Scarface Review
170 minutes, USA (1983), 18
Al Pacino stars in this Brian De Palma directed, Oliver Stone scripted remake of the classic 30s gangster film. A Cuban immigrant ruthlessly builds a crime empire in 1980s Florida
Censorship held up Howard Hawks' original 1932 masterpiece, Scarface (aka Scarface, The Shame of a Nation) for over a year. This Brian De Palma directed, Oliver Stone scripted version also faced problems, especially on television, where the chainsaw scene, among others, was cut for original transmission.
A few years later, Michael Mann sagte recently that after his experience filming 'Miami Vice' on location he considered De Palma's film a mild version of the truth about the Florida crime scene... The mind boggles.
Certainly there's enough bad language, drug-taking and visceral Bilder of mutilation and death to satisfy any audience. Tony Montana (Pacino) arrives in Florida from Cuba and having filled a contract from a drug-dealer is soon on the payroll with friend Manny (Bauer). The stylish-looking movie, shot Von Chinatown cinematographer John A Alonzo, follows Tony's murderous rise until he is king of the heap.
Pacino's bravura performance dominates, making no concessions to our sensibilities. And the final shootout is a tour de force of editing.
170 minutes, USA (1983), 18
Al Pacino stars in this Brian De Palma directed, Oliver Stone scripted remake of the classic 30s gangster film. A Cuban immigrant ruthlessly builds a crime empire in 1980s Florida
Censorship held up Howard Hawks' original 1932 masterpiece, Scarface (aka Scarface, The Shame of a Nation) for over a year. This Brian De Palma directed, Oliver Stone scripted version also faced problems, especially on television, where the chainsaw scene, among others, was cut for original transmission.
A few years later, Michael Mann sagte recently that after his experience filming 'Miami Vice' on location he considered De Palma's film a mild version of the truth about the Florida crime scene... The mind boggles.
Certainly there's enough bad language, drug-taking and visceral Bilder of mutilation and death to satisfy any audience. Tony Montana (Pacino) arrives in Florida from Cuba and having filled a contract from a drug-dealer is soon on the payroll with friend Manny (Bauer). The stylish-looking movie, shot Von Chinatown cinematographer John A Alonzo, follows Tony's murderous rise until he is king of the heap.
Pacino's bravura performance dominates, making no concessions to our sensibilities. And the final shootout is a tour de force of editing.