This vid is one of four that I did on Scarface. The others are listed on my site www.collativelearning.com/FILMS%20reviews%20BY%20ROB%20AGER.html (before responding to this pinned comment, if your comment is not a response to the pinned comment then post it separately, thanks)
A very interesting analysis. That film is in my top 3 gangster movies of all time. I just watched it the other night actually. I don't know if you're aware of this, but that film is a remake of the 1932 Howard Hawk's Scarface. I'd like to see you do an analysis of that film. It's probably the most violent gangster movie of the 1930s. I appreciated the deleted scenes by the way. I've never seen those before. I'll definitely be checking out more of your content in the future. 👍
That laugh Michelle Phiefer did in the car wasn't supposed to happen. It was a real laugh. Many people said Al Pacino is funny as fuck. You wouldn't expect it but he have people on set crying laughing .
I've never really gotten the vibe that Tony is lusting after his sister. That's how Gina sees it in the end but when she confronts him in that scene he looks legitimately confused. I see it as more that he just wants to keep her "pure" and out of his world, but he also can't not spoil her with money, which he ultimately does. I see it as more of a surrogate father/daughter thing.
It was definitely a plot point stressed in both movies. I think it speaks to the dangers of how some cultures place an unhealthy/obsessive duty on the males to protect the chastity of the females of their family.
Your wrong Scarface was the underdog and a dope dealer and he managed to see and success that's why most gangsters and drug dealers idolize him they didn't miss the point they realized the point of another dog succeeding success
@@g5gfive434 Where did all his fancy suits and coke use get him? A pine box before he reached his 40s. The true story is Tony managing to isolate and hurt those close to him, and being alone when he needed them the most.
So many people still criticize Pacino's accent in this film as being inauthentic, but it's actually explained in the opening scene when he's being questioned. He says his father used to take him to watch old American films "guys like Bogart, Cagney. They teach me to talk" so Pacino's mixing a Cuban accent with how criminals spoke in old 1930's-style gangster films, just like in 1932's Scarface.
The cut from the scene where Tony admires his sister trying on the dress at the shop to the scene where the portrait of him and his wife is unveiled shows us a deeper meaning meaning that that mentioned in the video. Notice how the dresses worn by the two women are identical in cut, but his sister's is white or off-white, a colour associated with purity and virginity, whereas his wife's is red, the colour of seduction and sex. The similar cut in dress establishes the link in desire between the two women from Tony's perspective, but their radically opposed symbolic colours tell us that he consumates that desire with his wife, but not with his sister, whom he sees as an immaculate virgin whom he violently tries to keep that way.
I agree with your interpretation, though it is undeniable there is a weird sexual element to his possessiveness over his sister. Perhaps it’s symbolic of his obsession over things he cannot have. Though she is always close to him, she is forever out of reach like everything else he desires.
@@ivanperez295 Older brothers are naturally protective over their younger sisters, it has nothing to do with sex. This is why Tony looked at his sister confused when she offered herself to him right before she was shot near the end of the film.
Al Pacino himself said he didn’t think Tony love his sister sexually. Oliver stone wanted to show how bad drugs really are and what scenario they could put you in, and how they can even make them even worse. If this theory is true then Oliver stone has some explaining to do.
I don't think Tony was controlling her for sexual means, more so it went along with his constant obsession of being in control of EVERYTHING. They grew up without a father, so Tony clearly took on the male role and once he had _earned_ himself role of provider as well, he watched over his sister like an overbearing father... or like you can easily presume, husband.
@@pauliedibbs9028 nailed it. Father figure - but Collative tends to perceive every solution as a sick sexual fantasy... much like Freud. Not always the case. Tony's overprotective, overbearing, overreacting responses toward his sister had absolutely nothing to do with wanting to f**k her, none. You are correct.
My favorite moment in Scarface is when he says “that piece of shit, I never trusted him” and points up at the sky where he was just assassinated lol (imagine you were talking about someone you saw get hit by a car and when referring to him in conversation you point at the road lol)
I see Scarface as a character study of the obsession of pursuing the American Dream which to most people is wealth, power and status by any means necessary. Tony Montana is an example of someone who attains the American Dream the wrong way and ends up paying the price heavily. He loses his family, best friend, his wife, his empire and ultimately himself in one night. His rapid fall from grace symbolises how someone can lose it all in a quick second. If they make the wrong moves.
