Scarface; finally off my movie checklist.

I finally got around to watching Scarface with Al Pacino.  It's one of those movies that's been on my viewing list for years, but I've never made an effort to watch it because of the fanbase.  I know it's not right to judge a movie or any piece of media by it's fanbase.  Still, it seems like every Guido I've met and every hip-hop type I've come across is really into Scarface.  I think this is why I avoided watching the movie, despite it being on my "movie list" for so long.




The movie is a biopic, kinda on the level of Taxi Driver or There Will Be Blood.  Instead of the alienated and brooding Travis Bickle, we have a charismatic and ambitious Tony Montana.  As far as biopics go, it's a decent movie.  It's also long, very long.  And I mean Lord of the Rings long.  2 hours and 50 minutes is a long time to be watching any movie.  If a movie is that long, it better be on the level of Seven Samurai.

This is me by the second hour of Scarface

I think the movie is overrated.  It's not a bad movie by any  means but I think Scarface is very shallow compared to something like Taxi Driver.  In Taxi Driver, the audience gets a real look into the mind of Travis Bickle.  There were many scenes that flesh out the character, oftentimes just with Robert DiNero alone in the scene.  The same goes for There Will Be Blood, which does a very good job of explaining the motives and thought process of Daniel Plainfield.  Tony Montana in scarface comes of as a walking, talking stereotype.  Granted, I loved the Cuban accent and Al Pacino is clearly enjoying himself in the role, but the character just seems half baked and cliched.  For example, no real reason is given for Tony's obsession over his sister.  His hatred of commies is never fully explored.  There is no real motive behind the character beyond his incredible ambition and his enormous pair of steel balls.

Then again, maybe that's why Tony Montana is so admired by Guidos and wannabe rap star.  He's an uncomplicated character, one that's easily accessible.  There may not be any deep motivations at all, because maybe that's just how the character is.  I can see a young, urban kid with ambitious dreams and violent tendencies looking up to Tony Montana.  It's very understandable.  Hell, I look up to Daniel Plainfield in There Will Be Blood, so what does that say about me?

It says that I like milkshakes, that's what!