"Scarface" -- September DVD of the Month

Morticia · 10-28-2003, 04:07 PM

SilentBob had an idea...to take the winners of the DVD of the Month (from Software) and discuss them here. Why not give that a try? Here goes...

This is a thread to discuss the technical and/or thematic merits of "Scarface", the winner of September DVD of the Month. We're discussing the films just as if it were a nominated film -- ie, film technique, cinematography, music, use of color, themes, yadda yadda.

The purpose being to foster intelligent discussion of films without resorting to "It's a piece of crap." or "It's the greatest film ever." (And so that we all can gain a bit of a film education from everyone.)

We'll discuss a new film each week. Either slade or I will post the film in this forum in advance, and lock the topic until the first day of discussion.

Thanks everyone. We are open to any ideas about running this forum.

****SPOILER WARNING**** of course this entire thread is going to be full of spoilers.

incubus0 · 10-28-2003, 07:58 PM

I'll try to start off something.

Paul Shenar's performance as Alejandro Sosa (the Columbian drug lord) was very overlooked. The one scene that sticks out is during their first meeting, when Tony is watching the the guy he came down with get hung from a chopper, the look that Sosa has on his face while he waits for Tony's reaction is priceless and sets up his character perfectly.

Triple HHH · 10-29-2003, 07:27 PM

Acting
I think Al Pacino gives, what I'll go so far to say, one of the most legendary performances in the cinema. Really. Up there with Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the Wind", and Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Godfather". It's just a rare occurance to see an actor embody their character so deeply and perfectly. It's the type of performance that affects people afterwards. (at least it did for me) I couldn't get the character of Tony Montana out of my head after seeing Scarface for the first time. I couldn't stop quoting him, acting like him [only to myself

] I felt as if I "met" someone I'll never forget. That's what great acting should be.

Pacino electrifies this whole film. It's like he carries it on his shoulders. The other supporting players are good too (including Paul Shenar as incubus0 mentioned), and Michelle Pfeiffer seems to be pfeisty [

] enough to hold her ground with the pig that is Montana. I've heard some critics mention that Al Pacino's accent is not really a genuine "Cuban accent", and that he borders on "bad overacting" at times, but to me it doesn't matter. Your eyes can't help but be drawn towards him, whether he's the focus of the scene or not.

Scenes
I really liked the scene when Tony goes back to visit his sister and mom and offer them some money. The whole scene feels very dreamlike (I'm not sure if it was intentional or not). From the trance-like score to the small little house that never quite looked real. It's as if it was an extension of Tony Montana's warmest memories of his family and home. Unfortunately, he gets kicked out because his mother knows he's turned rotten to the core.

A couple scenes that never really worked for me was the whole affair thing involving the sister and Tony's best friend, Manalo. It does get cheapened into soap opera melodrama I think, and it's painfully predictable and slow. I realize this subplot was also in the original "Scarface" with Paul Muni, but somehow the one in De Palma's just comes across as slightly too amatuerish. But this is just a couple of moments that didn't work for me. The rest of the film is very well written by Stone (is this one of the most quoted movies ever?), and staged in that very De Palma-esque way -- slick, glittery, and even over-the-top.

Heckalaska · 11-02-2003, 05:14 PM

I'll go on record saying that I think Scarface is basically a bloated, overacted and overly-reveared film. Don't get me wrong, cause I think it's a good film, and at times a great film, but I don't think it's the cinematic masterpiece that it gets hyped as. Pacino does a great job as Tony, but the thick, cartoonish delivery is hard to take seriously at times. DePalma could have done a lot more editing in my opinion to tighten the film up a bit and trim some of the fat.

All I hear about now is the young, gangster-wannabe's I work with talking about how "cool" it was with Tony and his mountain of coke and machine guns. I think the "extras" included on that new release speak volumes about how the film is received by today's youth culture. There's a damn cd out of rap interpretations of the movie! I don't think DePalma meant to have Tony Montana glorified like a gangsta superhero, do you?

All that aside though, I just don't think the movie is all that great.

