One Heartbreaking Detail in ‘Scarface’ Will Make You Sympathize With Al Pacino’s Villain Despite His Heinous Act
- 'Scarface' shows Tony Montana’s dramatic rise and tragic end.
- His ruthless ambition leads to violence, betrayal, and eventual ruin.
- However, there's a small scene in the film that will make you rethink his character.
Scarface is a classic tale of the American Dream gone wrong. The movie shows Tony Montana’s climb to wealth and power, his battles with loyalty and family, and his downfall—brought on by his own ego and violence.
Celebrated as one of the best gangster movies ever, Scarface was written by Oliver Stone, directed by Brian De Palma, and features Al Pacino in one of his most famous roles. Since its 1983 release, the film has become a pop culture icon.
Tony’s ruthless quest for power and wealth makes him seem like a villain. But there’s a tragic detail about his past that might make you see his character in a different light.
Tony Montana’s Finger Bowl Mistake Shows His Struggle
In Scarface, Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee, starts out poor and hungry for success. He arrives in Miami with nothing, but his ruthless ambition leads him to become a powerful drug lord. He soon rises to the top of Miami’s criminal world.
His rise from poverty to power is a true rags-to-riches story. Yet, there’s a small detail that shows just how deep his character really is. In the film, there’s a scene that shows AI Pacino’s character’s unfamiliarity with high society. Tony’s struggle is evident right from the start, and at a fancy dinner, he makes a telling mistake.
Instead of using the finger bowl to clean his fingers (a simple etiquette), he eats the lemon from it. This small error shows how out of place he is in the world of wealth he wants to be part of.
Tony grew up poor and was never exposed to a wealthy lifestyle. This lack of experience with luxury and proper manners reveals how far he has come from his roots. This moment makes Tony more relatable, as it shows that despite his violent ways, he is still learning and trying to fit in. Beneath Tony’s tough exterior is a man shaped by a harsh past.
Tony Montana’s Price for Ambition — A Tragic Fall
Tony Montana’s quest for success drags him into risky situations. As a Cuban immigrant, his dream of making it big in America quickly becomes a violent nightmare. His rise from a struggling refugee to a powerful drug lord is a grim story about how relentless ambition and crime can lead to disaster.
Montana’s rise to fame started with the brutal murder of General Emilio Rebenga, done to win favor with drug lord Frank Lopez. This first violent act set off a life filled with more bloodshed and betrayal.
Afterward, Montana committed more murders, including a violent massacre of Colombian drug dealers and, finally, the killing of Lopez himself. His greed led him to betray his partners, seduce his boss’s wife, and start a damaging turf war.
One of Tony’s biggest mistakes was killing his best friend Manny, a cruel act that hurt everyone around him. This, along with the constant danger and the pressure of his crime empire, led to his dramatic downfall in a final clash with his foes.
Watch Scarface on Amazon Prime Video!
