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A gangster movie starring Al Pacino directed by Brian De Palma
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The 20th Anniversary release of SCARFACE reminds us that our movies of today that deal with violence have not grown more intense than the older films like THE GODFATHER for Italian organized crime and SCARFACE for Cuban/Colombian organized crime. It is difficult to watch this well made movie because of its ultravivid bloodshed, but once past this obstacle there are reasons to revisit Brian DePalma's interpretation of Oliver Stone's screenplay. Al Pacino gives a mighty performance as the title character, managing for most of the film to maintain a Cuban accent adequately. His comrade Manolo is well acted by Steven Bauer, and F. Murray Abraham and Robert Loggia are terrific. It is a joy to see Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastranotonio is such daring roles (they are both even more beautiful and more talented now). If grit and exploitation of the underworld are your cup of tea, then look no further. The new "additives" seem just that - added, but not contributory.
+3
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More Scarface (1983 movie) reviews
review by Captain_Couth.
August 19, 2009
Scarface as everyone already knows is a part of American pop culture. This remake of the gangster picture has "modernized" the original plot and pumped up the violence and at the time set the record for obscenity in a major Hollywood production. Instead of being an Italian immigrant, this time Tony his a refugee from Cuba, instead of Beer it's Cocaine (during this time period American was in the midst of a major cocaine hangover that spread from the late 70's and into the 80's). The film … more
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Pros: Pacino, Bauer, and a hot Pfeiffer Cons: none for me The Bottom Line: “A devil in the flesh a rebel at its best No complaining we live in hell and I'm blessed, Scarface” ~Lil Wayne Scarface tells the story of small time hood, Tony Montana, a Cuban immigrant that arrived in Miami during the big humanity transfer that Castro initiated. Using the guise of joining families that … more
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Having seen the previous Scarface (starring Paul Muni) many years ago, I was curious to see what director Brian De Palma would do with what I incorrectly assumed to be essentially similar material. In fact, De Palma co-authored a script (with Oliver Stone) and created a film which shares almost nothing in common with its predecessor. Al Pacino is brilliant as Tony Montana, a vicious and impoverished Cuban immigrant who eventually becomes a wealthy drug lord in Miami. Along the way, he eliminates … more
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About the reviewer
Grady Harp (gradyharp)
Grady Harp is a champion of Representational Art in the roles of curator, lecturer, panelist, writer of art essays, poetry, critical reviews of literature, art and music, and as a gallerist. He has presented … more
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About this movie
Brian De Palma's blood-and-sun-drenched saga of a Cuban deportee's rise to the top of Miami's cocaine business has become something of a popular classic since its release; it's been referenced in rap songs and subsequent gangster movies and quoted the world over. Despite this lovefest with the dialogue, the film's brutal violence and lack of positive characters still make it controversial and disliked by certain critics. Al Pacino stars as Tony Montana, whose intelligence, guts, and ambition help him skyrocket from dishwasher to the top of a criminal empire but whose eventual paranoia and incestuous desire for his kid sister (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio) prove his undoing. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Tony's neglected coke-addicted trophy wife, and Steven Bauer is his concerned friend. F. Murray Abraham, Robert Loggia, and Paul Shenar are some of Tony's sleazy business partners and potential killers. Oliver Stone wrote the expletive-packed screenplay, based on Howard Hawks's 1932 version--which was ostensibly...
Remake of the Howard Hawks film .
The film had to be submitted several times to the MPAA to obtain an R rating.
Budget was over $25 million dollars.
Two video gamea based upon the movie was made, Scarface" The World is Yours and Scarface: Money, Power and Respect.
The script was written by Oliver Stone when he was in rehab for cocaine use.
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Remake of the Howard Hawks film .
The film had to be submitted several times to the MPAA to obtain an R rating.
Budget was over $25 million dollars.
Two video gamea based upon the movie was made, Scarface" The World is Yours and Scarface: Money, Power and Respect.
The script was written by Oliver Stone when he was in rehab for cocaine use.
Cast:
Al Pacino,
Hank Mann,
Mario Machado,
Henry Armetta,
Harris Yulin,
Carlos Cestero,
Michael Alldredge,
Mark Margolis,
F. Murray Abraham,
Michelle Pfeiffer,
Victor Campos,
Robert Loggia,
Michael P. Moran,
Albert Carrier,
Steven Bauer,
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio,
Miriam Colon,
Paul Shenar,
Angel Salazar,
Pepe Serna,
Al Israel,
Dennis Holahan,
Ted Beniades,
Richard Belzer,
Paul Espel,
Tony Perez,
John Carter,
Richard Caselnova,
Michel Francois,
Chuck Tamburro,
Katt Shea Ruben,
Marii Mak,
Joe Marmo,
Jim Towers,
Geno Silva,
Pat Simmons,
Garnett Smith,
Terri Taylor,
John Brandon,
Cynthia Burr,
Gary Cervantes,
Lana Clarkson,
Gil Baretto,
Angela Aames,
Roberto Contreras,
Caesar Cordova,
Emilia Crow,
Richard Delmonte,
Ben Frommer,
Ronald G. Joseph,
Ava Lazar,
John McCann,
Victor Millan,
Santos Morales,
Shelley Taylor Morgan,
Mike Moroff,
Manuel Padilla,
Arnaldo Salazar,
Michael Rougas,
John Lee Mahin
Director:
Brian De Palma
Genre:
Drama
Release Date:
December 9, 1983,
MPAA Rating:
R
Runtime:
170 minutes
Studio:
Universal Pictures
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