Tony is the hero ,he was always the good guy "whoever he killed had it coming "/he befriends Sosa&when tony needs help.Sosa has a job for him ,tony kills Alberto the hitman because he refused to kill women and children ;what Sosa wants to display his dark powers by killing a family in front of the U.N&he knew Omar had something to do with the scam at Sun-Ray hotel & he just said "omar is okay " /it was a set up by omar and Omar was a snitch on early 70s NYC,when cocaine invaded NYC with help of colombian gangs,tony was dirt poor and afraid in hotel ,he spit in the face off his oppressors (HE HAD HONOR) *He could not give away money that was not his.
i think its more so there is no american dream and when you get to any height there is always more that cant be achieved and that through capitalism that cycle will demonstrably continue till you can longer climb and you fall apart from weight of it all while others below you suffer cause they didnt "try" as hard. so the system only "benefits" those climbing but everyone has their limits, we are human, not machines.
@@ehhtubrutus9444 It spoke to elitism and american corruption from within .Sosa had a red phone to hook up calls from FEDS/CIA in America ,omar was a snitch and frank lopez snitched to bernstein about Rebenga hit&coke score at Sunray motel /once in the life you never talk about an "action " or "piece of work " after job is done,that was enough for tony to have frank killed . America created and nurtured Sosa.
I don’t agree that Tony sexually desired his sister at all. He’s definitely controlling and possessive with her, but I think that’s more maternal. I think it’s more that she’s the last remaining thing in his life that he sees as completely pure and innocent, so he wants to keep her as far away from anything relating to the dirtier, more immoral parts of his life as he can. And gets angry when he sees her with people that he doesn’t think are good enough for her. I think’s she’s just the one confusing his maternal feelings for sexual desire.
Exactly, she lost it when he killed manolo, probably not knowing that Tony didn't want manolo for her and told Manolo don't f with my sister, cuz manolo is a bad guy like him, she didn't understand why Tony got at guy at the club in the bathroom, cuz he was a bad guy too low level as well, and there she is about to f him in a toilet room smh 🤦 So to her fragmented lost it mind and trauma to shock of the act and seeing such violence she snapped and assumed oh Tony wants me for himself...even a high coked up Tony was like wtf r u talking about...
@@n.b.l.5709 I think it was both. I believe there was a part of Tony that genuinely cared for his sister but there was also that other side. Especially if you look at the film in it’s entirety. It makes a point to point out his relationship with woman on multiple levels. He is inadequate but clearly longs for the affection of the opposite sex. Gina all grown and up and beautiful facilitates that deep longing for female attention and interaction on some level and it seems Tony couldn’t properly reconcile the two emotions/feelings. Which more thoroughly explains why in multiple scenes he has very explosive reactions when it pertains to Gina and other men. And it perfectly concluded along with other motifs with the killing of Manolo(good looking ladies man, Tony’s foil character).
@@josephwhitfield3122 ur reading way too into it, he was just very protective of his sister, he didn't want her incestually at all. So u wouldn't explode ur younger sister if u caught her going to the bathroom with a dude at a club u frequent to fuck or so in the bathroom, on or next to a toilet ? Than u dont know latino men or family values 2. Your best bud is the one that got u pinched thru his connection, when u call to see how he's handling being boss while ur gone, they tell u, he's been missing, out, than they tell u ur mom been saying the same of ur sister 3. U still don't add em up but later u find out, he ur best bud been bangin ur sister and everything even married her when u told em to stay from her and why and also told her not to get involved with people in that crime world n business, so utterly betrayed....yup manolo had it coming there
@@chocolatecosmos1424 exactly!!! And he even told Monolo, SHE NOT FOR YOU MANNY!!! She not fot you! Olvide eso....and between such a latino as tony, that is not to be broken...that can cost ut life, which it did, for monolo, also he was sloppy n sneaky with it, he left leader post while tony was away, thus plowing tonys sister behind his back while tony was taking a mission to erase the debacle monolo got him in in the first place...he should've told tony straight up, but nope, tony comes back and surprise, buster him, riled up already by the assassination mission, monolo missing his sister missing his mother, boss sosa chewing him out n elvida too smh...and than bamm oh u been the one bangin taking away my sister n not watching the fort either while i wws gone...f u snake
Personality will go a long way and this movie has tons of it! On a slightly different note, an actor and beauty queen used in the early beach part of the movie, Tammy Lynn Leppert, disappeared shortly after filming her scene, and was never found. She was 18. There are real psychopaths out there.
