i hadn't seen the legendary scarface since i was way young to be watching it.

in rewatching it i was expecting to be blown away. perhaps that was my problem. pop culture has given the film a status i question whether it deserves. tony montana is held as this kind of figure of gangster cool. the cartel guy you need to look up to. a figure who has made his way into the mtv cribs essentials list.

yet the man is a complete fool. is he overwhelmed by greed or is he just stupid and lucky? his success is a combination of arrogance and happenstance, and the only thing impressive is that he doesn't get whacked earlier.

i was rooting for the bad(der) guys when they finally take him out. good fucking riddance.

is this de palma's desired effect? or was oliver stone still stuck in the mindset of conan the barbarian after just having finished writing for that?

the whole thing left me annoyed for a day after watching it, and i regret giving it another go.

ps - al pacino was pretty friggin al pacino in it, though, which is worth something. although i'd still take dog day afternoon / serpico / godfather al pacino any day.