Scarface

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Summary: Scarface
Review: I saw this movie when I was 11, and I felt like this was so cool. Actually, this is THE best gangster movie ever made, while the rest are just typical, ordinary gangland films. Al Pacino plays as a up-and-coming Hispanic drug dealer who has to make a lot of stupid decisions to get rich. His ignorance gets him and everyone else around him to ruination or death. 'Say hello to my lil friend!' Tony Montana rules!

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Summary: Drug Lord Thriller
Review: Top of the line drug lord thriller. Pacino puts on an amazing show making his way from broke to having it all as Tony aka Scarface.

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Summary: This is a horrible movie
Review: I have to admit, I haven't seen such a bad movie since "You've Got Mail." This so called "epic" is a disgrace to all ganster movies. It dragged on for way to long. The entire time I was watching it, I kept wondering, "So when is this going to be over?" The only part of this movie that actually earned that star is the performance put on by Al Pacino. He, of corse, did an amazing job in protraying a cuban druglord...The plot was going nowhere in the first 5 minutes. This movie got way to much credit for a horrible performance!

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Summary: Da Best
Review: This is a movie filled wit excitment from beginning to end. Their is no dull moment. This is a classic. If you enjoy mafia movies, this is just a solo man attempting his own--its Great!

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Summary: Intense Drama from Brian De Palma
Review: In 1983, Director Brian De Palma set out to make a film about the rise and fall of an American gangster, and that he did-- with the help of a terrific screenplay by Oliver Stone and some impeccable work by an outstanding cast. The result was "Scarface," starring Al Pacino in one of his most memorable roles. The story begins in May of 1980, when Castro opened the harbor at Mariel, Cuba, to allow Cuban nationals to join their families in the United States. 125,000 left Cuba at that time, for the greener pastures of freedom in America, and most were honest, hard-working people, thankful for the opportunity they had been granted. But not all. Among the "Marielitos" who streamed into Florida, approximately 25,000 had criminal records and were nothing less than the dregs of Cuba's jails-- criminals considered beyond redemption, who Castro had merely wanted to be rid of. And they, too, saw America as a land of opportunity, even as Al Capone had considered Chicago some fifty years earlier. And among the most ambitious was a man named Tony Montana (Pacino), known to his associates as "Caracortada." Scarface.

Now that he was free of the yoke of Communism under which he had grown up, Montana wanted what he felt was coming to him, and he wanted it now; and from the moment he stepped off the boat in Florida, he was determined to have it all. Wealth and power-- that was Montana's dream, and he would get it by doing what he did best, beginning with a favor for a man living in Miami by the name of Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia). Lopez, it seems, had a brother in Cuba who had met an untimely end at the hands of one of Castro's goons, a man who, having outlived his usefulness to Castro, had been summarily discarded and was currently being held in "Little Havana," along with Montana and all of the Cubans just off the boats, where they awaited their papers from the government that would effect their transition into their new lives. And in short order, Montana sees to it that Lopez's brother has been avenged, and it sets the stage for his own entrance into the underworld of America.

Lopez, a wealthy businessman with the right connections, in return for the favor gets Montana and his friend, Manny (Steven Bauer), released from the holding camp, and puts them to work. In his day, Capone may have had bootlegging as a means through which to line his coffers with illicit gain, but Lopez has the modern day equivalent, and it's even more lucrative: Cocaine. Lopez takes Montana under his wing and indoctrinates him into the life, but once he has a taste of it, Montana isn't satisfied with whatever crumbs Lopez sees fit to throw his way, and he sets a course that will take him to where he wants to be: At the "top." With a cold-blooded, iron will, Montana decides he'll do whatever it takes to get there, no matter what the cost. but before it's over, he will realize the price for his dream, and he'll pay it; but for a brief moment, perhaps he will know what it's like to be The Man. And he will also know whether or not it was worth it.

In step with De Palma's vision, Pacino plays Montana larger-than-life, and he does it beautifully. From the accent he affects (which he researched thoroughly to make sure he got it right-- and he did), to the body language and the attitude, he's got it all, and it makes Montana convincing and very real. What he brings to the role is nuance and style, in a way that few actors (De Niro would be one) can. This is definitely not a character that is sympathetic in any way, nor is there anything about Montana that you can readily relate to on a personal level; but Pacino's screen presence is so strong that it makes him a thoroughly engrossing character, even though it's hard to become emotionally involved with him. It's quite simply a dynamic, memorable performance.

