One of the films that holds iconic status within Al Pacino’s filmography will be on tv tonight.
Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee, arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift and quickly becomes involved in the drug trade in Scarface (1983). He joins forces with Frank Lopez, a Miami drug lord, and eventually takes over his business.
Tony then establishes his own cocaine empire and becomes a powerful figure in Miami’s criminal underworld. He faces challenges from rival gangs, the police, and his own addiction.
The film explores the destructive nature of ambition and the corrupting influence of power and wealth, and takes a look at the dark side of the American Dream – and how the pursuit of success can lead to downsides.
It also birthed some quotes that now hold pop culture icon status, including “Say hello to my little friend”, “The eyes, chico. They never lie” and Tony Montana’s “I always tell the truth. Even when I lie”.
Boasting a cast with names like Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Loggia, Scarface is a remake of a 1932 film of the same name, that is, in turn, based on the 1930 novel by Armitage Trail – that draws inspiration from the life of American gangster Al Capone.
Its newer adaptation came about after Pacino watched the original film and joined forces with producer Martin Bregman, to start their own project.
The film was originally rated X upon release, due to its “excessive violence”, heavy language and drug use. It grossed $44 million at the box office, and quickly gained cult status among cinephiles and crime film enjoyers.
Its critics’ consensus on movie reviewing website Rotten Tomatoes reads: “Director Brian De Palma and star Al Pacino take it to the limit in this stylized, ultra-violent and eminently quotable gangster epic that walks a thin white line between moral drama and celebratory excess”.
During the subsequent awards season, Scarface received a Golden Award for Best Original Score, and Al Pacino got a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. On the other hand, the film was nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst Director.
Scarface (1983) will be on Channel 4’s Film4 this Friday (April 25), at 9 pm.