Scarface
Genre: Crime / Drama
Director: JC Chandor
Writer: Dwight Gallo
Based on the 1932 and 1983 films
Cast: Tenoch Huerta, Diego Boneta, Lily-Rose Depp, Bruna Marquezine, Demian Bichir, Adriana Barraza, Oscar Jaenada, Luis Tosar, Cole Hauser, Arturo Castro
Plot: Antonio "Tony" Montoya (Tenoch Huerta) stands over the bloodied body of a captured Mexican police officer in an abandoned factory in northern Mexico. The officer cries out as Tony beats him relentlessly, showing no mercy. Tony informs the officer that the beating is compliments of the Aniceto Cartel. Police sirens soon surround the building. The officer begins screaming out for help. To stop the screams, Tony pulls out a rusted machete. In one swift motion, he brings the blade down, severing the officer's vocal cords. The screams turn to gurgled gasps as the officer bleeds out on the floor. The room around Tony is a complete bloody mess, the remnants of previous tortures evident in the dark stains and discarded tools. He sneaks away, careful to avoid the flashing blue and red lights of the police cars, slipping through the shadows like a ghost.
Tony retreats to the modest confines of a small shack and hastily gathers his few belongings in a small bag, including a worn and faded postcard of the Hollywood sign sent many years prior from his mother and sister who left Mexico for California. He glances around the shack one last time, taking in the cracked walls and the small altar with candles and a picture of La Virgen de Guadalupe. Tony makes his way toward the border wall that divides Mexico from the promise of the United States of America. The moonlight casts eerie shadows as he navigates through the desert terrain. Squeezing through a small gap between the ground and the bottom of the fence, Tony is officially in California. His old friend Manuel "Manny" Ribera (Diego Boneta) is waiting for him. They are soon intercepted by U.S. border control officers. Tony has the quick choice of going back under the fence or being detained by the officers. Tony gets down on his knees with his hands behind his head.
Tony and Manny are both taken to a nearby immigration facility where Tony is detained. Manny explains his identity and is released. Under intense scrutiny, Tony's identity is questioned. He tells them that his name is Tony Montoya, but through his accent the officers mark down his name as "Tony Montana''. Tony crafts a tale of political persecution, claiming to be a political prisoner from Guatemala. The officers believe enough of his story to issue him an ID card bearing his new name and a government-issued cell phone in order for the immigration agency to contact him to report back in to keep his status in the country up-to-date. The facility is cold and stark, with other detainees huddled together, speaking in hushed tones in Spanish. Tony's eyes dart around, observing the fear and desperation on the faces of those around him. Manny picks Tony up from the facility. They drive north toward Los Angeles. The vastness of the California landscape stretches out before them, a stark contrast to the crowded streets of Mexico. Tony defiantly tosses the government-issued cell phone out the window of Manny's car.
In the sweltering sun of a Los Angeles summer, Manny and Tony toil away as part of a crew of landscapers. Sweat drips down their faces as they mow lawns, trim hedges, and plant flowers in the well-manicured gardens of upscale neighborhoods. Tony bristles at the drudgery of blue-collar work. Manny tries to calm Tony down, saying that the foreman will pay them cash at the end of the day. Tony tosses down his shovel and says that they should be wasting their lives doing this. Manny says that he has a friend that has connections with one of the cartels doing business in the city and maybe he could help them get their foot in the door with his organization. Tony takes off his work gloves and says he'll be waiting by the car. Manny hesitates for a moment but decides to join Tony and leave the worksite.
Tony and Manny meet up with Chi-Chi (Arturo Castro), a gentle man in a not-so-gentle business. Chi-Chi greets them with a warm smile and a firm handshake, his demeanor friendly despite the dangerous nature of his work. He agrees to introduce Tony and Manny to his boss. He leads them through a warehouse near the Port of Los Angeles to see Omar Suarez (Oscar Jaenada), a cunning lieutenant with the Lopez Cartel. Omar carefully studies them like a wolf before offering them simple work helping to unload a boat of cocaine. Tony bristles at the offer of a menial labor position, insisting that he is no man's lackey. Omar, mildly impressed by Tony's bravado, offers an alternative: to deliver a shipment of cocaine to some buyers. Without hesitation, Tony accepts on behalf of himself, Manny, and Chi-Chi.
