Over 40 years after 1983’s Scarface first premiered, the critical and cultural reception of the movie has gone through many evolutions. Watching the film today, what stands out almost immediately is the breadth of the project. In every sense, Scarface is an old-fashioned epic that’s donned the disguise of a gangster movie. Just under three hours long, the film is a commitment. It’s careful never to rush, slowly but surely tracking Tony’s rise to power. As the infamous Tony Montana, Al Pacino is unforgettable, even in his most campy moments.

Release Date

December 9, 1983

Runtime

170 minutes

Director

Brian De Palma

Writers

Oliver Stone, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht

Certain aspects of Scarface have objectively aged poorly, as the film is a product of its time. Pacino’s Cuban accent and his portrayal of a Cuban character, despite his lack of ties to Cuba, are hard to watch. This was a problem that pervaded Hollywood during this period and is an example of one of many elements that must be taken with a grain of salt throughout Scarface. Though the story relies on the history of the Mariel boatlift, Scarface shouldn’t be taken as a representation of this period but as an exploration of the deeper themes it touches upon.
Scarface Is Surprisingly Slow-Paced & Deliberate By Modern Standards

Despite Its Reputation, Scarface Is A Slow-Burn Character Study

What people often remember most about Scarface is the bombastic action sequences and gratuitous violence. While this is an essential part of the story’s style, it’s not at all overwhelming by today’s standards. It could be the fact that the media has desensitized me, but Scarface’s blood and gore weren’t what grabbed me. Tony’s character arc and what it represents did. As a gangster movie, Scarface says and does little that hasn’t been done before and better. However, as a story about disillusionment with the American dream, Scarface has lost none of its potency.
From the first moments of Scarface, Tony is asked to compromise and capitulate to be deemed somehow “worthy” of immigrating to the U.S. How this ultimately plays into Tony’s trajectory as a crime boss versus his inherent tendencies toward violence are frequently juxtaposed. The question of whether Tony’s death and fall from grace was inevitable or if it’s a product of the impossible situation he’s put in is debatable. These themes are just under the surface in Scarface, and sometimes I wish it leaned further into this conversation.

Audiences go into Scarface already knowing some of Tony’s iconic quotes, and this can detract from the overall impact of the story.

Today, Scarface’s legacy almost does it a disservice, as some of the best and most pulpy moments in the film have become part of the vernacular. Audiences go into Scarface already knowing some of Tony’s iconic quotes, and this can detract from the overall impact of the story. Already, Scarface walks a fine line, as the movie takes itself a little too seriously to be considered pure fun. The depth and gravity of the performances and the dramatic Greek tragedies that populate the story are what prevent us from being taken out of the narrative.
The atmosphere and aesthetic of the film are as repulsive as they are appealing. Scarface is a time capsule of a cultural sensibility that is found in very few corners of the world today. Tony’s taste is disgustingly ostentatious but is perfectly suited to his situation and sensibilities. Michelle Pfeiffer’s styling as Elvira has come to be known as one of the most recognizable “mob wife” looks in cinema history. Scarface does an excellent job illustrating the importance of the clothes, the cars, and the sprawling estates and how they signify power and control in the drug trade.
Al Pacino Is Firing On All Cylinders As Scarface’s Tony Montana

His Meteoric Rise & Epic Fall From Grace Could Only Be Brought To Life By Pacino

It’s not surprising that Pacino’s Hollywood legacy is so steeped in the gangster film genre, as Scarface is only one of his many projects that require Pacino to portray a flawed antihero. It’s hard to go into the film with no preconceived notions about how Pacino will bring Tony to life or what it means to be a movie about the drug trade. However, Pacino helps ease us into Tony’s world as we get swept away by the intensity with which he lives his life. Watching Scarface almost tricks you into wanting the glamorous life that Frank warns Tony about.
Fortunately, the sheen of Tony’s life fades by the end of Scarface, when all Tony has in his final moments are his gaudy house and his piles of cocaine and money. The final third of Scarface moves quickly compared to the establishment of Tony’s early years. I’m no stranger to long movies, and I don’t think there’s a lot to cut in Scarface, but parts of the film are a little bloated. However, Scarface earned its status as a heavy-hitter of the crime genre, and watching the movie makes it more obvious that its influence is everywhere.
Scarface is now available to stream on Prime Video.

Movie

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Scarface

7/10

Release Date

December 9, 1983

Runtime

170 minutes

Director

Brian De Palma

Writers

Oliver Stone, Howard Hawks, Ben Hecht

Pros & Cons

The violence & action scenes are engaging.
Pacino?s performance anchors the story.
The visual style is aesthetically cohesive.

Some story elements are of their time.
The pacing drags during pivotal scenes.