Brian DePalma was on a roll back in the late 70s and early 80s. From Blow Out, Dressed to Kill and then Scarface, the filmmaker was grabbing audiences by the throat and never letting them go. One of those classics, his most iconic film in my opinion—Scarface—is out now on a special, must-own, 4K upgrade “The World is Yours Edition.”
Al Pacino delivered a legendary performance as Tony Montana, a man who was fresh off the boat from Cuba. The American Dream was seared into his soul. People forget that Pacino’s category 5 hurricane performance was controversial. Playing a Cuban immigrant reeked of the old way of doing things in Hollywood, such as Mickey Rooney playing an Asian man in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Yes, it would have been brilliant to cast a Latino in the role. Given his pitch perfect performance, it resonated and still resonates passionately in the Latino community over the years. It was clear that the legendary actor could not have taken the seriousness of the situation more intensely. It is a turn that is held up as the gold standard (one of many from this icon).
Witnessing Pacino as Montana was chilling. It spotlighted what a rich character arc should inhabit and was a searing indictment of tragically twisted view of the American dream.
The Cuban refugee exited his homeland and hopped a boat to Miami, where he was taken in by immigration and before long, disappeared into the fabric of the Cuban-American community in the Florida city. It was 1980, Mariel Harbor opened, and Montana was just one of thousands that took to the seas in search of a better life. Upon arrival, the wealth and opulence of America was impossible to miss. From something as simple as billboards that dot the city to the commercials and programs on television and (especially) what Hollywood churned out … they all put it all out there and with the legend that has solidified about our streets paved with gold all added up to someone like Montana who would literally do anything for money, accomplishment and most importantly—respect.
Oh, Montana found success. It came with those gold paved thoroughfares soaked in blood and its casualties were the countless souls who got hooked on what the native Cuban was peddling, cocaine.
Scarface, a remake of the 1932 Howard Hawks gangster classic, featured a stunning ensemble to support Pacino in his seismic accomplishment including Michelle Pfeiffer, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, F. Murray Abraham, Robert Loggia and Steven Bauer (in a truly heartbreaking performance)—who all stunned delivering the precious prose by Oliver Stone.
Those of you wondering whether to ante up for the 4K upgrade of the 1983 film, don’t even hesitate to secure it. If you are one of those souls who doesn’t even have this picture in your home video collection, then this is an urgent matter of the highest order and the 4K release is simply icing on an already awesome cake.
There’s a brand new bonus feature, which is a delight. Too often these 4K upgrades are given a rich visual and sonic improvement and nothing additional is added to those treasured featurettes. This one is a good one, too! It takes viewers inside the 35th anniversary reunion with Pacino and Pfeiffer.
Before delving into those extras, some thoughts on that visual and audio enhancement.
Crime has never looked so good as it does with the Scarface 4K. The visuals are razor-sharp digitally, yet still possess that cinematic feel to it that too often is a casualty of a 4K transfer. The clarity, color hues are equally as awesome from supreme close-ups to wide angle establishing shots. For an actor of the caliber of Pacino, this is an important aspect of the home cinematic experience. The Oscar winner utilizes the minutest of facial gestures better than anyone and with the 4K improvement, those seemingly insignificant moments pop with a newfound immediacy that overtly enhances this Scarface experience. One can almost feel as if you are walking the streets of early 80s Miami and strutting alongside Montana.
Now sonically, it sounds so sonically succulent. The new DTS:X Master Audio soundtrack is a stunning marvel of audio scientific engineering. What strikes us immediately is when the score, composed by the ear candy originator Giorgio Moroder (he of Donna Summer and others fame), pierces the soul with its vibrancy. There’s also a layered richness to the sound effects. From car horns on busy Miami streets to the searing attention to detail delivered on something movie appreciators too often take for granted—the jolting reverberation of a gunshot, much less one the comes along with automatic fire. Don’t feel silly if you find yourself ducking when Montana introduces us to his “little friend!”
The brand new bonus feature is a doozy. It features an almost half-hour conversation with De Palma, along with Pacino, Pfeiffer and Steven Bauer. The event, held at New York City’s Beacon Theater on April 19th, 2018 explored a myriad of subjects, all promised to wholeheartedly enhance the Scarface 4K experience. Fascinating discussions ensued that chronicled the development of the film and how it even got green-lit. The looking back in hindsight elements of the discussion is truly priceless as what was seemed to be controversial in 1983—the film’s use of violence and language—now seem almost pedantic. To hear all involve share their thoughts on the film and how its aged and their own personal experience with it will warrant many views. Not many behind-the-scenes chats achieve that level of intrigue.
Previously included bonus features from the Blu-Ray release are all supreme treasures, from The Scarface Phenomenon (which is an enlightening and entertaining look at the film’s place in Tinsel Town history), The World of Tony Montana (featuring experts chiming in on how real what was portrayed in the film was to what was going on in gangster circles of the day), The Rebirth (which finds De Palma, Pacino, Stone and producer Martin Bregman waxing poetic about the history of the entity that is Scarface), The Acting, The Creating (a stunning look at how the film was forced to change locales for the shoot due to the controversy about the subject matter), deleted scenes, Scarface: The TV Version and one that will certainly put a huge smile on fans’ faces–The Making of Scarface: The Video Game.
“The World is Yours” 4K release package contains another gem longtime fans and new fans will equally treasure. That’s right, with your Scarface 4K purchase, it comes in a snazzy little package that includes … wait for it … a collectible “The World is Yours” replica statue that Montana famously treasured. That alone would get me to my online retailer! Also included is the 1932 version of Scarface!
Something to keep in mind with the 4K Scarface and its treasured sub-moniker, The World is Yours, is that it could not be a more perfect gift for the film lover in your life. After all, we are nearing the season.
Film Grade: A+
Bonus Features: A