I Kill a Communist For Fun

Rating: 10/10 (6 December 2014)

The 1983 version of the film Scarface will forever be known as a classic film. Not only one of the greatest gangster films, but one of the best films ever made in general. To review a film like this is very hard, because in my opinion, this is one of those perfect films. There is so much to talk about with this great film, that there is no room for one review on this site. My review will contain some behind the scenes notes and facts about the film as well as an added bonus that make it that much more interesting. The following is my review of Scarface.
The story on this remake of the 1932 film of the same name was written by Oliver Stone. Oliver Stone is well know for films like Natural Born Killers, Platoon, and JFK. The original film followed a gangster during prohibition, while this story follows a gangster during the cocaine rush of the 1980s in Florida. While key aspects of the film aren't much different, the film makers on this version of Scarface did a fantastic job making this their own film. Very few remakes can say they are one of the best films ever made.
To gain some knowledge on the subject at hand, writer Oliver Stone went to Colombia and actually spent time with these cocaine dealers. Over the course of spending time with these dealers, he became addicted to cocaine. To finish writing the film he had to fly to Paris to get away from all the drugs. The end result was clearly a masterpiece.
The story itself is a rise and fall type story. In this case the film follows a Cuban refugee, who wants to become rich. He will do whatever it takes to realize that goal. He builds himself up as a man that can be trusted to earn his way up the ladder of success. With great money and great power also causes great problems. The story about the life of drug users and pushers that Stone crafted was simply fabulous. The characters are rich in nature, and this is easily some of the best character development you will see in a film. There are a great deal of scenes where we see back and forth talking, and this is where the amazing acting comes into play.
The acting lead by the star, Al Pacino is simply one of the best all around for a film. Not only does this film star the legend Al Pacino, but it also stars greats like Steven Bauer, Robert Loggia, Michelle Pfeiffer, F. Murray Abraham, and many more as well. The actors gel amazingly in this film. To have scenes where actors need to sit there and talk back and forth, and to have it be great is not easy. That is where the fabulous cast comes into the picture. Director Brian De Palma really shows how great of a director he is in this aspect of the film. To not only have a fantastic acting team like this, but to turn that into amazing acting is not always a given, but De Palma succeeded in this film, as did the actors.
Director Brian De Palma delivers one of the better gangster films of all time in this outing. De Palma is well know for other hit films like Carrie, The Untouchables, Carlito's Way, and Mission: Impossible. His vision he makes for the screen is in fact legendary. There are some scenes with brutal violence, but De Palma never really takes it over the top into what we would now call a gore fest. He makes you feel the pain that is about to come. A great film maker can do that, and De Palma is a legend.
The film was composed by Giorgio Moroder who is also well know for the scores on films like American Gigolo and Flashdance. Moroder delivers a heavy 1980s score that really captures the nature of the film and the story. Some might now consider this type of score cheesy, but for the time this film takes place, it work amazing. The score adds so much depth to the film as well. Moroder has a strong outing on this classic film, and should not be overlooked.
In closing, they say remakes are bad. However, Scarface from 1983 is one example where a remake can be fantastic and legendary. I rarely dish out a perfect 10 out of 10 for films, but Scarface is a rare film that deserves that much respect. This film is a classic, and should be an instant watch for all film lovers out there.
10/10