Great Movies of the '80s: Scarface

In Brain DePalma's Scarface, Tony Montana is a businessman just living the American Dream. Of course his business involves the illegal distribution of drugs, but let's not split hairs. The truth is no one better understands what America is about than Tony Montana. Work hard and smart and you will be rewarded with more symbols of wealth than you really need.

The film opens with the 1980 arrival of roughly 125,000 Cuban refugees to America in a supposed bit of goodwill from Fidel Castro to reunite these Cubans with family members living in the U.S. However, an estimated 25,000 of the refugees turn out to be the worst of the worst from Cuba's jails, and Montana is one of them. Just imagine if we were to take some of the less desirable individuals from our society and pack them off on the high seas. Hell, we could probably come up with a few shiploads of reality TV people alone.

In a role that calls for such a portrayal, Al Pacino is way over-the-top as the angry and violent Montana, "a poleetical prisoner from Kooba" who wastes little time in attempting to establish himself as a force in the world of drugs. Along with his refugee pal Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer), Tony is determined to take advantage of being free of Castro and living in a capitalist nation by setting his sights on Miami's booming drug trade. As if Tony needs any encouragement, he catches a glimpse of a blimp displaying the prophetic sign "The World is Yours."

In a classic scene that effectively displays the negative effects of chainsaws on human flesh, Montana earns respect and a new job serving one of Miami's drug kingpins, Frank Lopez, played by Robert Loggia. "I need a guy with steel in his balls, Tony," Lopez tells Montana. Then he warns Tony that in his business, the hard part isn't getting the drugs, "but what to do with all the fucking cash." The fire in Montana's belly is stoked and it's only a matter of time before he and his steel balls are on their way to unseating Lopez and dealing with the problem of knowing what to do with all the fucking cash.

But it's not only Lopez's standing as a top drug dealer that Tony desires. At almost the moment he first ogles his new boss's woman, Elvira, played by the delectable Michelle Pfeiffer, Tony begins plans on adding her to the booty. Initially, Elvira is repulsed by Tony's advances, but that only spurs him on because you don't ever tell Tony Montana he can't have what he covets.

While representing Lopez during negotiations with a South American drug lord, Tony takes it upon himself to make decisions without his boss's approval. An irate Lopez cuts Tony loose and attempts to have him killed-a fatal mistake, as the young Cuban eventually gets his revenge and establishes himself as the new drug king of Miami complete with Elvira as his bride.

Now Tony has it all-a fabulous fortress protected by a team of bodyguards and a gorgeous if somewhat disinterested wife-everything a first-rate businessman could want. But while an endless stream of cash and the beautiful Elvira act as symbols of his success, the only person Tony seems capable of truly loving is his younger sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). With an almost incest-like adoration of Gina, Tony warns Manny to keep his hands off of his sister. If Tony can't have her, neither can anyone else. But staying away is impossible for Manny who secretly dates and eventually marries Gina.

But having the world is not enough for a man like Tony and the combination of his violent nature, his overprotective love for his sister, and the relentless thirst for power among those involved in the business of drugs clearly means that this film cannot possibly have a happy ending. Without detailing the final scenes, let's just say that you won't be surprised by the excessive violence and high body count.

As you watch this 1983 release, you may see some parallels to some of the villains in today's crumbling economy. Minus the violence, is there that big a difference between Tony Montana and the heads of some of today's major corporations? How about the men running the American automobile industry? The bankers who ran amok and then used bailout money for bonuses? Having it all is never enough for Tony nor is it for these men-there is always more to be had. Should their situations end as violently as his, would we feel bad?

Scarface has been both panned and praised. Despite a lukewarm reception from movie critics, it has developed somewhat of a cult following and the outstanding screenplay, penned by a young Oliver Stone, is filled with classic lines that are known to even casual moviegoers-"Say 'hello' to my little friend!"

Love it or hate it, there is no denying that under DePalma's direction, Scarface explodes on the screen with the same kind of explosiveness found in the heart and soul of such characters as Tony Montana.

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