The definition of excess.

Rating: Null/10 (26 October 2003)

Scarface (1983) is a loose remake of a classic '30s gangster film. It is written by Oliver Stone and directed by Brian De Palma. Hmmm, not exactly two men noted for their restraint. Indeed, this version of Scarface may be 20 years old but it will always be one of the most excessively violent, excessively foul-mouthed and excessively...erm...excessive films ever made.

Al Pacino gives a majestic performance as a Cuban refugee who works his way into a life of crime on the streets of Miami. Starting out as a messenger boy for a small-time local hood (Robert Loggia) he gradually makes his way up the gangland food chain, ultimately becoming an obscenely wealthy crime lord with fingers in every pie, from political assassination to major drug businesses. However, he's just too dumb to stay at the top, and soon he finds he has a price on his head.
The film is severely hindered by its insanely overlong running time. There's a detailed and in-depth story to tell here, but at nearly three hours the film is simply too lengthy. It also wallows in unplesantness for the sake of it, with endless scenes of people snorting dope, killing one another, and rolling in their murderously earned wealth. There are powerful moments, true enough, including filmdom's most violent chainsaw execution sequence and a staggering climax in which Pacino single-handedly attempts to ward off a guerilla army that has infiltrated his mansion. However, on the whole Scarface is a disappointment because its emphasis is on sleaze and violence, with not nearly enough time dedicated to the other threads of the story. When all is said and done, three hours spent wallowing in excess is not sufficient to make the film a good one.