The Ultimate Gangsta film - Pacino at this best

Rating: 9/10 (2 September 2005)

When Scarface first hit cinemas, the general consensus was that it was a poor film, too overly violent and a waste of time. The Cinema was full of walk outs on it's first showing and the critics blasted it. Now those same people and same critics pinpoint it as one of the leading and popular gangsta films and one of Al Pacino's best and most memorable performances.
It's the classic rise and fall tale of a big time gangster which was Cuban Tony Motana a 'political refugee' played by Al Pacino. The shoot out at the end and various quotes throughout the film are legendary but the film goes along at a nice smooth pace with a great soundtrack. The violence is hard hitting from the start and can come at any time, which always leaves the view on edge and sets the tone and never dragging.
The film has everything and is superbly directed by Brian De Palma and is second only to Scorsese's superbly directed 'Goodfella's in terms of gangster direction. Tony Montana has all the leading male qualities and Pacino holds the screen brilliantly whenever Montana has a line (literally).
Probably the film of the 80s