Scarface (1983)

Scarface (1983), directed by Brian De Palma.

A blunt, hard-driving tale of immigrant rage and the early 80s Miami drug scene. Ambition meets an irresistible mix of sexy women, duffel bags of money, and gaudy displays of vast wealth. Where blood and death are moments away.

Tony succeeds -- for a time -- because he is outrageously ballsy, willing to risk everything at any moment. He forces his way into the drug world and no one can stop him -- for a time. His human elements cause his downfall: an appetite for cocaine, weakness for his trophy wife, berserk domination of his kid sister, and in the end, his refusal to blow up a woman and her children. That's ironic: ferocious as he is, he is not as bad as the others he deals with.

Note the skilled writing in everything Tony has to deal with in the extended nightclub scene:

• The greedy narc.

• Elvira.

• Her husband -- and his boss -- Frank.

• Rescuing his kid sister from the mensroom lothario.

• Machine gun assassins.

I have a hard time remembering this is a De Palma film; it seems more like something from Michael Mann or William Friedkin. Probably because I was used to his horror/thriller titles up to this time, although he did other crime pictures after, such as The Untouchables and Carlito's Way.

Pacino's accent: he sounds like he's gargling his lines. But: Spanish speakers have said Cuban Spanish sounds like that to them, so maybe it is authentic. (Don't yell at me, I'm a noncombatant).

Michelle Pfeiffer and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio provide the babe factor.

I always hoped for a spinoff: "Dating Tips from Tony and Manny". You don't see smooth technique like that every day.

Giorgio Moroder score, Oliver Stone screenplay.

Is the remake still on? I try to avoid emotion over remakes anymore (ironically, this version was itself a remake), but see: 10 Reasons Why The Scarface Remake Shouldn’t Happen.

Available on Blu-ray.