Scarface (4k Ultra HD + Blu-Ray)

“In the spring of 1980, the port at Mariel Harbor was opened, and thousands set sail for the United States. They came in search of the American Dream. One of them found it on the sun-washed avenues of Miami… wealth, power and passion beyond his wildest dreams. He was Tony Montana. The world will remember him by another name… Scarface.

Starring Al Pacino as Tony Montana along with Michelle Pfieffer, Steven Bauer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Robert Loggia, Scarface has become a cultural phenomenon brilliantly directed by Brian De Palma and written by Oliver Stone.”

Scarface is arguably Brian De Palma’s best work, coming out at the perfect time to call attention to a certain lifestyle that has a pretty damn good story behind it. It had been years since I’ve seen the film, but it was just as moving today as it was then, despite the film being almost three hours, you’re engrossed by the rise of Tony Montana and his realization of the American Dream that glorifies power no matter what the cost is to get to the top.

Tony Montana isn’t really a nice guy, nor someone the audience really should be rooting for. Immediately upon entering the country he has ambitious plans to make money, beginning with a murder to gain favor with one of the organizations. When his first job doesn’t pay out enough for his liking, he gets violent, strong arming his way onto another risky scenario that ends up costing one of his friends his life with Tony barely escaping dismemberment. His ambition gains the attention of the boss, Frank, whom appoints Tony a higher position in the organization. Tony’s fearlessness eventually makes him a liability, but this is also the source of his ambition which propels him into a position of power that few people could know.

Though I doubt Al Pacino would be cast as Cuban in today’s social climate, I honestly can’t see anyone else in the role. Pacino brings Tony Montana to life in all his ambitions, his violence, and his passions, transforming himself into a monster with a hint at a moral compass. Although he doesn’t hesitate to show his violent streak at any given moment, he refuses to let innocents, women and children, be collateral damage in his business. Dramatically, Al Pacino has had much better roles in his career, but Tony Montana is still the standout as one of his most memorable and bombastic. Michelle Pfieffer is stunning in her portrayal as Elvira, a source of fascination by Tony who must have her at all costs, despite being the boss’ woman. Tony’s need to control all the women in his life, Elvira, his sister Gina, are all fueled by a megalomaniacal personality in which he thinks he knows what’s best for them. The supporting cast all give top notch performances that ensure Scarface is just as entertaining today as it was then.

What I think still holds up after thirty-five years are the themes in the film. On the surface one could argue it’s an inspirational tale of taking the world head on and making things happen for yourself, that’s certainly what some of the modern-day rappers who hold Tony Montana as their champion think. ‘The World is Yours’ mentality can be seen as an inspirational mantra, but it’s clear it’s a much more dangerous mentality depending on the lifestyle you lead. Tony takes what he wants in a world where the consequences are met with death and destruction, something that should not inspire anyone to lead by example.

Video

The Scarface Gold Edition is presented in 4k 2160p Ultra High Definition Widescreen 2.35:1 featuring HDR 10. The 4k transfer of this film looks absolutely stunning. The film is free of debris of any kind, with grain kept at a manageable level. Where this 4k transfer really shines is in the clarity and detail of the film in its entirety, as well as the brilliant brights, deep darks and the life-like colors that really stand out as an improvement over previous releases. I haven’t been impressed with some older films released on 4k, but Scarface is not one of them. The transfer alone is worth the upgrade for fans of the film.

Audio

The audio is presented in DTS:X, another highlight of the disc which accentuates perhaps one of the best traits about the film: the score. Tony’s Theme is by far my favorite portion of the score, a perfect accompaniment to the character and the themes explored. Learning that studio executives wanted Brian De Palma to change the score for one of the theatrical re-releases and replace it with all the rap songs that were inspired by the film almost made me nauseous. Thankfully, we live in a world where that never happened.

This track is very impressive when it comes to the surrounds, providing a large range of atmospheric effects and what everyone is anticipating at the end: the huge shootout. Balances are well done, with dialogue crisp and clear coming from the center channel.

Special Features

With the countless editions of this film out there, it’s hard to keep all the features straight and definitely hard to find something new. This set does provide a new feature, as well as the old features from previously releases. These include:

• Scarface 35^th Anniversary Reunion: An All-New Conversation with Director Brian De Palma and Actors Al Pacino, Michelle Pfieffer and Steven Bauer from the Tribeca Film Festival
• The Scarface Phenomenon
• The World of Tony Montana
• The Rebirth
• The Acting
• The Creating
• Deleted Scenes
• Scarface: The TV Version
• The Making of Scarface: The Video Game

This release of Scarface in 4k goes above and beyond what I expected. Revisiting such an iconic film with a refreshed look will be sure to entice fans to pick up this upgraded set. Just as poignant and moving as it was thirty-five years ago, Scarface holds up as some of the best work of those involved.