Monday, June 15, 2009

SCARFACE
















The first thing i noticed about this movie is the menacing look of the poster in all its black and white entirety...it is one of those movies which after being criticized upon release is now hailed as a cult classic...released in 1983 the story deals with the rise and fall of a gangster....i noticed certain similarities between this movie and the Johnny Depp starrer Blow...

the title role is played by Al Pacino ( Tony Montana) who comes to Florida in 1980 as a result of the Mariel Boatlift...he starts with the small fish like marijuana and gradually graduates to cocaine...he becomes drunk with power...the film is replete with 80's music plus the gaudy clothes which includes bright and colorful clothes especially Hawaiian Tropical dresses from that decade...one scene i immensely enjoyed is when Tony loses his cool because he discovers he has been deceived by people whom he considered as friends...

Michelle Pfeiffer had a small but effective role as Montana's suffering and neglected wife...finally i come to the immortal climax when Montana faces off with his enemies and the legendary dialogue (Say hello to my little friend !!!) and ends with his dead body floating in a pool of blood along with a gazillion bullets...

The movie is in fact a copy of the original Howard Hawks gangster classic( 1932) of the same name. Scarface was later copied into the pathetic and horrible movie Agneepath (1990) for which Amitabh Bachan received the National Award....oh the humanity!!!!! The film may be a tad too long but it’s okay I guess...Tony Montana is one of the most parodied movie characters of all time...the movie talks about how power can drive a sane person mad...but it was wonderful to see the shots picturised in a disco and Tony's mansion after he strikes the jackpot!!!oh boy talk about luxury living!!!

the movie is filled with expletives and violent...an epic performance from Pacino( at times Over The Top) ...expert direction from Brian De Palma ( Carrie , The Untouchables ),explosive script by future Oscar winning director Oliver Stone (Platoon,Wall Street),snazzy action...a movie to be watched again and again...

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