Deconstructing the College Fim Canon: Say Hello to My Little Friend, Scarface

Published May 8, 2007
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By Erin Sullivan

Through hard work, determination, and courage, we are taught that we can achieve the so-called American Dream. A nice house with a white picket fence, a loving family, a dog (preferably a golden retriever), and a respectable career are key elements of this manufactured idea.

But what happens when those values are warped and are replaced with a Cuban refugee with a serious cocaine problem and excessive amounts of power and wealth? The answer is the 1983 film Scarface.

Scarface was directed by Brian DePalma, written by Oliver Stone, and was loosely based around the 1932 Scarface film. The 1983 version has developed a cult following, been influential within the hip-hop community, influenced many other films, video games (such as Grand Theft Auto), and TV shows ( Miami Vice anyone?), and been the target for controversy due to its violence and graphic content.

What is it about the movie that we love and makes it an inspiration for under-dogs everywhere? Partly, that’s it, everyone loves an underdog tale of succees no matter what the content is. Why? Scarface revolves around Antonio ‘Tony’ Montana, and his drive to become successful in America. He fled Cuba in hopes of achieving a better life.

The film’s premise is somewhat based around the Mariel Boatlift which took place in 1980. Cuba’s economy was in poor shape and many citizens wanted political asylum. After protests, Castro opened the Mariel port and allowed some people to leave. Although this news was not broadcast throughout the country, around 124,000 people fled Cuba for Florida.

Upon arrival in Florida, Tony finds work with a crime boss. From there, he rises through the ranks and enters a world of wealth, drugs, and power. His life in Cuba was the exact opposite, yet he manages to turn that around and make something of himself. Although he becomes involved in very illegal activities, he achieves his goals and gets everything he wanted.

If this film is just a take on the American Dream, then why is it such a phenomenon? Tony got away with things that people only do in their dreams. In between his constant dropping of f-bombs, he lied, fought, and killed to gain women, power, and money, all of which formed his perception of success. With money came power and with power came glory. He had everything up until his violent downfall, which in part was due to his paranoia, his obsession of making it big, and the realization that having everything isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Is it just absolute power corrupting? Doesn’t America make him this way? The drive for power? Or is the movie also an indictment of Cuba?

So what is the ultimate statement about America and the American Dream? Is Tony a hero or anti-hero? The movie both allows us to enter into an alternate world, but it ends up just like real life: disappointing and deadly. Thus the American Dream is a lie.

Very little has changed regarding the American Dream. We are still taught that there are certain things we should achieve in life in order to be happy and successful, but at what cost?

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