I feel like Tony Montana is a lot like Tyler Durden. A lot of misaimed fandom thinking he's some sort of badass macho anti-hero when in reality the character is a lot more pathological and twisted.
I personally find Tony's appeal quite similar to Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver. Both of them are arseholes and I don't want to imitate them, but I really relate to both of these characters on some levels.
@@PeacefulJoint I think it's just the fact that they repeatedly get away with things in pursuit of their goals. In real life we are stymied much more often than not.
I always assumed the reason Tony was so overprotective of Gina was because their dad sexually abused her or something and that left him traumatized, which is why he didn’t want to see her with any man, like maybe he was the only one who stood up to their father
Yes agreed, Elvira is just in it for the money. Tony kills Frank, and she immediately goes with him, no remorse. But back to their first meeting, she seems miserable, bored and boring, and definitely seems like an emotionless gold digger. If you have a regular job, in a regular house, with everything you need to survive and have a happy family, she wouldn't even lol twice at you.
21:50 what do you mean? Of course there was a tactical advantage to referring to Angel as his brother. They would've been more inclined to honour Tony's wish to leave the door open thinking Angel was kin rather than just a random friend/associate. From the other guy's pov it's gonna look more obvious that they're up to something bogus with Tony if they won't let his 'brother' see what's going on with the deal.
@@pointysidedown It also gives the impression that Angel is Tony's most trusted back up. The Colombian is fine with leaving the door open because he thinks Tony and this rather scared looking guy are all he has to deal with.
I don't think Tony was ever sexually attracted to his sister. I only think Gina say's that in the end because she cannot contemplate Tony's intentions, especially after killing his most trusted friend, his partner in crime, and Gina's brand new husband. It's the only logical conclusion she can fathom for Tony's actions, but Tony is not a logical person emotionally, or morally. Tony reacts to killing his most trusted friend as if he is almost dead inside, confused, and regretful of his actions, but he is incapable of controlling himself, and his rage. He would rather live in misery, and guilt than allow his sister to live her life as an adult. When Gina walks in on him, and starts insinuating that he is sexually obsessed with her, Tony is confused, and shocked. Tony is just so overprotective, and controlling to the people he loves most, that he eventually smothers them, and causes them more pain and misery. He's a walking time bomb, and an uncontrollable force of nature wrecking everything in it's path. In Tony's mind, Gina was always his kid sister. In life it is necessary to let people live, learn, and make mistakes on their own, even if we disagree with their choices. That's how we grow into adulthood as human beings, but Tony can't even contemplate his little sister growing into a mature woman with a life, and will of her own. He must protect her, even if he has to lock her up.
I totally agree. He saw her as his baby sister and princess like he was standing in for their father that they never really had. Overprotective fathers also do things like that (usually to much less extremes), but that doesn’t mean they want to do their daughters. It means they want their babies to be innocent and pure forever until they find the one who truly loves them.
Cant believe you didn’t mention that Scarface (1983) is a remake of the Howard Hughes film of the same name (1932). That’s why the 1983 film end with a shootout because the 1932 one did, albeit not as bombastic.
I think the main appeal of this character to some people is that he came from nothing and clawed his way to the top. But I think a secondary appeal, that many people might not even realize they are responding to, is that he messes it all up. I think most people who are not born into wealth understand that if they were to somehow come into a lot of money, they'd squander it and wind up broke again. Who can't relate to that? How many of us know that if we won a million dollars in the lottery, we would wind up in exactly the same position we started in? Tony's story is a depiction of that. Sure, becoming rich is great but what happens to a guy like Tony AFTER he reaches the top? That's why this kind of story can't end with him transitioning to a legal life and living out his days in relative comfort. It wouldn't ring true to the audience. Regarding his sister, I think she represents a kind of woman Tony can't have- non criminal, not for sale. His wife is the opposite. She's something guys like Frank and Tony buy like they'd buy an expensive car. I think that's why he desires her and why he's obsessed with keeping her pure and innocent. There is no other woman like that in his life and most likely never would be, given his lifestyle. Tony kills his friend because from Tony's point of view, his friend ruined the ONE good thing in Tony's life.
