SCARFACE

Directed By
Brian De Palma

FILM APPRECIATION
ASSIGNMENT (GEO)

Submitted to
Mr Rajeev Shankar Gohil

Submitted by
Simran Agrawal
(MFM Batch 2021-23)
SCARFACE -1983
1983 American crime drama film
Directed by - Brian De Palma
Written by - Oliver Stone
Produced by - Martin Bregman
Release dates - December 1, 1983 ( NYC)
Duration - 170 mins
Budget - $23.5-37 million
Genres - Mafia, Drama, Action, Thriller, Crime, Adventure
Loosely based on the 1929 novel, "Scarface" by Armitage
Trail
CAST OF
SCARFACE
Some major casting of the movie:
Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira
Hancock
Al Pacino as Tony Montana
Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio
as Gina Montana
Mark Margolis as Alberto The
Shadow
Paul Shenar as Alejandro Sosa
many more...
MOVIE'S PLOT
The film tells the story of Cuban
refugee Tony Montana (Al Pacino),
who arrives penniless in Miami during
the Mariel boatlift (mass emigration
of Cubans), and becomes a powerful
and highly homicidal drug lord.

The protagonist, Tony Montana (Al

Pacino is shown as a bad man with
wealth and power which estranges
him from everyone and led to his self-
destruction.
 Scarface is a remake of the 1932 movie of the

MOVIE'S same name directed by Howard Hawks and is

loosely based on the 1929 novel by Armitage
INSPIRATION Trail.

Tony Montana's character is thus based on

Tony Camonte, the star of the 1932 movie, who
was based on one of the most famous
gangsters in history - Alphonso Gabriel
Capone.

His many criminal activities and public image

made him part of pop culture, inspiring various
books, movies, and tv shows.
 The title font in the movie is a black background with red italics
and bold. The colours red and lack are used because it has

FILM'S ANALYSIS
connotations of danger and blood.

Most of the scenes in the film are fairly dark as it is about a

Cuban immigrant, the protagonist, becoming a successful
crime lord. It has contrasting colours of dark and grainy
footage but the sunlight of the US represents a new start and
a better life.

The camera angles and editing are fairly basic as it is real-life

footage being enhanced into the opening titles. There are no
big shots, stunts, etc.

The film revolves around a gangster thriller with elements of

dark comedy.
TONY MONTANA,
The Protagonist
Al Pacino plays the protagonist Tony Montana, who holds the
characteristics that every man desires as he is tough, fearless,
courageous, power-hungry and doesn't care what anyone else
thinks. A man with a thirst for power, respect and a sense of
entitlement, as he says,

"I want what’s coming to me. What’s that? The world, chico, and
everything in it."

He's a high energy all-or-nothing kind of man who is arrogant and

an embodiment of the dark side of capitalism but is also
admirable for his clear vision and the guts he has to take action.

The man rises from the bottom to the top and then shrinks to his
very swift and brutal ending.
 CRITICAL REVIEW
The film grossed $45 million at the domestic box office and $66 million worldwide.

Initially, its critical reception was negative due to its excessive violence, profanity, and
graphic drug usage but later critics reappraised it and is now considered to be one of
the greatest gangster films ever made.

Has been referenced extensively in pop culture, hip hop music, comic books, television
programs, and video games and has been regarded as a cult classic.
 2. There’s a passion that each
person has and a tendency to
pursue it. On one hand, having a
strong passion is great because
it gives you the willpower to take
action. On the other hand, that
passion can overtake our lives
and we forget that it is just one
LEARNINGS

aspect of our lives.

3. This is why keeping our bodies

strong physically, mentally,
emotionally, and spiritually
KEY

1. The film understands the criminal personality, with its links during the pursuit of a passion
between laziness and ruthlessness, grandiosity and low helps us maintain balance. This
self-esteem, pipe dreams and a chronic inability to be is what Tony’s character lost
happy. It is about personalities rather than illicit trade after his rise and is probably
and violence as we see characters rise and fall. what led him to a tragic demise.
THANK YOU