Scarface
dir. Brian De Palma · 1983
The pursuit of power and wealth can lead to self-destruction and isolation.
Plot
After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
Why watch
"Scarface" is a visceral exploration of ambition and excess, painting a portrait of Tony Montana whose rise to power in Miami's drug trade is as exhilarating as it is tragic. With its striking visual contrasts and relentless pace, it offers a gritty meditation on the moral decay hidden beneath the glimmering facade of the American Dream.