Beautifully shot (interesting compositions that work really well). Pacing is excellent with the use of interesting cutting techniques to build tention (and this is before Psycho, which it made me think of, so I wonder how much this has influenced Hitchcock in making it or how much Laughton was influenced by earlier Hitchcock's works). The acting was really outstanding too, I don't think there was any one who fell out of the boat, even the children were really believable. Robert Mitchum plays a really good bad guy and I don't know who came up with using the hymn as a leitmotif for him, but it works brilliantly. My favourite shot was the underwater shot with the flowing seaweed, I really wonder how they did that (if anyone knows that reads this, please do send a message my way). Maybe there is one or two things that are left hanging, but it didn't bother me in the overall sense. It's a shame that this is the only movie we have that was directed by Laughton, but on the other hand if this is the only one we get, I'm glad that it is this one. I thought it was excellent!
Reviews
2 Reviews
Scarface
(1983)
The dehumanization of avarice
1 July 2023
Scarface, one of those movies I saw a long time ago, but never really paid attention to. Until now. It's a long movie, sitting just shy of 3 hours. Yet, the excellent acting and camera work combined with an enthralling story made the film not feel that long at all.
It's the early 1980s and Tony Montana (Al Pacino) is about to set course for his own road to the top. A road not paved with yellow bricks, but rather constructed with bodies and blood. Chasing his own American dream, the Cuban expatriate is not shy to take on any job if it means taking the next step towards a better life. Together with his friend Manny (Steven Bauer), who not only serves as his side-kick but also as his Jiminy Cricket towards the end, he starts to carve out his own piece of American Pie with the help of crime boss Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia).
It doesn't take long for the duo to climb their way up the ranks and start making bank and passing souls on their own. Tony is avarice turned physical, he won't rest until he knows he has reached the top, making sure that he not only conquers the dope mercantile but he chases tail too in the form of Michelle Pfeiffer's Elvira. She lives her life as if she's an accoutrement, content with sniffing coke and laying on beds.
Of course, conquering means making enemies and the movie truly kicks off when Tony's influence in the business starts to ruin established contacts. Attempts on his life are made, but that only underlines Tony's rise, who seems to revel in the deadly game that is being played. Obviously psychotic, Tony's personality is perfect for the quick successful rise as a drug overlord. However, his greed peters out once he has finally got it all; the money, the house, the wife. And then it all starts to annoy him. There's nothing left after the game has been played and he doesn't know how to be content with what he has.
The only thing that remotely humanizes Tony is his sister, Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) who is living her own American dream before Tony comes to mess up her life too. Inadvertently she gets sucked into the crime world of Miami just as much as Tony has. He tries his best to protect her from it, knowing that it's the only pure thing in his life. Yet, that one shred of humanity is not enough to make him save himself or the others that have helped him get where he is. In fact, it's his humanity that prevents him from becoming even more evil than he already is. One redeeming element in his character. However, that is also the beginning of his ultimate demise.
Pacino plays the role with intensity and bravado in the moments of explosion, when he's quiet, you see that there's a hurricane raging behind those eyes. It's one of his best, if not the best performances, he completely embodies Tony. It's amazing to see his range from the restrained Michael Corleone to the explosively violent Tony Montana, it's a treat to see him act. De Palma knows his stuff and a lot of the energy comes from the excellent editing. Especially the intensity of the final, memorable scene is a master piece of chaos and explosion. The final stand of Tony Montana is so well done it will linger for a long time in your head.
For me, Scarface is an excellent foray into the dehumanizing aspects of greed and what it makes people do that have the ambition to rise to the top, ethics be damned.
It's the early 1980s and Tony Montana (Al Pacino) is about to set course for his own road to the top. A road not paved with yellow bricks, but rather constructed with bodies and blood. Chasing his own American dream, the Cuban expatriate is not shy to take on any job if it means taking the next step towards a better life. Together with his friend Manny (Steven Bauer), who not only serves as his side-kick but also as his Jiminy Cricket towards the end, he starts to carve out his own piece of American Pie with the help of crime boss Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia).
It doesn't take long for the duo to climb their way up the ranks and start making bank and passing souls on their own. Tony is avarice turned physical, he won't rest until he knows he has reached the top, making sure that he not only conquers the dope mercantile but he chases tail too in the form of Michelle Pfeiffer's Elvira. She lives her life as if she's an accoutrement, content with sniffing coke and laying on beds.
Of course, conquering means making enemies and the movie truly kicks off when Tony's influence in the business starts to ruin established contacts. Attempts on his life are made, but that only underlines Tony's rise, who seems to revel in the deadly game that is being played. Obviously psychotic, Tony's personality is perfect for the quick successful rise as a drug overlord. However, his greed peters out once he has finally got it all; the money, the house, the wife. And then it all starts to annoy him. There's nothing left after the game has been played and he doesn't know how to be content with what he has.
The only thing that remotely humanizes Tony is his sister, Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) who is living her own American dream before Tony comes to mess up her life too. Inadvertently she gets sucked into the crime world of Miami just as much as Tony has. He tries his best to protect her from it, knowing that it's the only pure thing in his life. Yet, that one shred of humanity is not enough to make him save himself or the others that have helped him get where he is. In fact, it's his humanity that prevents him from becoming even more evil than he already is. One redeeming element in his character. However, that is also the beginning of his ultimate demise.
Pacino plays the role with intensity and bravado in the moments of explosion, when he's quiet, you see that there's a hurricane raging behind those eyes. It's one of his best, if not the best performances, he completely embodies Tony. It's amazing to see his range from the restrained Michael Corleone to the explosively violent Tony Montana, it's a treat to see him act. De Palma knows his stuff and a lot of the energy comes from the excellent editing. Especially the intensity of the final, memorable scene is a master piece of chaos and explosion. The final stand of Tony Montana is so well done it will linger for a long time in your head.
For me, Scarface is an excellent foray into the dehumanizing aspects of greed and what it makes people do that have the ambition to rise to the top, ethics be damned.
Tell Your Friends