Summary of Scarface

Title: Scarface

Writer: Oliver Stone

Director: Brian De Palma

Released: 1983

Major Characters:

Tony Montana – Al Pacino

Elvira Hancock – Michelle Pfeiffer

Gina Montana – Mary E. Mastrantonio

Frank Lopez – Robert Loggia

Alejandro Sosa – Paul Shenar

The film Scarface was filmed in chronological order. The film surrounds the rise and fall of the central character, Antonio (Tony) Montana. In the film, Tony and his sidekick, Manny, go from living under a bridge with other Cuban refugees to being dishwashers to becoming millionaire drug dealers. Frank Lopez gives Tony his start in the drug business. Tony eventually kills Frank and marries Elvira Hancock (Frank’s girlfriend). he is reconnected with his mother and sister (whom he is overly protective of). Manny begins a relationship with and marries Gina (Tony’s sister). Unaware of the marriage, Tony is outrages and kills his best friend and confidant when he discovers their relationship.

After an unbelievable fight, Tony loses his life to Alejandro Sosa because of hit Tony refuses to carry out.

The aesthetic contributed greatly to the influence the film has on the audience. The lighting was very low-key to add to the dramatic effect. The music played during the film gave the viewer a true experience of the party life during the time the movie was based upon. The direct cut that takes the movie immediately from scene to scene keeps the audience interested, because of the constant action and interaction of the characters.

If the film had been done in a non-linearly order, the effect would have been totally different. If the opening scene would have been Scarface floating in the indoor pool, the audience would have been intrigued to know how this happen. However, the same enthusiasm wouldn’t have been shared about his rise to wealth because the audience would know what the outcome of it all would mean. In chronological order, the audience is lead to believe that by the end of the film Montana would have “the world Chico, and everything in it” (Scarface, 1983).