“Say hello to my little friend!” —Tony Montana
Today’s quick review: Scarface. Cuban immigrant Tony Montana (Al Pacino) gets his shot at wealth and power when drug kingpin Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) offers him a job in his operation. Tony quickly makes a name for himself through his bold moves, keen business sense, and fierce loyalty. But as Tony gets a taste of the good life, he finds himself trapped by his own success, facing boredom, paranoia, and a downward moral spiral he can’t escape.
Scarface is a crime drama from director Brian de Palma. Scarface charts the rise and fall of Tony Montana, a Miami gangster determined to have it all. The movie shows the violent underbelly of the drug trade, where Tony’s fearlessness is an invaluable asset, and the emptiness at its pinnacle. Al Pacino is the glue that holds the movie together, portraying Tony as a passionate and talented man who can still be ruthless and short-sighted.
Scarface excels at showing the hollowness of criminal success. Tony’s life evolves from a cutthroat struggle for every dollar to a world of excess where money is cheap and friends are a rarity. Along the way, he loses something vital to his character, and a significant part of the film’s payoff is his attempt to reclaim what he once had. The nuances of Tony’s character and his situation make Scarface one of the best film portrayals of criminal ambition.
One important consequence of this is that nearly everything that makes Scarface unique is tied to its moral dimension. That makes it a movie that either hits the mark perfectly or misses by a wide margin, depending on the tastes and expectations of the viewer. Those who can identify with Tony’s ambition and lament where it takes him will find it to be a powerful story. Those who don’t commiserate with him at some level will find it to be an empty watch.
Scarface is a strong pick for anyone who appreciates the serious side of the crime genre. The specific type of story it’s trying to tell won’t appeal to some viewers, including those who like having clear heroes or prefer action over drama. But the details of Tony’s rise to power, the morality play once he gets it, and strong craftsmanship throughout make Scarface a movie with a lot to offer for the right audience.
For another iconic look at the world of organized crime, try Goodfellas, Casino, or The Godfather. For a less violent biography about a drug dealer, try Blow. For a down-to-earth depiction of the modern drug trade, try Traffic. For a lighter story about the corrupting influence of money, try The Wolf of Wall Street. For a drama about an arms dealer that follows a similar trajectory with less finesse, try Lord of War.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a gut-wrenching portrayal of the cost of crime, with the potential to be much more for the right viewer.