Every generation has had it share of stories dealing with crime, whether the lawbreakers are pirates, outlaws from the west, mobsters, or some other infamous group. In a fantasy setting, it is often interesting to see the motives behind what draws humans to a life outside the boundaries set by the majority. Such is the case with Scarface, which introduces Antonio Montana (Al Pacino), a Cuban immigrant with an untraditional perspective on achieving the American dream.

Montana begins his journey as a low level thug, working his way up the food chain of organized crime (sounds like Grand Theft Auto). Through determination and defiance not usually evident in lower-level criminals, Montana begins to make a name for himself. However, determination and defiance are not far from overconfidence and rashness.

Without revealing too much more, Scarface is similar to other films in the genre, and as viewers know there are only limited amounts of ways these films can end. Despite this, the near three-hour ride is an enjoyable one, as the film remains powerful over twenty years after its production. By the end of the journey, you may find yourself desensitized to profanity and extreme violence, as I can only imagine what controversy this film must have generated at the time of release.

The film’s greatest strength lies with the acting of Pacino, whose performance was simply outstanding. There were a few scenes in the movie where the sharpness of his glare could almost kill. His character was reasonably complex, as just when a viewer begins to feel sympathy for him, he makes everyone remember why gangsters don’t make good friends. As good as Pacino’s performance was however, I found his love interest Elvira Hancock (Michelle Pfeiffer) to be stiff and an overall detraction from the story.

Despite this, Scarface remains a must-see for those who enjoy the crime genre and anyone else who wishes to view a gripping drama. Though it doesn’t have the polish of the Godfather or the character complexity of the Sopranos, Scarface is destined to remain a fixture in film history.