[theignoramus]

This is a fine film that holds up on third and fourth viewings. It's masterfully shot and well acted, and has the classic themes of an all American story.
I feel that most of the undue hate and hyperbolic criticism (ive heard this film called a "piece of shit" often) comes from snobs wanting to disassociate themselves from the film's cult following and brand image.

[Discotheque]

A bunch of people are gonna come in and trash this movie saying it has shitty acting and bad music.

But they're wrong. It's melodramatic. But it's shot fucking perfectly and the film really is iconic. Script works as satire too.

Brian De Palma is the shit, and Al Pacino chewed the scenes up big time. Push it to the Limit/montage scene is one of my favorites ever.

edit: seriously, cinematography in this muthafucka is ace.

[B_Rik_Schitthaus]

He sounds like Micky Mouse doing a Nelson Mandela impression.

[theignoramus]

He sounds like Micky Mouse doing a Nelson Mandela impression.

ermm, my boss for the last six months was straight from Cuba. Pacino's accent sounds the exact same as my boss'. His Cuban accent is authentic as fuck.

[Foliorum Viridum]

A fun film, nothing more. I understand why certain sections are iconic but it's not a classic or anything.

The original is so much better.

[Stitch]

Yeah a good movie but I enjoyed the original more.

[Kentpaul]

I'v never heard anyone talk shit about scarface, OP surround your self with cooler people.

[daviyoung]

The chainsaw scene is fantastic, and it did give us Vice City so there's that.

[FootballFan]

This is a fine film that holds up on third and fourth viewings. It's masterfully shot and well acted, and has the classic themes of an all American story. I feel that most of the undue hate and hyperbolic criticism (ive heard this film called a "piece of shit" often) comes from snobs wanting to disassociate themselves from the film's cult following and brand image.

A damn amazing movie. I love it.

[Dead Man]

A fun film, nothing more. I understand why certain sections are iconic but it's not a classic or anything. The original is so much better.

Eh, the original is great, but completely different. Pacinos Scarface is a fun film but nothing more? Okaaaay....

[Foliorum Viridum]

Well, it is. It doesn't stimulate me beyond the superficial stuff. It's just a fun ride.

Nothing wrong with that.

[Roi]

What version are you talking about?

[Dead Man]

Well, it is. It doesn't stimulate me beyond the superficial stuff. It's just a fun ride. Nothing wrong with that.

What does it take for a film to be more than that? I could agree Scarface is just a fun film, but if it is, so are 99.9% of films through history.

[Foliorum Viridum]

What does it take for a film to be more than that? I could agree Scarface is just a fun film, but if it is, so are 99.9% of films through history.

I don't know, it doesn't really attack any issues that engage me intellectually. None of the issues it tries to address are presented in a way that I haven't seen before and fails to match the great gangster films which have tackled the issues much better.

There are lots of gangster films with deep characters and relationships with engaging social commentary etc. I never felt that about Scarface. It was just a camp ride where it's fun to watch someone ripped apart with a chainsaw and Pacino waving around a ridiculously big gun.

[Solo]

It's absolutely terrible.

[Dead Man]

I don't know, it doesn't really attack any issues that engage me intellectually. None of the issues it tries to address are presented in a way that I haven't seen before and fails to match the great gangster films which have tackled the issues much better. There are lots of gangster films with deep characters and relationships with engaging social commentary etc. I never felt that about Scarface. It was just a camp ride where it's fun to watch someone ripped apart with a chainsaw and Pacino waving around a ridiculously big gun.

We have a basic difference of opinion then. I think it is one of the better gangster films because it tackles something that had not been addressed much in mainstream cinema up until then (Cuban gangsters), and it is still a classic tale of greed and grasp extending beyond reach. The characters are caricatures at times, but you can say that about almost any film, it's the nature of the medium, especially gangster films.

I would be interested to see what films you consider to have the deep characters you refer too.

[Discotheque]

One of the best films of the 80s. If Blow Out didn't exist it would be De Palma's greatest film too. This is like a twisted version of the American dream (which admittedly was tackled in the original) but I like how they threw some shit about immigration in here too.

[daxter01]

DAT intro music

[Foliorum Viridum]

We have a basic difference of opinion then. I think it is one of the better gangster films because it tackles something that had not been addressed much in mainstream cinema up until then (Cuban gangsters), and it is still a classic tale of greed and grasp extending beyond reach. The characters are caricatures at times, but you can say that about almost any film, it's the nature of the medium, especially gangster films. I would be interested to see what films you consider to have the deep characters you refer too.

