De Palma's Masterpiece?

Rating: 8/10 (12 November 2013)

In 1980 Miami, a determined Cuban immigrant (Al Pacino) takes over a drug cartel while succumbing to greed.
While this was inspired by the original "Scarface", it is not exactly a remake (something that writer Oliver Stone would not have accepted). Today, Hollywood loves remakes and "re-imagining" films, but they rarely get it right. This got it right -- it is so far removed from the original that the respect and influence are there without taking anything away from the classic.
Apparently, De Palma was added as director when Oliver Stone was turned down for the job because of a recent flop. Who would have made the better picture? Hard to say, but it seems great that De Palma ended up with the honor -- this film is in IMDb's Top 250 and the highest-honored film in De Palma's career. If he had made nothing else, he would have gone on to be known for this for eternity. (Stone, likewise, has gone on to be best known for "Platoon" and "JFK".)