Michelle Pfeiffer gives a solid performance, as well, in the role that put her on the path to stardom. As Elvira, the woman who becomes an integral part of Montana's dream, Pfeiffer is subtle and understated, giving that sense of something going on underneath, while affecting a rather cold and distant exterior countenance. She, like Pacino, definitely makes her presence felt as she fairly glides across the screen with a stoic, enigmatic and sultry demeanor.

The supporting cast includes Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Gina), Miriam Colon (Mama Montana), F. Murray Abraham (Omar), Paul Shenar (Sosa) and Harris Yulin (Bernstein). An excellent precursor to the more recent and highly acclaimed "Traffic," and "Blow," and well as having a climactic scene reminiscent of Peckinpah's "The Wild Bunch," De Palma's "Scarface," originally panned by critics, has since been cited by many as being the definitive American gangster saga. Much of the violence is implied rather than graphic, but this film still has an edge of realism to it that many may find somewhat disturbing. But if you stay with it, there is a lesson to be learned in the end. And like many lessons in life, the most valuable are often the hardest to take at the time. But the reward is always worth it, and that's the way it is with this film.

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Summary: THE RISE AND FALL OF AN AMERICAN GANGSTER!!!
Review: The rise and fall of an American gangster. Brian DePalma's Scarface has to be the best rise and fall gangster film since the original. The chainsaw scene was widely talked about when the film first appeared in 1983. Critics raved angrily about the amount of violence portrayed. But, you don't see as much violence as you think. You never actually witness the gore of the chainsaw cutting through (...). It's mainly the blood just oozing. Brian DePalma couldn't have shown it better (Although the way you see it isn't the actual way the script was written). Some facts:

- Al Pacino states this was ONE of his favorite movies.

- When writing this script in Paris, Oliver Stone said that it was his 'Farewell To Cocaine'.

- Watching Carlito's Way, where Al Pacino and Brian DePalma both teamed up again, you'll find many of the same actor's who starred in Scarface.

- The Executive Producer, Barbera DeFina also produced Ordinary People. Producer Marty Bregman had also produced Taxi Driver and Dog Day Afternoon.

If you've seen Scarface before, and you liked it, don't be stupid. Watch it again.

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Summary: Scarface- A Long, Interesting but Unsatisfying Film
Review: Scarface is a film about a man to invovled with himself, his wealth, and cocaine. Tony Montana, the title character played by Al Pacino is a man thats always is looking for something more. He kills his boss and becomes a crime lord in like 10 minutes of film (??). Scarface starts off really well when Tony is still a young man looking to rise in the crime buisness but then drags on especially with an awful performence by Michelle Pfeifer. Scarface, amoung other things is one of the bloodiest movies ever.. This so called classic has a ludicris ending and turns out to be unsatisfying and shallow.

Rating:
Summary: ** for region 1 DVD, ***** for region 2 DVD
Review: The region 1 is disaster, get the region disc it's much better transfer and print quality is the best i've seen for scaface. good extras on both though. I wish De Palma would do commentary

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Summary: Al Pacino,...among the best of all time
Review: What to say about what I consider to be one of the best performances on screen of all time. Now you wonder, am I qualified to say that? Has he only seen Charlie's Angels and other such neo-trash waste of film? Believe me I have a history in film and I can honestly say that Pacino's tour de force performance is amazingly powerful and real. Kind of a Michael Corleone on crack (or cocaine as the case may be) While bloody and not pretty at times is an amazing film that everyone should see at least once. Word of warning, hide the kids,...

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Summary: A beautiful tale of excess
Review: A fantastic piece of work by one of the world's best actors, Scarface is the fictional story of a Cuban refugee that comes to Miami at a time when the drug trade is prospering and takes full advantage. Joined by excellent performances by Robert Loggia, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Bauer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Al Pacino sets the standard as the modern day gangster/druglord that has not been bettered since.

Pacino is Tony Montano, a petty criminal from Cuba who finds his way to the Miami coast and finds it to be ripe for those in his profession. His ambition drives him to work side by side with drug kingpins while his intelligence and greed forces him to overtake them. Eventually he is consumed by greed, wealth and ambition and dies climactically, his enemies having the final word.

Scarface is a remake of a famous 1932 movie starring Paul Muni. Known for legendary lines like "say goodnight to the bad guy" and "Want to play? OK! Say hello to my little friend!" that have become classics, Scarface is also said to be the role many actors are said to have tried at one time or another. If that's true I would love to see Tom Cruise or Jim Carrey in a remake.