You could argue that the moral of the story is to not take the easy way out. Tony could have easily found honest work and with more patience and a willingness to not turn to crime, he could have had a significantly happier ending
I always interpreted Tonys restaurant outburst as him lashing out at the hypocrisy of the one percent. They buy his products which makes him as rich as them, but they will never accept him as one of them because of his hispanic ethnicity and the stigma of his criminality.
I agree for the most part though I will admit him being Hispanic likely has little to do with it. Its very likely entirely down to him being a criminal. The people at the restaurant don't really pay him any mind until he starts yelling at Elvira and starting a scene. Not for nothing but there are basically 2 drug addicts loudly fighting in a fancy restaurant and Tony is clearly not thinking straight that entire scene given how he can barely stand up without support. He's very likely both drunk and high. Tbh while I think it's possible Tony was angry at the fact he'd never be included in "high society" frankly Tony was lashing out at anyone and everyone in the vicinity including manny. Tony was a mess by that point.
A lot of kids in my school that had a proclivity for gangs, really held Tony Montana/Scarface in high regards; It's a bit reminiscent of how Tony views Bogart/Sierra Madre.
So much stuff to notice in this movie -- in the negotiation scene with Sosa, Tony is wearing the exact same outfit as Frank when Manny kills Frank. Red shirt, white suit, red pocket square. And Frank gets shot in the red pocket square . They might as well have splattered blood on Frank to start the scene.
I'd say the "Brother" line could be seen as the excuse for wanting the door left open as almost everyone can understand siblings be very protective of one another.
yeah. Then it backfires on him. They decide to kill the friend as a means of getting to him, because, as you say, supposed siblings and their love for each other. Lost a partner because of his own lies.
I heard a cool theory that Tony used the word brother so that the Colombians would think they had leverage for a hostage situation, so that at least he himself would survive
I’ve never taken the Tony and Gina thing as “incest”. I know so people have said that over the years and I’ve honestly watched this movie watching out for this romantic idea between him and his sister. I saw it more as a fucked-up Father figure transformation. As in maybe their father was weird and abusive or something and Tony turns into a version of him when he’s around Gina.
The brother saying was not a mistake. He was in Tony's crew, which at the time was Manny, ChiChi, Angel and Tony. They all had each other's backs, shared each other's dreams, and all helped on the hit that got them IDs and green cards into the USA. They were brotherhood. Just like in gangs, you're in a family, you're a brother.
It's interesting how they remade the 1932 original Scarface but kept the themes intact. The conclusion with 'The World Is Yours' is a direct reference to the irony of big shots believing they can have it all...but getting it all taken from them in death. It's a lot like Barry Lyndon in many ways.
So you have to admit that after viewing this film and taking a closer look, it's definitely a definite classic, and had great acting, and was as raw and real as it gets. Especially the location, Miami.
as a kid watching this, i was confused about the tony and gina situation.. as an adult, i came to understand what it was. their father wasnt around clearly. and as the man of the family, if you will, tony took on the paternal ( not maternal as someone else said and noone corrected it lol) role of being an overprotective self appointed guardian of her. tony knew what his type of life would bring his sister if she messed around with guys like him. i mean shit just the fact that she was his sister, ultimately associating with guys like him ( him specifically) brought about her demise. he didnt think it would be because of him, but his obsession with protecting her is what caused it. he didnt kill manny for " stealing his sister from him", he killed manny because manny betrayed his trust. and the coke didnt help. and the last scene with gina being alive.. i dont know how many of you have done drugs.. and for the ones that have, i dont know how many have gone on binges.. but that shit causes paranoia and all kinds of shit. that would explain gina confusing tonys protection of her with him wanting to fuck her. i associate it with a child saying some fucked up shit to a parent theyre pissed off at, except this is a brother/sister combo that are coked out of their minds with imminent death ahead of them. im pretty sure tony even said that she was the only thing that was pure in his life. i feel like in his mind, as soon as she turned to the darkside, he had nothing left of legitimacy in his life. she started there with the coke dude in the bathroom, and kinda of finished it off with marrying an equal scumbag of his right hand man, behind his back. and then... " fuck me tony!" she was done by that point
7:11 this isn't strictly speaking true. Tony's behavoir prior to this scene implies a deep sense of self loathing and disgust over the murder of a good man to save his skin even if he's reluctantly going along with it. Its actually an interesting indication that were approaching the limit of what Tony is willing to do
A film I've always 'liked' but never thought of as meaningful or having much depth. Thanks Rob for showing me the layers and nuances throughout Scarface, I will rewatch it with more appreciation this time. Hope to see more content soon.
