DVD Reviews

Scarface Limited Edition Steelbook – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Sep 8, 2011, 14:48 GMT

Starring Academy Award winner Al Pacino (The Godfather) in an unforgettable performance as one of the most ruthless gangsters ever depicted on film and co-starring Academy Award nominee Michelle Pfeiffer (The Fabulous Baker Boys), Scarface is the rags-to-riches story of Cuban immigrant Tony "Scarface" Montana, who finds wealth, power and passion beyond his wildest dreams...at a price he never imagined. From acclaimed director Brian De Palma (Carlito\'s Way) and Oscar-winning ...more

Let me introduce you to my high-def little friend. Al Pacino’s scenery chewing turn as Tony Montana has gather admiration by some, but one would hope that nobody would wish their life would follow the hellish path that Montana treads.

Tony Montana (Al Pacino) is a Cuban refugee after the American Dream. He and his best friend Manny (Steven Bauer), who is also a refugee, start off small running dope for a dealer named Frank Lopez (Robert Loggia) and his henchman Omar (F. Murray Abraham). A botched deal ends with much carnage but ingratiates Tony and Manny to Frank.

Tony also eyes Frank’s girlfriend Elvira (Michelle Pfeiffer) as well as his wealthy lifestyle. Tony’s mother (Miriam Colon) is disgusted by her son’s choice of profession, but his sister Gina (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), who Tony is fiercely protective of, is seduced by the lifestyle and money.

Tony and Omar go to Bolivia to negotiate a deal with Alejandro Sosa (Paul Shenar). Tony tries to negotiate terms without Frank’s say and this causes Omar to leave.

Sosa asks Tony to stay and witness Omar’s execution since it turns out he is a police informant. When he returns to Miami, Frank is furious because of Omar’s death and Tony’s negotiations and tells him they can’t do business anymore. This leaves the way for Tony to go into business for himself, pursue Elvira, and discover that the world is his – but what gains a man if he inherits the world and loses his life?

Scarface took the blueprint of the 1932 original, added heaping helpings of violence, gore and high octane performances and shaped itself into a cult classic. Nay even a cottage industry as Scarface merchandise seems to jump off the shelves or they wouldn’t keep making it. You wouldn’t believe some of the items.

I get posters and action figures, but Scarface underwear! Who would’ve guessed? I am a bit disturbed that the film is held up to such admiration since the message of the film should be don’t emulate Montana but try not to get into that lifestyle. The original seems to make that point better, even with a fiery performance from Paul Muni.

I like the original a little better in that aspect. However, the remake is positively Shakespearean in its rise and fall of an anti-hero. Pacino goes deliciously over-the-top as Montana in all his theatrical sound and fury.

Writer Oliver Stone seems to embrace this aspect, especially since that Shakespeare was writing for the common man and not the English major we envision him writing for. Will S. was the soap opera of his day. Will also know when to pour on the comedy and blood to keep those in the cheap seats interested, again Stone and director De Palma know this too.

Scarface is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (2.35:1). Special features include a picture-in-picture U-Control feature with the filmmakers and others commenting on the film, the “Scarface Scoreboard” is the second U-Control feature that has a tallies such facts as curses and bullets, the 39 minute high definition “Scarface Phenomenon” looks at the making of and legacy of the film, the remainder are in standard definition and include the 12 minute “World of Tony Montana,” the 30 minute “Creating” of the film, the 10 minute “Rebirth” about how the ’32 original was reborn as this version, the 15 minute “Acting” about the performances, a 3 minute look at the “TV version,” a 12 minute look at the making of the videogame, and 22 minutes of deleted scenes. Disc two is a DVD copy of the 1932 original film. It’s all housed in a steelbook case that contains some art cards and a code to download a digital copy of the Pacino version.

Scarface is certainly gaudy, but it also is to over-the-top that you can’t help but be caught up in all the sound and fury. This edition looks better than the DVD version, but Scarface aficionados will want to snatch it up to go with their action figures and underwear.