SCARFACE (1983) / CERT: 18 / DIRECTOR: BRIAN DE PALMA / SCREENPLAY: OLIVER STONE / STARRING: AL PACINO, MICHELLE PFEIFFER, STEVEN BAUER / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
This 1983 Brian De Palma film – a loose updating of the 1932 movie of the same title – tells the gritty narrative of Tony Montana (Pacino), a Cuban refugee who will stop at nothing to become the most successful mob boss and drug trader in history.
Like most jobs rising to the top isn’t going to be an overnight task, but Montana and his associate Manny Ribera (incredibly played by Steven Bauer) have their mind set on violently achieving this vision as soon as possible. Through the gorgeous set pieces and stunning real life locations provided by director De Palma alongside a delicious screenplay crafted by genius writer Oliver Stone that makes every single scene ooze art, this classic achievement in film history has you glued to the screen from the moment it starts.
With quotes “Say hello to my little friend!” and “The world is yours!” still being echoed across the world to this day Pacino’s take on the character has gone on to become highly influential. Playing someone who descends into madness whilst aggressively attempting to grasp his wildest dreams is no easy feat for any actor, but it’s something that he navigates with ease. One standout moment that is maybe overlooked, is when he is at an exhausted rage due to ‘having it all’ and stands up in a crowded restaurant to lash out at the people surrounding him. It may seem like a basic idea, but organic interactions like this make what you see seem shockingly real.
Dismissing thought and reason may be unnoticeable to the dangerous ways of Tony, but it’s something that underlying characters Elvira (Pfeiffer) and his family, especially the scenes with Mama Montana (Miriam Colon) really do pick at. At times they repel off each other in a heartbreaking style, but Tony keeps coming back to them because he gravitates towards the ones that he just can’t quite figure out. Their back and forth is still addictive to watch as they bring Tony’s muddled mind to the forefront for everyone to indulge in.
This special release celebrates the 35th anniversary of Scarface, so be prepared for an array of impressive extra content. We get to see a recent cast reunion interview where Al Pacino, Steven Bauer, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brian De Palma reflect on the cultural impact of the film, how the original concept came together, as well as what it was like to work on. We get background documentaries about the character Tony Montana that even shows real life cops as they try to decipher this uncontrollable personality. For those obsessed fans looking for even more detail, you’ll be delighted to view features on the Scarface video game and TV version. This really is the ultimate Scarface experience.