@@nr655321 All of the gangster wannabes and rap culture wisdom had me thinking it was little more than a mix of cautionary tale and drug dealer manifesto, albeit a very stylish and entertaining one. That and the usual round of witless reviews by mainstream critics formed my then-dismissive view.
It’s just a terrible overrated movie, bad editing, bad directing, bad cinematography, bad writing, bad movie. It’s Brian de Palma, all his movies are trash. Pacino and his character carried that movie, if you took Pacino out of the equation you would have a smoking pile of shit. Some idiot RU-vidr overthinking and reaching doesn’t magically make Scarface good, it’s trash.
@@mcmurphy809 you sound mad bc of how good it is lol. Irish once again jealous of Italians. The cinematography in the end scene is masterful and Brian de Palma is a legend.
I’ve always been interested in making the case for why Scarface was actually a good movie. I love films that are over the top and absurd but simultaneously channel true human conflict. Tony is a great character study in how we can learn to love a bad guy if he shows us he won’t cross certain lines.
love the bad guy? I doubt that was the point at all. Tony was an archetype of sordid corrupt undercurrents in American society. Namely the gangster "gimme" mentality that taking advantage of amazing opportunities = pursuing excess to the point of destroying other lives and eventually yourself. What qualities of this character makes him loveable exactly? Admirable? Because he won't kill kids? Ok but that's a helluva low bar to sympathize with a thug.
@@katskillzyou can easily admire his will to get to the top from coming from nothing. You can take different pieces of the movie and admire his or love his character. I don’t necessarily disagree with you but I think your just looking at the big pictur
You may think that this was just another analysis video, but this changed my life. I don't think you believe in a God, but I do, and I really believe that he used this to speak to me. I've spent so many years pursuing "success" as a means of feeling good enough to be wanted by a woman, and have had no fun and lost my passion while doing it. I've done really well, but realized that the last time I watched Scarface (a few weeks ago) I was cheering for Tony and actually thought I was learning something about the need for grit, balls, and getting what you want out of life by demanding it. I failed to see the much bigger picture or the levels and nuances of his character flaws and what's really going on in this movie, and that he actually always wanted to be like Manny. Watching this video and digesting those truths helped me re-evaluate my life and my goals. I can still have ambitions and things I want to do, but I choose to no longer do them to validate myself. I know I'm good enough already, I love people and that's what matters most, and if I do something it's no longer going to be for the same reasons it was before. I've watched your videos for at least a year now, and this one on this day just hit so much different. Thank you. I love your work. You are amazing.
I like ur comment. I slightly disagree wit our RU-vidr, here. I posted a long comment, BUTT u never know if ur commentz can survive SINsorship, on current social media, plat4mz. N my comment, I basically told our RU-vidr, dat Tony wuz a VERY pre Federal Reserve, banking cartel shitstem, typa guy. N da 1800z, it wuz VERY mportant 2 men, 2 acquire wealth, b4 thinking of supporting a wife & children! 2day, da banksta gangsta FUNded elitez, have ntroduced Feminism n2 da American social strata. There4 WOmen, can make unwise dcisionz, about their sexlife & they often do! Old world, 1800 men, asked parentz, 4 their daughterz hand n marriage. They didn't just c da young WOman ( Called a teenager, since da 1950z. ) & strive 2 have sex wit her! Sure sum men, still strive 2 b economically viable, b4 marriage & if dat wuz whut u were doing, I applaud u! WOmen do not have 2 b azz thoughtful/responsible, azz men. Itz 1 of da perkz of Feminism. U git 2 call ur shotz, azz a WOman, & nobody really blamez u 4 da horrible outcomez u have brought upon urself. If a man triez 2 sire children, wit, or without proper economic foundation, he iz dmonized by da American Family Court shitstem. U CAN'T WIN!!! Ur hypothosis - dat u should try 2 njoy ur life, rich or poor....... I have nuthin against dat mentality! I just wanta assure u, dat ur previous lifestyle choicez, were not TOTALLY without merit! I WISH U, THE BEST!
