Scarface: A Different Look

Lately, I have been busy with all this writing. I have a tendency to write as I speak which does not always work for the reader. It is a good thing I have a ghost editor to fix my mistakes. And make sense of my barely passed the 10th grade education.

On with this blog, pissing off people is something I have knack for. I had a friend who used to say that it was better to be pissed off than pissed on. I guess that is true except in the case of those who like golden showers. 

Scarface, the classic movie by Brian DePalma will be the topic of this post. I have watched Scarface a few times. It is quite possibly the most quoted movie in rap lyrics ever. Many of those same rappers have shrines in their homes to this movie. I love the movie. It's a long movie for me.  I find it slow in some places.  So it can take me a few sittings to watch the movie in it's entirety.

For those who have never seen this movie, it is about a Cuban refugee Tony Montana. Tony ends up in Miami and works his way up the drug dealer gangster food chain. It is a real rags to riches story, the pursuit of the American dream in Reagan era economics. Tony Montana was a real bad ass. He was a cold-blooded killer.  He knew how to reach to the top through any means necessary. There is one small fact that many people seem to overlook.

TONY WAS IN LOVE WITH HIS SISTER.

Many will debate that Tony was just an overprotective big brother. I disagree.  There was a strange sexual tension between Tony and his younger sister Gina. He was protective and looked after her throughout the movie. It seemed like a benign relationship. It almost was more of a father daughter type relationship.  There is never a mention of their father in the movie. Their relationship seemed harmless in the beginning. He would give her money & buy her things. Yet, he had a mean streak when it came to Gina. There is a scene where Tony sees his sister dancing with a guy. They head off to the restroom to make out. Tony the God good big brother follows them into the restroom. He beats the dude. He yells at Gina. I can see the overprotective brother looking out for his younger sister. There is something not quite right with this scene. You can feel the possessive tension.

Tony's right hand man in the movie was Manny.  Throughout the movie Manny stood by Tony's side and had his back always.  They reached for the top together. One would think that if anybody was good enough for Gina, Manny would be the guy. But sadly, that is not the case. Tony finds out that they are together. He flips out. Tony kills Manny, he sister's husband. If that is not envy and jealousy, I don't know what is.

Finally, we come to the end where Gina confronts Tony. She basically lays it out. Gina knows her brother wants her. She throws herself @ him with gun in hand. Before Tony denies her accusations for a moment we see his lust for her. Moments later, Gina is killed by those trying to kill Tony.

Tony was in love with his sister. If the scene had been different we may have saw a another side to Tony. Instead we overlook his faults and possible incestuous love of his sibling.  We instead as a viewer focus on his hardcore gangsterism. He went out like a champ, killing many of the guys who ended up succeeding in killing him.

I challenge you to watch the movie from my perspective. You may have a different opinion of the hip hop hero Tony Montana.  Here's the scene which reveals my perception of his lust for his sister.  I hope you enjoy even if you disagree.