Tony, Manny and Chi-Chi arrive outside the Sun Ray Hotel where the deal is set. The hotel stands alone in a desolate part of town, its neon sign flickering erratically in the twilight. Tony notices how isolated the hotel is and gets an uneasy feeling. He announces that he will go into the building first. He instructs them to wait outside, but if they hear from him in 15 minutes, then something has gone wrong. Manny and Chi-Chi give Tony a nod. Tony begins walking away. Chi-Chi stops him and asks why he isn't bringing the drugs inside. Tony says that they should never show the drugs until they've seen the money. Manny and Chi-Chi watch as Tony disappears into the depths of the hotel. Inside, Tony is on high alert as knocks on the door. As the meeting with the buyers unfolds, Tony's suspicions are confirmed - the buyers demand that Tony hand over the drugs or they'll kill him and take the package anyways. Tony refuses to budge, standing his ground and demanding to see the money before he does anything. Outside, Manny and Chi-Chi realize that 15 minutes have now passed. They arm themselves with submachine guns and enter the building. Their footsteps echo in the eerily silent corridor as they make their way toward the room. As they near the room, they hear a loud buzzing sound. They rush into the room where they find the buyers attacking Tony with a chainsaw. Tony is narrowly evading the swings of the saw. Manny and Chi-Chi open fire on the buyers. The chainsaw goes flying through the air, severing Chi-Chi's arm off in the process. Chi-Chi screams as blood sprays from his arm. Tony frantically searches the room until he finds a briefcase full of money while Manny helps Chi-Chi outside.
As they drive away from the hotel, Chi-Chi quickly dies from blood loss in the back seat. His labored breathing fades to silence, and Manny mutters a quick prayer under his breath, "Dios lo tenga en su gloria." They pull off to the side of the Pacific Coast Highway and drop Chi-Chi's body off on the side of the road. Tony tells Manny that he believes that Omar set them up to fail. Manny asks if they should bring the money back to him as planned. Tony says they should take both the money and the drugs to Frank Lopez directly. Manny agrees with Tony's plan and they drive through downtown Los Angeles to the nightclub Lopez operates out of - The Babylon Club. As they wait for Frank to receive them, Tony's notices a beauty at the bar, Elvira Hancock (Lily-Rose Depp). Elvira sits poised, her elegance a sharp contrast to the club's gaudy interior. Tony tries to flirt with her, but she shows no interest in him. Frank Lopez (Demian Bichir) finally emerges to greet Tony and Manny. With a warm embrace, he expresses his gratitude to them for securing the shipment and payment. Frank introduces them to Elvira as well, his young girlfriend that he keeps happy with the promise of a never-ending supply of drugs. Lopez tells Tony and Manny that he foresees a future with them in his organization. He gives them a few thousand each as "walking around money" for their hard work.
While driving through town as the sun begins to rise, Tony finds himself gazing at the fading postcard from his mother and sister. He asks Manny to drive to the address on the card. They pull up to a small, modest house on the outskirts of the city. The house is simple, with a small garden out front and a faded Virgin Mary statue near the door. Tony knocks on the door. He is warmly greeted by his sister Gina (Bruna Marquezine). He gets the opposite greeting from his mother Inez (Adriana Barraza), who holds her son in disdain. Tony tries to convince his mother that he is running a landscaping company with his old friend Manny and offers her the money Frank Lopez gave him. Inez refuses the money, knowing it was not honestly made, and demands that he leave her house, hinting that she knows the work he used to do for the cartels down in Mexico. Tony leaves with Gina running outside after him. When Manny catches a glimpse of Gina, he is instantly in love. Her bright smile and warm eyes captivate him instantly. Tony slips a wad of cash to Gina, asking her to give a little bit to their mother from time to time. Back in the car, Manny comments on how beautiful Gina has grown up. Tony angrily warns Manny to stay away from his baby sister, his tone leaving no room for argument.
