As a seasoned film enthusiast and critic with a keen eye for directorial vision, I must say that Brian De Palma’s handling of Scarface was nothing short of masterful. His ability to navigate the complexities of a set fraught with personal and professional dramas is truly commendable.
Often hailed as one of the most iconic gangster films from the 1980s, “Scarface” has earned enduring praise and frequent nods in popular culture due to its captivating violence, character development, and intense realism. This movie is a modern adaptation of Howard Hawks’ 1932 crime film, which itself was based on Armitage Trail’s novel with the same title. Unlike its predecessor, which drew inspiration from Al Capone (a gangster who bore a scar), this remake follows the story of a Cuban immigrant rising to become Miami’s most powerful gangster, deviating from the original narrative.
Unlike other highly-praised gangster films, “Scarface” didn’t clean up at the Oscars or dominate the box office. In fact, it was initially met with such disdain that director Brian de Palma received a Razzie nomination for Worst Director. However, over time, people came to realize their initial mistake, and many now consider this ’80s film a favorite, even by Martin Scorsese. Interestingly, despite its eventual success, the production process was quite tumultuous. At one point, things became so difficult that Brian de Palma had to ask screenwriter Oliver Stone to leave the set.
Scarface Is the Perfect Rise and Fall Story
In the movie Scarface, Al Pacino plays Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee and former convict who came to Miami during the Mariel boatlift (a mass migration that took place from April to October 1980). After being held briefly in a detention center, he’s released when he kills one of Fidel Castro’s associates upon the request of powerful Miami drug lord Frank Lopez. Imagining himself as destined for greater, albeit illegal, opportunities, Tony eventually takes part in an exceptionally difficult drug transaction. Following this successful deal, Tony and his friend Manny are offered legitimate employment by Frank, but they decide to pursue a more illicit path instead.
From there, Tony acts swiftly. Despite his streetwise nature, Frank is caught off guard by the quick-rising gangster. Tony approaches his patron as an eager apprentice, gradually seizing control over all that Frank possesses through clever, calculated maneuvers. Tony demonstrates himself to be a cunning wolf in sheep’s clothing, a rising power with enough ambition and guile to penetrate Frank’s inner circle.
Initially, Tony charms Elvira, Frank’s spouse (brilliantly portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer), in a manner reminiscent of Casanova. He displays his masculine demeanor towards her, serenades her with lines like “I admire him, but I admire you more,” and other flirtatious gestures. Subsequently, a work assignment to Bolivia leads Tony to encounter drug lord Alejandro Sosa, which ultimately allows Tony to establish his own distribution network. During this encounter, Sosa eliminates one of Frank’s associates, Omar, under the pretext that he was an informant, and takes a liking to Tony, appointing him as his distributor.
Sadly, the negative influence slips into the gathering. Mama disowns Tony due to his criminal lifestyle. His sister Gina, who is younger, takes great pride in her brother and gladly accepts the gifts he brings. However, matters become intricate when she and Manny both express affection for each other. Despite Tony’s warnings, Manny persists, which leads to a disagreement between them.
In the end, Manny receives a bullet after being discovered with Tony, leading to their encounter. Subsequently, Tony’s marriage to Elviria becomes strained as he accuses her of infertility and unmanageable behavior. A key turning point arises when Tony resists killing a journalist who threatens to expose Sosa. This decision results in a rift that escalates dramatically during the well-known “Say hello to my little friend” scene, where Tony valiantly attempts to singlehandedly combat Sosa’s army of guards when they storm his mansion. Alas, he fails, but his bravery is commendable nonetheless.
Oliver Stone Didn’t Want to Leave the Set
Without a doubt, the story of Scarface is one of the most captivating among popular gangster films. Interestingly, director Oliver Stone refused to step aside even after completing his task. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Brian de Palma admitted that he had to evict the screenwriter from the set for a straightforward reason: having too many people trying to influence the project can result in it becoming spoiled or unpalatable.
He was conversing with the performers on the filming location. It’s not permitted to have more than one voice on a set. I informed the director that he needed to make him depart because only one person should be focusing on the set, and that should be me.
The director expounded on the matter in the documentary, De Palma by Noah Baumbach and Jake Paltrow.
He added:
He believed that I wasn’t interpreting the film as he intended. However, it’s not feasible for an actor to receive conflicting suggestions from multiple sources. Instead, they require consistent guidance, or a unified perspective.
Despite coming across as stern, the director was correct in his actions. On set, De Palma had two primary supervisors – Al Pacino and Martin Bregman. Given this power dynamic, he was understandably unwilling to accept suggestions from a junior who lacked a substantial portfolio of work. Although Stone may have felt entitled to input on how the story unfolded cinematically, it was not his role to do so. If he had remained on set for an extended period, the plot twists and turns could have escalated far beyond what the narrative could sustainably hold.
Above all, it was crucial to note that at that point, Stone hadn’t demonstrated the necessity for unlimited creative control. His filmography consisted only of horror movies like “The Hand” and “Seizure”. Given his experience, it seemed questionable whether he was equipped to handle gangster films. It would take a few more years before he achieved his breakthrough with the Academy Award-winning war movie, “Platoon”.
How Stone Reacted to Getting Booted
Initially, Oliver Stone found the decision unfavorable. Following the movie’s premiere, he shared a four-page critique which, in turn, influenced numerous critics to deliver negative initial reviews as well. Yet, it wasn’t solely the denial of his creative opportunities that fueled Stone’s discontent.
During his research for the movie, Stone came close to being harmed by some underworld elements who mistakenly believed him to be an informant from a rival group. Moreover, Stone was battling addiction issues and was going through a contentious divorce with Nancy Allen at the same time. Given these circumstances, it’s no surprise that he became quite agitated.
As a cinephile, I’ve got to admit that my emotions towards De Palma are rather complex. In a recent chat with GQ, I confessed that there are aspects of his directing style that don’t sit well with me.
Brian’s behavior puzzles me because he’s not open about his feelings, and often comes across as being thick-skulled. He has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor. It appears that he doesn’t find joy in interacting with others, and I get the feeling he isn’t overly fond of people like I am.
Nonetheless, Stone understands why De Palma handled things the way he did. He is also thankful for being given more access to the set than a writer arguably ought to have been at the time. Additionally, Stone acknowledges that he was tolerated for a long time because of his close relationship with Al Pacino, but it’s never a good thing if the writer and lead actor are too close.
Such a dynamic makes things hard for the director, which De Palma had to deal with. Given these issues, it’s pretty amazing just how magnificently this film works. But credit goes to De Palma. Quiet, keen, and ostensibly self-contained, he was appreciative of the contribution everyone brought. Because of that, he navigated the on-set chaos well.
Scarface
is available to stream in the US on Prime Video
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2024-09-25 23:32