Ribera
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Elvira
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio	...	Gina
Robert Loggia	...	Frank Lopez
Miriam Colon	...	Mama Montana
F. Murray Abraham	...	Omar
Paul Shenar	...	Alejandro Sosa
Harris Yulin	...	Bernstein
Ángel Salazar	...	Chi Chi
Arnaldo Santana	...	Ernie
Pepe Serna	...	Angel
Michael P. Moran	...	Nick The Pig
Al Israel	...	Hector The Toad
Dennis Holahan	...	Banker

Storyline

Tony Montana manages to leave Cuba during the Mariel exodus of 1980. He finds himself in a Florida refugee camp but his friend Manny has a way out for them: undertake a contract killing and arrangements will be made to get a green card. He's soon working for drug dealer Frank Lopez and shows his mettle when a deal with Colombian drug dealers goes bad. He also brings a new level of violence to Miami. Tony is protective of his younger sister but his mother knows what he does for a living and disowns him. Tony is impatient and wants it all however, including Frank's empire and his mistress Elvira Hancock. Once at the top however, Tony's outrageous actions make him a target and everything comes crumbling down.

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Plot Keywords:

cocaine | gangster | cuban refugee | male protagonist | death of protagonist | 

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Taglines:

He was Tony Montana. The world will remember him by another name...SCARFACE.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Kristy McNichol reportedly wanted the role of Elvira, but Brian De Palma turned her down.

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Goofs

Antonio Montana does not know he was set up by Omar until the trip to Bolivia .

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Quotes

[first lines]
Fidel Castro: ...los que no se adapten... al esfuerzo y al heroísmo de una revolución... ¡No los queremos! ¡No los necesitamos!
[in subtitles: They are unwilling to adapt to the spirit of our revolution. We don't want them! We don't need them!]
Fidel Castro: [Translation word-for-word:... the ones that won't adapt... to the effort and heroism of a revolution... We don't want them! We don't need them!]

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Crazy Credits

We see a proverb at the beginning of the movie that says: "Enjoy yourself, every day above ground is a good day." ANONYMOUS, MIAMI 1981

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Alternate Versions

ABC edited 32 minutes from this film for its 1987 network television premiere.

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Connections

Referenced in Brother (2000)

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Soundtracks

Dance Dance Dance
Performed by Beth Anderson (as Beth Andersen)
Music by Giorgio Moroder
Lyrics by Giorgio Moroder and Arthur Barrow

User Reviews

Exceed to Excess

Every great gangster movie has under-currents of human drama. Don't expect an emotional story of guilt, retribution and despair from "Scarface". This is a tale of ferocious greed, corruption, and power. The darker side of the fabled "American Dream".

Anybody complaining about the "cheesiness" of this film is missing the point. The superficial characters, cheesy music, and dated fashions further fuel the criticism of this life of diabolical excess. Nothing in the lives of these characters really matter, not on any human level at least. In fact the film practically borderlines satire, ironic considering all the gangsta rappers that were positively inspired by the lifestyle of Tony Montana.

This isn't Brian DePalma's strongest directorial effort, it is occasionally excellent and well-handled (particularly the memorable finale), but frequently sinks to sloppy and misled. Thankfully, it is supported by a very strong script by Oliver Stone (probably good therapy for him, considering the coke habit he was tackling at the time). The themes are consistent, with the focus primarily on the life of Tony Montana, and the evolution of his character as he is consumed by greed and power. The dialogue is also excellent, see-sawing comfortably between humour and drama. There are many stand-out lines, which have since wormed their way into popular culture in one form or another.

The cast help make it what it is as well, but this is really Pacino's film. One of his earlier less subtle performances (something much more common from him nowadays), this is a world entirely separate from Michael Corleone and Frank Serpico. Yet he is as watchable here as ever, in very entertaining (and intentionally over-the-top) form. It is hard to imagine another Tony Montana after seeing this film, in possibly one of the most mimicked performances ever. Pfeiffer stood out as dull and uncomfortable on first viewing, but I've come to realize how she plays out the part of the bored little wife. Not an exceptional effort, but unfairly misjudged. The supporting players are very good too, particularly Paul Shenar as the suave Alejandro Sosa.

Powerful, occasionally humorous, sometimes shocking, and continually controversial. "Scarface" is one of the films of the eighties (whatever that might mean to you). An essential and accessible gangster flick, and a pop-culture landmark. 9/10

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

9 December 1983 (USA)

Also Known As:

Scarface

Filming Locations:

485 West Matheson Drive, Key Biscayne, Florida, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,597,536, 11 December 1983

Gross USA:

$45,408,703

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$66,023,585

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

170 min 142 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (original release) DTS (Blu-ray release) (DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1