Introduction
The very last sequence in Scarface shows a guy being shot, and while he screams in pain, the viewer experiences an adrenaline surge. The very next scene depicts a battalion of shooters spraying gunshots into the already lifeless corpse. The wounded guy amazingly retaliates, taking more shots than that which is physically conceivable, until a lone shooter arrives and finally kills him with a bullet fired in a nearly humane manner. His lifeless body lurches into the pond from off the terrace, which served as a representation of his rule. In Brian DePalma’s Scarface, Tony Montana dies in the manner described. Tony’s demise signifies not just the demise of the kingpin, but also the notion of gang crews prowling America’s neighborhoods. Tony is utilized as a metaphor for the individual who is despised and despised by civilization yet is needed to provide its hedonism thrills. The gory conclusion of the movie recalls a scene from a scary movie, a distinct genre. In hindsight, the scenario might well have come out of a summer blockbuster in which the conclusion requires a constant burst of superhuman strength. The creature is ultimately lowered to the ground by all of the powers of the cosmos. Mysterious similarities exist regarding Tony’s passing and the destruction of the beast. I think the utilization of cross-genre transitions in Scarface’s final moments adds to the intensity there. A lot of the gang movies of the period were inspired by DePalma’s Scarface, which transcends further than the specified gangster category. DePalma was able to construct a character who was more massive than reality in Tony Montana because of the usage of a synthetic mixed genre that combined two severe versions within one. This contributed to the movie’s devoted fan base. Typically, crime-related films offer quick fixes that comply with the speculated law and adhere to orthodox and established systems. DePalma’s Scarface, which invents a new gangster genre and reorients the issues that prior gangster films dealt with, gives the subject a rather godly representation. The essay aims at analyzing the film Scarface based on the formalist theory to discover the main effect that it had on society since its release.
Theoretical Analysis
Scarface depicts quite a powerful storyline showcasing a huge range of cinematic techniques and elements of narration that enable the writer to address multiple issues within society directly. The critique in this case aims at providing an analysis of the presentation covering the theatrical perspectives and basing their evaluation on the formalist theory. Based on the approach readers will have the opportunity to comprehend the main lessons of the movie. The theory allows a full coverage analysis covering the overall mise en scene, techniques applied in recording and editing as well as the editing which was utilized to align the structure to what it is (Tasker 2019). Historically criminal movies have always been utilized to characterize criminals as social aliens. During the 1930s cinema was utilized to paint gangsters as undesirable immigrants who didn’t have any jobs or money and dubbed them to be social problems that required getting rid of them. Based on the formalist theory one can identify with the movie Scarface and understand the main concerns of New York content creators whose role was playing the issue being faced by the administration (Tasker 2021). The movie shows no room for outsiders and immigrants who failed to adapt to American culture as soon as they set foot on the soil. The cultural difference presented through the characters depicts the existence of ethnicity within society and their role in showing an aberration from normality within contemporary society.
Gangster movies, based on their plots, were within the 1980s used as the best platforms for addressing ethnicity gender, and race. Through the screens, administrations were able to eradicate, control, and scrutinize these factors allowing society to range their acceptance based on presentation. During its release, Scarface existed as the most prominent in line after The Godfather which was created in the sixties. It created a spot for itself on the board introducing a new perspective compared to its successor. Through his work, DePalma was able to create a gangster film outlined with avaricious profligacy and viciousness.
Story Plot
In the 1930s a namesake film for Scarface was created. The new version appears to refer to its precursors recreating the role of Tony Montana. The role, acted by Al Pacino is taken up by an immigrant from Cuba who heads out to the US in search of political asylum during the 1970s. His character is defined as ambitious and crafty which plays a major role in enabling him to make it up the ladder. Upon landing in Miami he meets up with Frank Lopez, a drug lord who offers him work together with his companion Manny (Bouchard 2019). Unknown to him, the hit turned out to be a chainsaw massacre which Tony survived and with that gained premium access into the gang as a token of his work. Later on, tony grows a lust for Frank’s wife and eventually ends up killing him and taking up his wife making him the ruler of the drug ring mafia. Despite his gained success, the seat seems to bring with it a huge range of turmoil as his life is ruined and turns into a messy show.
Primarily, the storyline revolves around the struggles of power by an immigrant based within American society. Montana struggles to leverage and control in the United States through power and money but his presence places him on the wrong side with authorities, fellow gangs, and society (Bouchard 2019). Through his character, the movie manages to gain cult status in that it depicts the issues facing the seventies communities showcasing abundant excess in the lifestyle of the seventies. It covers an excessive use of violence, fake loyalties, excessive flow and availability of cash, and drug smuggling assuming significant importance in theatres at the time.
Mise en Scene
The tracks utilized in the Scarface production of 1983 are quite distinctive compared to that of 1932. The main aim, in this case, was to foreshow an aural quality that could effectively accentuate hedonism which in this version appears to be the main highlighted theme within the movie. The film also makes use of pumping effects within the tracks through the use of a subwoofer, the disco effects create a huge range of differences compared to its predecessors. This intrinsically improves the plot as well as creates an existent jazz which enhances the performances of the characters distinctively (Tasker 2021). By making use of these kinds of tones, drums, and synth-string the film creates a perfect atmosphere for the seventies clubbing environment searing the attention of the audience. It also plays quite a role in the buildup of Montana’s character and delves viewers into his super-human world of drugs and power as well as his bizarre attitude towards life and style.