In the opulent confines of Frank Lopez's mansion, Tony and Omar are both summoned for a meeting. The mansion is adorned with expensive artwork, plush furnishings, and a distinct aura of luxury and excess. Frank reveals to them that DEA scrutiny has him confined to the property, so he needs them to travel down to Tijuana to negotiate with Alejandro Sosa (Luis Tosar) on his behalf. Once they arrive at the fortress-like estate of Sosa, the grandeur of the estate is immediately apparent, with high walls, armed guards, and lush gardens. Tony immediately begins brokering a bigger deal than Lopez sent them down to handle. Omar protests, insisting to Sosa that Tony has no such authority to make new deals. Sosa laughs off the situation and asks Omar if he is a soccer fan. Confused by the question, Omar nods hesitantly. With a subtle gesture, Sosa summons The Skull (Richard Cabral). In a swift and brutal display, The Skull wraps razor wire around Omar's neck and pulls until Omar's head falls upon the ground like a soccer ball. Tony is unfazed by the violence on display. Sosa looks Tony in the eye and says that he trusts him, but sternly warns him to never even think about fucking him over.
Tony stands before an enraged Frank Lopez in his mansion. Frank's face is red with fury, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Frank is furious about Omar's death, but more about his belief that Tony is trying to run things himself. Tony is not willing to take Frank's verbal assault and announces that he will work for Sosa directly, cutting Frank out of the deal completely. Frank seethes, calling Sosa a traitor, and Tony one too if he works for him. Tony turns his back on Frank and walks away. He catches sight of Elvira on his way out of the mansion. He grabs her and forces a kiss upon her, fully knowing that Frank is watching his every move. Elvira initially resists, but Tony's forcefulness makes it clear he's not to be denied. Tony tells Elvira that Frank is on the decline while he is on the rise, so it is not too late for her to switch horses.
In the pulsating heart of the Babylon Club, Tony defiantly sits in a booth with Manny, knowing that Frank will find out about their presence. Tony catches a glimpse of Elvira on the dance floor, sensually gyrating to the music. Her movements are hypnotic, drawing the eyes of everyone around her. LAPD Detective Ben Guarino (Cole Hauser) then sits down in Tony's booth. Tony offers the detective a drink. Guarino informs Tony that he knows about the Sun Ray Hotel. Tony demands to know what Guarino wants. Guarino proposes that he will collect a tax from Tony each week for turning the other way regarding his drug dealings. Tony is distracted though when he sees his sister Gina being groped on the dance floor by her date. Gina's date, a young man with slicked-back hair and a cocky demeanor, holds her too tightly. Tony storms onto the dance floor and shoves Gina's date away. Tony tells Gina that she does not belong in a place like the Babylon Club. Gina defiantly tells Tony that she is old enough to make her own decisions. Tony impulsively slaps Gina across the face in anger. The slap echoes through the club, drawing gasps from onlookers. Manny steps in to diffuse the tension, escorting Gina outside to a car that will take her home. Gina begins to calm down outside, telling Manny that she wishes Tony was a little more like him. She gives Manny a kiss on the cheek before getting into the car. Elvira has witnessed the entire scene and finds herself sexually aroused by Tony's machismo. She watches Tony with a newfound intensity, her eyes dark with desire. Tony and Elvira retire to a bathroom stall. After doing several lines of cocaine, the two have rough sex in the stall, fueled by cocaine and passion.
Frank Lopez is visited by Ben Guarino at his mansion. Frank is pacing back and forth in his study, contemplating his next move. Frank finally turns to Guarino, telling him that Tony has become a big problem. Guarino smiles and asks what Frank wants him to do about the situation. Frank says that he wants Tony Montana dead and is willing to make it well worth Guarino's while if he takes care of it for him. Guarino tells Frank that he wants a partnership stake in the whole operation in return. Frank ponders the idea for a moment before agreeing, promising to make Guarino a very rich man for getting rid of Tony Montana. The two men shake on the deal. Their handshake is firm, sealing the deadly agreement.