Godfather/Part II are the obvious examples.

I actually think Carlito's Way is a really good film and engages me much more than Scarface, which seems to be the minority opinion. That film should get the praise that Scarface gets IMO, although I'm not saying that's a classic either.

[JAVK]

"Jou can't get pussy wid ice cream mang"

[Banglish]

It's absolutely terrible.

I enjoyed it, thoroughly.

[Discotheque]

Carlito's Way is good but I don't enjoy it as much, still I can rewatch that one quite easily too.

Scarface to me is like pop-art. It's got stuff underneath it's surface too but it could also be seen as just a fun stylistic romp.

You know what doesn't fit into this category? Drive. Fuck that phony movie. For all I care the end credits began after the first 10 minutes (hey Winding Refn: Walter Hill and Michael Mann called they want their royalties)

[Dead Man]

Godfather/Part II are the obvious examples. I actually think Carlito's Way is a really good film and engages me much more than Scarface, which seems to be the minority opinion. That film should get the praise that Scarface gets IMO, although I'm not saying that's a classic either.

I really like Carlito's Way, but to me it is the definition of a by the numbers film. As for Godfather/II I think they suffer the same flaws as Scarface in terms of characterisation. That is they have interesting characters that are broadly drawn. Where Godfather fares better is the quality of the supporting cast, who are amazing.

[subversus]

a great movie.

[Pulka]

420 snort coke everyday get money get power fuck bitches

I like the remake, I haven't seen the original, though.

[Rehynn]

No discussion of Scarface is complete without this gem.

[eLZhi]

One of the greatest films of all time, if not THE greatest.

[EliCash]

It's absolutely terrible.

I agree.

[Alligatorjandro]

Its aight

[Cheebo]

Anyone who loves Scarface but hasn't seen a REAL Brian De Palma movie like Blow Out or Phantom of the Paradise is downright insane.

De Palma wisely considers Scarface as one of his weaker films.

[Dead Man]

Anyone who loves Scarface but hasn't seen a REAL Brian De Palma movie like Blow Out or Phantom of the Paradise is downright insane. De Palma wisely considers Scarface as one of his weaker films.

So what are Mission to Mars and Snake Eyes? Compared to them Scarface is pure genius.

[Cheebo]

So what are Mission to Mars and Snake Eyes? Compared to them Scarface is pure genius.

There are Brian De Palma films, which are some of the greatest films in the New Hollywood era. Up there with Scorsese & Coppola.

Then there is Brian De Palma's studio films that he did just to get funding for his personal projects. Which Scarface, Mission to Mars, Snake Eyes, Mission: Impossible, etc all fall into.

[Dead Man]

There are Brian De Palma films, which are some of the greatest films in the New Hollywood era. Up there with Scorsese & Coppola. Then there is Brian De Palma's studio films that he did just to get funding for his personal projects. Which Scarface, Mission to Mars, Snake Eyes, Mission: Impossible, etc all fall into.

Eh, fair enough.

[siddx]

It's a fun movie that also happens to be a shitty movie. But the most hilarious thing to me has always been the people who idolize Tony Montana despite the fact he was a complete fucking idiot who handled everything in his life in the worst way possible.

[Cheebo]

Anyone curious to see a great Brian De Palma film owes themselves to see this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDve1A5EAvk

[Gooster]

It's a fun movie that also happens to be a shitty movie. But the most hilarious thing to me has always been the people who idolize Tony Montana despite the fact he was a complete fucking idiot who handled everything in his life in the worst way possible.

Definitely how I feel about the movie. I can watch it over and over and over but it is ridiculous beyond being a late '70s/early '80s time capsule.

I thought the thread would be about the Howard Hawks film, which I recently watched and it's very good. Comes packed with the Blu-ray.

[Dead Man]

Anyone curious to see a great Brian De Palma film owes themselves to see this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDve1A5EAvk

Lithgow was so good in that.

[replicashooter]

Ju all a bunch of fcukin assholes...

[bengraven]

One of my favorite films.

However, there is a comedian who had a great point. It's ridiculous when you see people put this movie up with Godfather and Goodfellas.

"Oh I like Godfather, Goodfellas, Scarface...that's like saying I like lobsters...and Skittles."

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

It's bad in a lot of ways, but it can also be insanely entertaining, if you're in the right mood for it.