Scarface, directed by Brian De Palma, is the very definition of pump filmmaking. Though a product of its time (also the definition of 80’s movie-making), the manner and style of Scarface is just as capable today of phasing its audience as it was back in ’83. Al Pacino’s greatest performance, probably, is either between his continuation as Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II or as Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon: Tony Montana is just after these two performances (and even then, Pacino’s insanely charged delivery as Montana could be vastly superior to what he gives in TG Part II after all).

Arguably, Pacino hasn’t really been much of an actor for a long time, having spent the past fifteen years or so playing the same roles again and again; however, his performance as Tony Montana just on its own is enough to justify all this subsequent history (I don’t find it easy to express all that, but I sincerely feel it deserves to be said).

Michelle Pfeiffer adds depth to the film, yet in retrospect I don’t see the point to her character: Scarface only needs to be about the intrigue of building an empire from scratch, therefore romance is hardly a necessary ingredient.

(Nevertheless, Pfeiffer is brilliant in the role that she plays).

I sometimes see Scarface as an opposite to Carlito’s Way, another of Pacino’s greatest movies; Montana and Carlito are two opposites of the same coin, the former oblivious yet monstrously-driven, the latter much more self-aware yet quiet.

Scarface was way ahead of its time when it was released. The excessive violence in the film was criticized by many people during its release. But now that time has gone and people have finally realized the scope and potential of the film. Plus the movie had its protagonist killed which is quite unusual and that too when he suddenly hits the top.

I think the movie is more as conventional and back on that time it had all that marketing and it was ready to blow! There is an important lesson in the movie Scarface: hard work pays. It’s motivating to see how Tony Montana comes off some “Banana boat” to partake of the American Dream