Tony Montana moves through the crowd at the Babylon Club. The club is alive, the music pulsating through the air as people dance and drink. Unbeknownst to him, Ben Guarino lurks in the shadows, watching Tony like a hawk. As Tony relaxes into the rhythm of the music, a sudden flash of movement catches his eye. Guarino steps forward, weapon drawn. Tony's killer instincts kick in, and he dives behind a table, narrowly avoiding a bullet that whizzes past his head. The club erupts into pandemonium as patrons scream and scatter, the music stopping abruptly. Tony draws his own gun and fires, hitting Guarino in the knee. The detective hits the ground, clutching his shattered knee. The detective crumples to the ground, clutching his shattered knee and screaming in pain. Tony and Manny drag the injured Guarino out of the club. They arrive at Frank Lopez's mansion, dragging Guarino along with them. Frank's face goes pale as he sees the bloodied and injured Guarino. Frank confronts them. Tony orders Manny to execute Guarino. Manny dutifully follows Tony's order and fires a bullet between Guarino's eyes. The shot echoes through the mansion, and Guarino's body slumps to the floor. Frank pleads with Tony, desperately offering him $10 million to spare his life. Without a moment of hesitation, Tony shoots Frank in the head. Blood splatters against the wall, and Frank's body collapses lifelessly. Elvira emerges from the bedroom, alerted from the sounds of gunfire. Tony kisses her. He tells her that Frank is dead and she is his woman now. Tony and Manny make their exit from the mansion. As they drive away, the tension slowly fades, replaced by a sense of triumph. As they drive away, Tony's eyes are drawn to a billboard. Its bold letters say "The World Is Yours."
One Year Later...
Tony Montana has now taken over the territory in Southern California formerly controlled by the Lopez Cartel. The streets are now under his command, with his influence spreading through the city like wildfire. Tony has also taken over control of Frank's former mansion. The mansion is now a fortress, with increased security and lavish decorations reflecting Tony's newfound wealth and power. The Babylon Club, has also come under Tony's control, with it grander and more steeped with excess than ever before. The club is a hedonistic paradise, with people indulging in every vice imaginable. Tony and Elvira sit together, a haze of cocaine blurring everything. The table in front of them is littered with lines of cocaine, half-empty glasses of expensive liquor, and crumpled dollar bills. Elvira's once vibrant spark has been replaced with the vacant stare of addiction and Tony has become increasingly paranoid as he has become addicted to his own supply. Tony's eyes dart around the room, seeing threats and conspiracies in every shadow. Elvira, once the epitome of grace and charm, now slouches in her chair, her eyes lifeless and hollow.
Manny and Gina walk hand in hand on the beach to a secluded spot. The sun is setting, casting a warm orange glow over the ocean. Manny gets down on one knee and presents her with an engagement ring as the sound of crashing waves drowns out the words of his marriage proposal. Manny and Gina have sex in the surf with water and sand covering their naked bodies. Afterwards, they hold each other in their arms. Gina tells Manny that Tony isn't going to be happy about her being with any man. Manny knows she's right, but hopes that making an honest woman out of her will cushion the blow.
Alejandro Sosa pays Tony a visit at his mansion. Sosa finds Tony sitting behind a desk covered in a large mound of cocaine. Tony inhales the white powder in a display of excess. The cocaine leaves a residue around his nostrils, his eyes wide and unfocused. Sosa tells Tony that they need to talk about how sloppy and reckless he has become. Tony's eyes narrow before he explodes. He pulls a gold-plated Desert Eagle pistol and aims it at Sosa's head. Sosa warns Tony that he is risking everything he gave him. Tony takes offense that Sosa is taking credit for his success, ranting that he built his own success. Sosa sees that trying to reason with Tony is futile and gives him own final warning. Tony says they are done and tells him to leave his house. Before Sosa leaves, he warns Tony that he has made an enemy today.
