Scarface
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Scarface is a didactic commentary on the music, fashion and social paradigms of today's American negro hip-hop culture. Director Brian de Palma chronicles the rise and fall of Tony "Scarface" Montana - inspired by the eponymous rapper - from his Cuban expatriation to the mansions of Miami. Drawing heavily on films such as Boyz n the Hood and White Men Can't Jump, de Palma addresses the themes of disempowerment and "rags-to-riches" that underscore the "gangster" sentiments of today's urban minorities.
[edit] Plot
The plot beings with Montana arriving to the United States via Castro's 1980 Mariel Boatlift. After murdering a communist in exchange for a green card, Montana begins work at a Cuban food stand with confidante Manolo. In a theme mirroring 8 Mile protaganist Eminem, Montana quickly becomes disillusioned with his career and is enlisted by drug dealer Frank Lopez. Tony's ambition is nurtured by Lopez, who mentors him in the drug trade. Memorably, Lopez's most valuable lesson is "never get high on your own supply" - a clear reference to Notorious B.I.G's "10 Crack Commandments". Tony's great ambition is a recurring theme throughout the film, such as when he sees "The World is Yours" blimp (see Nas), and when he kills Lopez and fucks his slut.
After usurping Lopez and his cartel, Tony then embarks on his dream of owning a mansion and a tiger, to the tune of Paul Engemann's hip-hop classic "Push it to the Limit". Manolo and sister Gina begin dating without Tony's knowledge, and Tony and Elvira (Lopez's former mistress) fall deeper into cocaine addiction. However, Tony and Elvira's relationship begins to fall apart - in a scene reminiscent of the Mariah Carey/Jay-Z clip "Heartbreaker", Tony sits in the bathtub, cigar in hand, whilst his lover Elvira stares angrily into a mirror. In this scene Montana delivers perhaps his most memorable quote, "C'mon pelican."
Montana, now at the height of his bravado and cocaine-fuelled ambition, is ordered by partner and Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa to assassinate a congressman. Despite Sosa's clear warning of "Don't fuck me, Tony", Tony is unable to kill the congressman because of the innocence of his family. Tony finds out about Gina and Manolo's affair and is able to shoot Manolo point-blank, conveniently forgetting about the innocence of his family, as Tony had clearly stated previously to Manolo "Don't fuck my sister, Manny."
Sosa raids Tony's mansion in revenge, killing his henchman until only Tony is left. Tony emerges from his room with an M-16 rifle and pops some caps until he is executed by an assassin. In a romanticisation of hip-hop martyrdom, Montana dies with "The World is Yours" statue above him. The film closes with a rendition of Mobb Deep's "It's Mine".