Editing
The scenery is one of the things that determines the artistic levels of movie creators within the filming industry. Scarface in particular has long scenes which focus mainly on Tony and the levels of violence that the mafia causes. The editor makes use of direct suggestions which effectively convey the images to the minds of the viewers. The suggestive sequences enable the audience to build up with the storyline and garner their imagination. Judging from the scenes the editors also apply stylized versions of real-life violence choosing either to show the entire scenes or fragments of them. Montana’s protagonist character is defined by his overspending desires and addiction to the use of cocaine (Lehman & Luhr 2018). DePalma creates Tony to be a symbol of the mafia and a criminal hybrid who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. One of the main uncut scenes as identified by DePalma was the chainsaw murder of Angel at the hands of the Colombian drug lords as they cut him into pieces using a saw. According to DePalma, the scene dramatized the reality that most people were trying to avoid. However, he does not directly showcase the occurrence which is shot ingeniously and skillfully downplaying the significance of the scene. Despite the showcased energy and savagery the scene appears to be underplayed since it shows no signs of explicit violence.
Light
The lighting utilized during the scene tends to be in line with that of crime and gang-related genre films. A good example is the lighting utilized in the chainsaw scene which appears ingenious and purely selected. In the scene, they make use of two types of lighting. During the trade, they make use of a three-pronged light placed at the front allowing the viewers to directly interact with every object the camera’s focus is directed on (Lehman & Luhr 2018). The mode of lighting plays a major role in improving the violence and horror of the scene. Through the use of shadow play, the illumination inside the movie depicts a somber or evil side to the criminal’s existence. Due to how realistic the individual seems, the usage of two phases enhances the viewer’s connection to the action. The players’ moods have been further conveyed in the flat scenario through the utilization of both medium and low-key lighting. Brightness could not have fit the sorrowful tone of the residential setting. High-key illumination, meanwhile, made the action appear more gory and dramatic. Conversely, in the nightclub episodes, cheerful colors are produced by multicolored revolving lights. DePalma depicts the film’s ambiance with the right setting.
Cinematography
The film employs the following shots to immerse the audience in the action. Additionally, the usage of black and white mostly in the movie’s opening and billboard design suggests that contrast will be present in the movie. At the moment wherein Montana is being questioned by the border officials, the former is questioned extensively about his history of violence. Nearly every query is answered negatively by Montana. However, it is very evident to the viewers by the arrogant body language that he had been lying. This scene is especially compelling since it was captured inside one continuous shot for about a minute while the cameraman closely circled Montana. This displayed Montana as seen by the federal agents (Bouchard 2019). The fact that Montana is seated in the center of the space with the immigration officials around him makes the mise en scène very significant. The fact that the cops are depicted towering and Montana’s seated posture seems diminutive suggests that they believe him to have been a felon. Additionally, it tells the viewer that perhaps the movie is a criminal melodrama. Additionally, the usage of close-up views suggests that Montana seems to be the movie’s main protagonist. This moment is very significant since it reveals Montana’s actual self and the tone of the movie.
Costume
The attire used throughout the movie does a fantastic job of capturing the era. The fashion of the era is represented by short-sleeved tops, which are worn at the glamorized nightlife of the 1970s with slender ladies wearing sparkles and Al Pacino. Al Pacino, who is wearing a tuxedo in a particular sequence, is shown sitting at a cafĂ© while intoxicated, whereas the other performers are wearing suits (Tasker 2021). DePalma made an effort to portray the upper general societal evening clothing in this scenario. In other cases, the main protagonists’ attire was well thought out and accurately captured the period.
Reflection
Brian DePalma’s Scarface (1983) pioneered a new approach by significantly diverging itself from predecessors Scarface (1932) and The Godfather. With a number of dramatic plot alterations, the movie offers a bold rewriting of the Al Capone tale. Tony Montana is from Cuba, for instance, despite the fact that the protagonist of the preponderance of crime films finally succeeds and also has Italian blood. In addition, the crooked politicians portrayed in gangster movies do it because it helps them thrive in the societal structure. But Montana decides to become a criminal. Or, to put it differently, unlike Vito Corleone in The Godfather, who has been compelled to become a bandit, he decided to take the plunge.
Conclusion
DePalma used a variety of tactics to highlight how pervasive crime existed at the scene. Employing delayed images, DePalma notably highlighted the violent scenes. The use of rich color throughout the images further suggests that the film involves violent content. While employing tracking shots regularly may become tiresome. Constant exhibitions of sweat and corpses alert the audiences to the show’s gory content. DePalma created a new type of film. In comparison to The Godfather, Scarface (1983) had very different music. Coppola’s choice of nightlife soundtrack over classical music may be detected as a difference throughout the aural portrayal of the movie. The film had a significant social impact because it had a tremendous impact on the hip-hop and rapping industries. Since several hip-hop musicians took up the stage name Scarface throughout the 1980s, Scarface has had a tremendous profound effect. The ethnic origin and patriarchal control of the movie had a significant influence, especially on the gangster rap subculture. The group of semi-immigrants who believed they had been unfairly targeted by the United States came to be represented by Tony Montana. Rap music in the 1980s was significantly influenced by the antihero
References
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Carlos, M., Gailea, N., & Rima, R. (2019). A Descriptive Analysis of Slang Terms in Scarface Movie. Makna: Jurnal Kajian Komunikasi, Bahasa, dan Budaya, 5(2), 18-30.
Lehman, P., & Luhr, W. (2018). Thinking about movies: Watching, questioning, enjoying. John Wiley & Sons.
Tasker, Y. (2021). Genre in Action: The Impossibility and Value of Genre Analysis. In Media and Genre (pp. 37-58). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.