Tony's mother Inez storms into Tony's mansion demanding to see her son. Tony emerges, trying to calm her down. Inez pulls out a small bag of cocaine that she found in Gina's bedroom. She accuses Tony of corrupting Gina. Tony tries to argue that Gina is old enough to make her own choices. Inez yells that she knows that Tony's money comes from drugs and blood and is furious that he is now dragging Gina down to Hell with him. Tony cannot hold in his anger any longer and slaps his mother across the face. Inez stumbles back, holding her face in complete shock. Her eyes fill with tears as she looks at her son with disbelief. Inez walks out of the mansion without another word. Tony grabs a bottle of whiskey to wash away his feelings.
Tony's car screeches to a halt in front of Manny's house. He hasn't seen Manny in a few days and has become paranoid that something may be wrong. Tony pounds on the door, but when there is no immediate response, he kicks the door open. Tony begins storming through the house, calling out Manny's name. He enters the master bedroom to find Manny and Gina getting out of bed and frantically trying to find clothes. The sheets are tangled, and Gina's face is flushed with panic. Manny immediately tries to explain the situation to Tony, but Tony is beyond reason. His vision tunnels and his face becomes red with fury. He draws his gun and shoots Manny in the chest without a second thought. Gina screams and rushes to Manny's lifeless body. Gina screams at Tony that she and Manny were going to get married. Tony grabs Gina by the arm and drags her, still naked, out of the house. He shoves her into the passenger seat of his car. Gina curls up, her body shaking with shock and grief. As Tony drives back to his mansion, Gina is curled up and shivering with shock. The ride is silent except for Gina's occasional sobs and Tony's labored breathing.
Tony drags himself and Gina inside his mansion. As he stumbles through the halls, he hears the faint sound of water running. Assuming Elvira is taking a bath, Tony decides to undress to join her. Once he makes it into the bathroom, he finds Elvira floating lifelessly in the tub. He frantically pulls her cold body out of the tub. He notices that her lips have turned blue. Her cold skin tells him that she died hours ago. Tony cradles Elvira's body in his arms. His face contorts with anguish as he rocks back and forth, whispering her name. Gina watches from the doorway, speechless. Her eyes are wide with shock, unable to process the scene before her.
The night following Elvira's funeral is heavy with silence. The mourners have left, and the mansion feels like a tomb. Tony sits alone on the beach with his thoughts. Sosa's enforcer, The Skull, and a team of cartel assassins expertly storm Tony's mansion. Their movements are swift and silent, a well-coordinated strike team. They see movement in the house and open fire. The gunfire shatters the night's silence, echoing through the empty halls. Tony hears gunshots coming from the house. He arms himself with his gold Desert Eagle and sprints up the steps to the house. The first thing Tony sees is Gina's lifeless body surrounded by a pool of blood. The Skull and his team open fire on Tony, who dives for cover. He opens fire on the assassins, killing each of them. His aim is precise, fueled by rage and grief. During the shootout, the mansion has caught fire. Flames lick at the curtains and furniture, rapidly spreading through the rooms. As smoke fills the air, Tony calls out to The Skull, challenging him to a duel like an old western movie. The Skull respects the challenge and agrees. A moment of eerie calm settles as they face each other. Each armed with one holstered pistol, the two men stand across from each other in the ornate marble entry way of the mansion. In a blur of motion, they both reach for their guns. The crack of gunfire echoes through the mansion. Tony watches as The Skull staggers back and collapses to the ground. Blood pours from The Skull's wound, pooling around him as he falls. Tony then realizes that he has a bullet hole in his chest that has begun oozing blood. Tony's eyes scan the carnage around him. The fire has gotten bigger, roaring through the house. The mansion's walls begin to collapse. Tony lays down next to Gina's dead body. He reaches out, his fingers brushing against her cold hand. A pool of his blood begins to mix with Gina's on the marble floors. Tony closes his eyes and allows the fire to engulf him. His last breath is a sigh of resignation as the flames consume everything.
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