I agree with you brother I also believe in God and I had the same feeling watching this, stumbling across your comment confirms it even more so. Tony reminds me of a “friend”who I no longer deem as one havent really for a long time was never true a friend but do due to recent circumstances it’s made me open my eyes fully God bless and take care bro
It's subtle, but if you look at the scene where Tony is showing off the tiger, the only 2 guests missing are Manny and Gina, it's assumed they are having sex somewhere in Tony's mansion while everyone else is at the party.
The world is yours sums it up. Most people assume the literal meaning: like the world belongs to you. But it’s a double entendre. It really means “you make the world you live in.” And the interesting part: is most people don’t see this, which is the exact thing that gets tony killed. Furthermore: it’s a statement on power itself: where tony(and the fans that admire him) see power as a means of controlling the world, meaning they are constantly at war with outside forces and with reality itself while understanding that you make the world you live in is to first accept your current reality and what is and what is not yours to control. that is truly empowering, and true power. It is almost as if tony is a slave to the very concept of power itself, and all it entails. which is the ultimate irony. You hit it on the head with surrealism. The 2nd half is tony literally at war with reality itself. He can’t accept the world he lives in. He can’t accept his sister and gino, can’t accept his reality in the drug trade resulting in him trying to make some insane moral equivalency, can’t accept his status as an immigrant resulting in pursuance of material goods(which includes his wife), can’t accept a woman who would be good for him. He can’t accept he killed his sister and acts like she is still alive. In the end scene , he can’t even accept his own death. Him standing after being shot so many times is meant to be surreal, it is tony denying death itself, the ultimate denial of reality. His entire existence in the second half especially is denying the world he lives in is his. There’s many scenes, like the scene of tony in the bathtub or at dinner where he freaks out, where he quite literally says “this world is not mine”. When he’s saying “I’m not the bad guy, you guys are” he is denying responsibility. He’s saying “this is not my world, it’s everyone else’s don’t blame me, I didn’t make the rules I’m just along for the ride”. It’s at this point , Tony’s fate is sealed. Whatever power he came to usa with is now gone. And we can see it all breakdown resulting in the climactic scene showing the result of the world he made Through this lense, it becomes a very powerful film with implications for anything involving power; not just drugs, but business and government as well. The film itself is such a strong experience it takes a few viewings to look past the glitz drugs and violence and see it for what it really is: a statement on the irony of 80s values usa as a whole.
you make a very keen point which I'll have to think about more. If you're constantly trying to gain power, to own the world, you will ultimately fail, and on the way up, people will look at you as a conceited a**hole. But if you realize that the world you perceive, your perception of reality, already belongs to you, then you have an immense power over everybody else already. Then on the way up, they're not looking down on you, they're a little terrified of you. And then whether you make it "to the top" or not, you've already won.
I don’t like most gangster movies because they spend to much time glamorizing the lifestyle but movies like this actually show how horrific the lifestyle actually is in reality
I think what made Tony so badass was that he was really ambitious and never took shit from anyone. And anything he wanted he wouldn’t ask for it he would just take it. Which are masculine attributes that I think every man can admire and has in him or wishes too.
Something I've noticed, the line is "First you get the money then you get the power then you get the woman." But on all the posters and elsewhere it's quoted as "Money, power, respect."
This movie is a classic! Just difficult to swallow, accept no imitations. Just because it's been meemed to death does not mean it is not good. The scar is a scar on his character not on his face but on the system that makes people think and behave this way
@@collativelearning It certainly seems to make sense when you consider the bullets from all the henchmen can't kill him, but it takes the sneaky "cockroach" shooting him in the back and the huge sign at the end displaying a principal that he could never achieve (everything or nothing) and would have to die by as he collapses into it's waterfall.
