[Movie] Scarface and the American Dream

about 3 hours ago (Edited)

First things first, I have been skipping this movie for a long-time. But, it was inevitable to avoid it. The only reason I watched this movie is - Al Pacino. That is the whole truth. Most of the time, I prefer storyline and nothing else matters to me. But, Al Pacino is one of those actors whose performances does not feel like a performance. They are so good with dialogues, expressions and acting that it all feels real.

Al Pacino in Scarface

I know I am doing injustice with everyone and everything. Because starting with our protagonist does not feel right. And before I move any forward, here is a dialogue you all must have heard:

"The eyes, Chico. They never lie." - Tony Montana

So what is so special about Al Pacino in this movie? The most simple appraisal is: he literally made me hate "Tony Montana." Tony Montana, the lead character, is loud, aggressive, arrogant and paranoid. He is constantly shouting, threatening someone, insulting everyone.

It seems like he wanted to play God, but the only problems in his way were his "balls."

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At first, I really found everything so irritating. Their wording, their misogynistic style, all time gangster vibes and stuff that is not considered good in a world full of bad people. And that one scene in the hotel was pure cinema. But, I think it is too early to reveal those words and lines.

However that irritation was the whole point.

Tony does not give us a sophisticated gangster vibes. Rather he is a man with balls, a man who has ambition. But unfortunately, he is driving a car with no breaks. So the ultimate result is all known to everyone. The best thing about his performance is: raw nature. And yes, how can I forget the Cuban accent. So, the guy literally nailed his role.

But, there is a problem. At some points, it felt like our legend is overacting, and I am one of those who think that this movie is overrated.

Sorry to say that but this movie is a hit because of Pacino's portrayal.

The Story

The story itself is quite simple and predictible.

Tony, along with his friend Manny, arrives in Miami as an immigrant with almost nothing. But the dream is to be everything. He enters the drug trade, begins climbing the henious ladder and eventually builds his own empire.

The more he makes; the more he wants. And this unending lust resulted in his final moments.

The American Dream

I first the got the glimpse of American Dream from the Great Gatsby. And this dream act as a central role for this movie.

So let us move beyond Tony's autobiography and look at the bigger picture.

But what exactly is the American Dream?

In its simplest form, it is a belief that anyone can come to America, start with rags or very little, work hard, and can build a successful life. Your background is not going to decide your future. If you have enough determination, you are good to climb, and become someone in this world of nobodies.

Sounds heroic, right?

Our protagonist, Tony pays good heed to the first half, but completely ignores the second half.

He does climbs. But his version of the American Dream is not about simply having a comfortable house and a decent bank balance. Tony want the notious luxuy: the mansion, the cars, the power, the beautiful woman, the respect, and most importatnly, the ultimate power.

He fails to distinguish between success and proof of success. Because, there is a difference between the two terms.

If I compare Gatsby and Tony. At the surface level, they may seem different. But at the deep, they both are the two-sides of the same coin. Gatsby believe that money can recreate the past; Tony believes that money can create an untouchable future.

Neither man understands that wealth and power has limitations. As they say: "every rise has a fall."

Characters

Every character played their role well, they we do feel for them.

Manny played by Steven Bauer is probably my favorite supporting cast. Even after entering the world of criminals, he still has humanity and warmth left in him. When Tony becomes obsessed with power, there is this guy who actually follows the American Dream. He has made his name, earned well, and now, just wants a beautiful family to live with. However, the world does not always works in favor.

Consider Manny as "Gustavo of Escobar." Without him, Tony is nothing.

Then there is all beautiful - Elvira, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. She represents the luxurious life Tony wants to possess. She is beautiful, elegant and almost feels like a material for Tony. But, in that hotel fight, she broke her shackles. And man, she is not just beautiful; she is a class actor. Loved that response by her.

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And we are not going to skip Gina, Tony's sister. The thing is, she plays a significant role in Tony's life. If she was not there, it is possible that Tony might have been different. Through her, we see that Tony wishes to protect people, but in actual, he wants to control them.

If you ask me, all these characters are necessary. As it shows us that while Tony is gaining an empire, he is losing the people around him.

The Cons

There is thing I really hated: the pace. Like at some points, it felt like fast-paced; at others, it felt slow-paced. Tony rises so quickly, like in few minutes. And after half an hour, he is fighting his boss, and by the next, he is sitting at his throne. The ending also felt so rushed. Then there are moments such as in clubs, where everything is slow-paced.

Then there is this lack of emotional outreach. A character has died, they do remorse but it lacks emotional depth. And movie just continues to move forward.

Moreover, I get it that Tony is ambitious, violent and wants power all the time. Like while bathing in spa, he is just discussing money. And it was that moment when Tony lost. As he says, "I don't want nobody." It was just foreshadowing for me. I would love seeing a little breathing moment iin-between.

Conclusion

I do not want to keep on bragging the same things, as this is what I have seen and taken from the movie. So let us conclude it.

With everything said, "Scarface" remains an important gangster film. It has an unforgettable protagonist, some iconic dialogues, raw delivery and a story beyond usual gangsters.

Ratings

IMDb: 8.3/10

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% Critics / 93% Audience

My Rating: 80/100

A little overrated? Yes. But totally worth a watch.

If you find nothing, remember he is Al Pacino we talking about.

Here is a clip of his famous monologue. Man I loved it: “You need people like me so you can point your fucking fingers and say, 'That's the bad guy.'”