“Scarface” is the story of Tony Montana (Al Pacino), Cuban refugee and ex-convict, and his rise and fall in the cocaine trade. Tony is a brazen, murderous, opportunistic risk-taker of a man who finds himself doubling down on his life’s gains —until he loses. From refugee, to dishwasher, to errand boy, to the muscle for a prominent drug dealer, the first half of the film focuses on Tony’s meteoric rise. In act two he gambles, biting the hand that feeds and ousting his patron in order to head up his own empire. Though unrestrained and undisciplined, he hits a moral breaking point that sets into effect his ultimate downfall. But not, of course, before a daring last stand (and one of film’s most famous lines: “SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!”).
I loved this film; I hated this film. I honestly don’t know where to land on this one. In the plus column was Pacino’s terrifyingly sharp performance (although, I don’t know if I bought the accent). And then, of course, there’s the brilliant camera-work which purposefully, kinetically, and stylistically drove the film forward even when we spent too long in one place. In the minus column was the plot’s construction and pacing, spending a great deal of time showing Tony’s rise and then squeezing in his paranoia-laden fall. It even resorted to a bad 80’s montage to tell part of this story. Speaking of which, this film remains dated to the 80s in a way that makes it not hold up as well as you think it does.
I guess, despite a clear character story, I kept asking myself, “What is this movie saying?”. That drug dealing is bad? That unrestrained ambition will build you and yet break you? That superior capitalists are successful at masking their domineering, evil instincts? Does a movie even need to say something; or is it sufficient to simply enjoy a film as a badass, anti-establishment, gun-porn flick? For me, I feel like I can appreciate the film on all of these levels but ultimately believe this story has been told before, since, and better.