Scarface (1983)
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A Cuban refugee's meteoric rise to power in the Miami drug trade leads to a violent and tragic downfall.
The story
In 1980, Cuban refugee Tony Montana arrives in Miami during the Mariel boatlift. Initially working as a dishwasher, Tony and his friend Manny Ribera find themselves entangled in the local drug trade after being recruited by a local drug lord. Tony's ambition and willingness to take risks quickly propel him into a position of power, but his rapid ascent into the world of narcotics brings him into conflict with established figures and the law. As Tony builds his influence and navigates the dangerous landscape of the Miami drug trade, he must navigate the complexities of loyalty, betrayal, and the escalating violence of his new life.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After a failed deal with a rival and the death of his associate Omar, Tony Montana severs ties with his former boss, Frank Lopez, and establishes his own cocaine empire. He marries Frank's wife, Elvira, and becomes a dominant figure in Miami's drug scene. However, his success draws the attention of both the police and a powerful Colombian kingpin, Alejandro Sosa. Following a series of violent confrontations and a failed attempt to settle a dispute with a journalist, Tony's world begins to crumble. After a final, bloody confrontation with Sosa's men and a tragic personal loss involving his sister Gina, Tony is left alone in his mansion. The film concludes with a final, desperate stand against Sosa's assassins, ending with Tony's death in his own home.
- First release year
- 1983
- Runtime (minutes)
- 170
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Brian De Palma
- Writers
- Oliver Stone · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Al Pacino · Tony Montana; Steven Bauer · Manolo "Manny" Ribera; Michelle Pfeiffer · Elvira Hancock; Richard Belzer · Babylon Club M.C.; Albert Carrier · Pedro Quinn; Victor Millan · Ariel Blayer; Roberto Contreras · Emilio Rebenga; Gregg Henry · Charles Goodson
- Genres
- crime drama; gangster
- Themes
- The American Dream; Ambition; Drug Trade; Immigration
- Tone and mood
- Violent; Dramatic; Stylized
- Premise and plot tags
- Gangster; Crime; Drug Trade; Remake
- Source material / true-story basis
- 1930 novel by Armitage Trail
- Content notes
- Violence; Profanity
- Reception
- Initially met with mixed reviews and criticism for its violence, the film has since been re-evaluated as a cult classic and one of the best gangster films.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 77% · scale: percentage · review count: 83
- Awards and nominations
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains · Nominated Villain · 2003 · Nominated; AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes · Tony Montana: "Say "hello" to my little friend!" · 2005 · Ranked #61; AFI's 10 Top 10 · Gangster Film · 2008 · Ranked #10
- Production trivia
- The film was initially going to be entirely shot in Miami, but the Cuban community denied requests to film there.; The film's soundtrack and score was composed by Giorgio Moroder.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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