Must have been about the assassin's ego as well. The way he calmly walks up behind Tony while a dozen guys fire automatic weapons up at him, not worried in the least about being hit by stray bullets. All while wearing sunglasses at night. 🤣
Angel is only his brother as far as the Colombians are concerned, in the 'We Cuban, you not' kind of way. The Colombian running his end of the deal would understand that particular usage of "brother". I disagree that Tony has any sexual feelings for his sister. I always thought she represented the only innocence left about him therefore the guys from his gang/business/lifestyle aren't fit to date her. Those guys were chased off and/or killed because they would sully that innocence. His family was included in the film to show the one humane trait about him. When she taunts Tony with "why don't YOU f#
@@collativelearning Very good Sir. I am a GREAT admirer of your work, and I have made a few purchases of your videos. I am so grateful you have chosen this endeavor. Cheers!
When he walks out onto his balcony and it shows the tiger (representative of his wife) the entire lawn is clad in darkness, and in the distance, is a little lit area where the tiger is visible. Symbolism of how far away and seperated he is from his wife. A nice touch IMO. Thanks for uploading this.
Don't forget the Tigers on his (red) Hawaiin shirt during the Colombian coke scene.... They are hard to see, but if you look closely at a hi-res image/footage from the scene they are there. There definitely seems to be many references to animals throughout the film, now that I notice... Monkeys, tigers, pelicans, pigs, lizards, etc etc
Dressed to Kill isn't forgotten. I think it's one of De Palma's best films. I like watching it as a double feature with Blow Out, which I think is De Palma's masterpiece.
Tony expressed his wish to have children but he also chose a woman who wouldn’t be a good mother and eventually couldn’t give him children. I think he knew him having children would be a disaster.
I like how you mentioned when he snorts a line of coke and he drops his guard and shows his desperation. I'm sure many men can think of a Time where they drop their guard due to some inhibition. This moment really made me rethink the times that I may have been a bit too thirsty for a woman.
I feel like one interpretation about them at the beach is that they’re not in Florida for the beach. If it was about natural paradises they’d still be in Cuba.
I didn't get all that with Tony and Gina. I just saw him as an overprotective big brother who wanted to shield his sister from the very elements of the underworld he does business with.
I have a pet theory that Tony is partially inspired by Martin Scorsese, who the director knows personally. Scorsese came from a poor immigrant background, is very emotionally driven and ambitious and by some accounts slightly impetuous and ruthless, and early in his life and career he had a few short-lived and troubled marriages and a near-fatal cocaine habit. I think there is an early scene where Tony mentions being influenced by movies he saw as a very young child, which is very true of Scorsese as well, possibly a little hint there.
"when you gonna have another tony to take your place" "I'm working on it" "there's a lot of Albertos you know, we do it next month" have such depth in these lines.
This is one of the few movies I watch every year. Even when I saw it the first time I always wondered due to Tony being who he is if he was unable to "perform" for the ladies in the bedroom which adds to his anger/rage. Id imagine all the smoking,drinking, and drug abuse wouldn't help on top of that during the dinner scene he is leaned at an angle where he looks fatter and even says he's got tits and needs a bra. Not to mention the famous say hello to my little friend scene and the way he holds his "gun" before blowing up the door. That's just something I always wondered about the character.
I think the last scene of Scarface is more of a representation of the overall chaos within Tony's mind. It could almost be equal so a fever dream, everything in the last scene plays out like a weird manifestation of Tony's spiraling mind. Almost wouldn't be surprised if all the people Tony killed were merely illusions of his conscious and he was just shooting at 2 or 3 people while Terminator slowly approaches to kill Tony.
Critics watch movies in screening rooms with other critics. I think it can cloud their judgement. I saw the movie on opening night in a downtown Boston theater with a predominately Black audience. That audience absolutely loved Scarface. Every bit of it. I agreed with them. A stone cold gangster classic that many critics got wrong.
7:37 as a fellow Scouser you forgot your Scouse accent there, "abaa it'" 🤣 seriously though love your take on these films, one of my favourite channels on RU-vid!