10-28-2003, 04:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Morticia Administrator Emeritus Film Class Goddess Part-Time PRN Princess Panty Thief Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Devil's Point. Burn baby burn!	"Scarface" -- September DVD of the Month SilentBob had an idea...to take the winners of the DVD of the Month (from Software) and discuss them here. Why not give that a try? Here goes... This is a thread to discuss the technical and/or thematic merits of "Scarface", the winner of September DVD of the Month. We're discussing the films just as if it were a nominated film -- ie, film technique, cinematography, music, use of color, themes, yadda yadda. The purpose being to foster intelligent discussion of films without resorting to "It's a piece of crap." or "It's the greatest film ever." (And so that we all can gain a bit of a film education from everyone.) We'll discuss a new film each week. Either slade or I will post the film in this forum in advance, and lock the topic until the first day of discussion. Thanks everyone. We are open to any ideas about running this forum. **SPOILER WARNING** of course this entire thread is going to be full of spoilers. __________________ Nope, you really haven't lived until you've fed a naked Fire Dancer a S'more...cooked from her own flaming baton. I reject your reality and substitute my own! "Freeze dried moles. Price as marked." -- Nixon, Suicide Girl

10-29-2003, 07:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
Triple HHH Actor Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Governor of California	Acting I think Al Pacino gives, what I'll go so far to say, one of the most legendary performances in the cinema. Really. Up there with Vivien Leigh in "Gone With the Wind", and Marlon Brando in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "The Godfather". It's just a rare occurance to see an actor embody their character so deeply and perfectly. It's the type of performance that affects people afterwards. (at least it did for me) I couldn't get the character of Tony Montana out of my head after seeing Scarface for the first time. I couldn't stop quoting him, acting like him [only to myself ] I felt as if I "met" someone I'll never forget. That's what great acting should be. Pacino electrifies this whole film. It's like he carries it on his shoulders. The other supporting players are good too (including Paul Shenar as incubus0 mentioned), and Michelle Pfeiffer seems to be pfeisty [] enough to hold her ground with the pig that is Montana. I've heard some critics mention that Al Pacino's accent is not really a genuine "Cuban accent", and that he borders on "bad overacting" at times, but to me it doesn't matter. Your eyes can't help but be drawn towards him, whether he's the focus of the scene or not. Scenes I really liked the scene when Tony goes back to visit his sister and mom and offer them some money. The whole scene feels very dreamlike (I'm not sure if it was intentional or not). From the trance-like score to the small little house that never quite looked real. It's as if it was an extension of Tony Montana's warmest memories of his family and home. Unfortunately, he gets kicked out because his mother knows he's turned rotten to the core. A couple scenes that never really worked for me was the whole affair thing involving the sister and Tony's best friend, Manalo. It does get cheapened into soap opera melodrama I think, and it's painfully predictable and slow. I realize this subplot was also in the original "Scarface" with Paul Muni, but somehow the one in De Palma's just comes across as slightly too amatuerish. But this is just a couple of moments that didn't work for me. The rest of the film is very well written by Stone (is this one of the most quoted movies ever?), and staged in that very De Palma-esque way -- slick, glittery, and even over-the-top. __________________ With fronds like these, who needs anemones? Last edited by Triple HHH : 10-29-2003 at 07:30 PM.

11-02-2003, 05:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
Heckalaska Actor Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Littleport, England	I'll go on record saying that I think Scarface is basically a bloated, overacted and overly-reveared film. Don't get me wrong, cause I think it's a good film, and at times a great film, but I don't think it's the cinematic masterpiece that it gets hyped as. Pacino does a great job as Tony, but the thick, cartoonish delivery is hard to take seriously at times. DePalma could have done a lot more editing in my opinion to tighten the film up a bit and trim some of the fat. All I hear about now is the young, gangster-wannabe's I work with talking about how "cool" it was with Tony and his mountain of coke and machine guns. I think the "extras" included on that new release speak volumes about how the film is received by today's youth culture. There's a damn cd out of rap interpretations of the movie! I don't think DePalma meant to have Tony Montana glorified like a gangsta superhero, do you? All that aside though, I just don't think the movie is all that great. __________________ 50,000 battered women and I'm still eating mine plain!?! My Collection

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

10-28-2003, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
incubus0 Banned Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Massachusetts	I'll try to start off something. Paul Shenar's performance as Alejandro Sosa (the Columbian drug lord) was very overlooked. The one scene that sticks out is during their first meeting, when Tony is watching the the guy he came down with get hung from a chopper, the look that Sosa has on his face while he waits for Tony's reaction is priceless and sets up his character perfectly.