Alternative Magazine Online

By Marty Mulrooney

Scarface, Brian De Palma’s 1983 crime saga, is still a huge part of popular culture within society in the present day. Upon its release, it was simultaneously applauded and condemned by critics and audiences, causing controversy due to its content and nature. However, by its very nature, controversy often helps a film rather than hinders it; the notoriety of the violence, profanity and drug taking that would now seem commonplace in an R rated film, certainly helped seal it within pop culture in many ways.

The pairing of an accomplished director, with a screenplay penned by another famous director, Oliver Stone, should have indicated a runaway success. Again however, the nature of the film both hurt its success, and ensured it would endure to entertain audiences today, over 20 years later.

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