Great content as always Rob. I don’t know if your familiar with the Scarface video game from back in the PS2/Xbox era. The game starts out with the shootout from the end of the movie, but in the game you manage to escape and have to rebuild your empire. Very GTA like open world game, which I find ironic because so much wink and nod to the Scarface movie is littered throughout the GTA games.
You know, now that I think about it, Tony may have hung around with Manny because Manny represented parts of himself that Tony wished he had. Charisma, friendship, love, and happiness; the genuine, good emotions in life. While Tony did have a lot of success with money and building power in his drug empire, he lived under the false belief that that was what he needed in life to obtain the things that he lacked as though it could just be bought. Manny had those things and Tony kept him around as a reminder to what he could be but unfortunately, Tony took it all for granted and when he killed Manny, I think it finally dawned on Tony that he truly had nothing good despite being surrounded by more money and drugs than most men would ever have. It's actually a lot more tragic when you really put Tony's life into perspective.
You’re wrong about tony sexually desiring his sister it’s a common theory that doesn’t work very well. You’ve mistaken cultural differences for lust, Tony wants his sister to marry a good man as opposed to someone selling drugs or taking her into the toilets, Manny is used as a narrative tool and explains this in the scene later on. The last scene where Gina dies also confirms this.
Tony is “small time.” His meteoric rise to power and wealth means that he never had to have the discipline of a truly successful criminal like Vito Corleone. Tony is like Henry Hill at the end of Goodfellas talking about how he would steal money and then blow it all at once, then steal some more.
I always look at this movie as an over the top comedy. I couldn’t suspend my disbelief because I’m Cuban American my dad’s friends and family never acted like any of these people lol
when he goes from going crazy on the phone to snorting coke, I was just listening and thought you inserted a laugh track. But hearing that laugh after Tony throws that Tantrum tells me so much about myself
What's interesting to me is the clear inspiration from Hamlet. I wonder if that was an aspect of the film or something that was in the original novel and then eventually adapted into film? 🤔
I've heard everyone say the dynamic between Tony and Gina was weird, but you're the first person I've ever heard make this point. Definitely nailed it👏👏
Lot of gangsters in films are kind and playful to children is because children are innocent to the world of adults and the hardships of life. Though I feel if Tony did have children, he would only show unconditional love and support when they’re children, but once they become teens. I feel Tony would see them as property and have extremely high expectations of them and would be against any goal that didn’t follow the goals he already had for them
I was sooo happy in Scarface on ps3 the very first person you kill is the Sosa's shotgun assassin. Been wanting to do that shit since the 1st time I saw the movie!
The criminals viewing their peers as surrogate family members suggestion makes a lot of sense. Now this is anecdotal, but in my experience it's very common for people like that to refer to someone they know as a cousin, brother, neice or nephew even if there's no relation by marriage or blood between them.
I first watched this and was very unimpressed, however it’s a movie I can’t seem to stop watching. I still find the montage mid film is really jarring and I wish the film fleshed out Tony at the height of his power. The film as is goes straight from him reaching the top to self destruction. It’s a long film but I always wanted to see how he held on to power rather than just the upward/downward trajectory
That's not why Tony killed his friend or why he broke up the sexual encounter his sister was having In the bathroom wtf. The reason he did those things because he didn't want his little sister living in his drug criminal underworld he wanted her to remain innocent. That's why he killed his friend he told him to stay away from her earlier in the film cause he didn't want her involved and ruining her life in the process.
@scroteymcboogerballs4699 no. That's bullshit, he did that because he didn't want her living in his world he wanted her to remain innocent because in Tony's mind she's still the little sister he had when he went away. And That's why he didn't blow up that car when those kids were in the back because Tony believes children are innocent and don't deserve to die. The person who made this video seems outlandish and dosint understand what he's talking about on some stuff.
Regarding Tony falling for the fantasy of Michelle Pfeiffer, you're questioning his choice is definitely valid. However if we go by Tony's character and where he's from, he's probably never encountered the type of woman you or I would prefer
Tony is not a sad hero but an underdog that kept his hunger and did not betray his code/he told Manny "stay away"*no he is not attracted to his sister ,this is tripe from critics who hate the movie /he made mistakes/elvira was Frank's girl /in life get your own woman period .
