Textual Analysis

A very well known movie with an unforgettable performance from Al Pacino, Scar face follows the life of Montana, a Cuban refuge who comes to Miami in 1980 as a result of the Mariel Boat-lift and becomes a drug cartel kingpin during the cocaine boom of the 1980s. The movie chronicles his rise to the top of Miami's cocaine empire.

The film is dedicated to Howard Hawks and Ben Hecht, the director and screenwriter of the original 1932 film, respectively.

The initial critical response to Scar face was mixed, with the film receiving criticism for its violence and graphic language. The film was widely criticized by the Cuban community in Miami, who objected to various aspects of the film, and the fact Cubans in it were compared with criminals and drug traffickers.

The film has since gathered a cult following and has become an important cultural icon (particularly in the hip-hop community), inspiring posters, clothing, and many other references.

The film's grainy black and white poster shows the two sides of Tony Montana and signifies the impact crime has had on his personal life, the one thing to notice is how there is more black on the right hand side than there is on the left hand side for white almost as if it is taking over.

The red font used for Scar face displays the violence and gore that goes through Montana’s mind through out the film, how he is a man of both anger and violence on a very high level. The sharp suit and gun are two things that are quite different and contrast each other in normal life but in this poster’s case, it seems to blend in, as Montana is shown to be a crime lord who has a high class life, having a lot of wealth and a reputation but also how he’s wielding a gun in this poster shows that the technique he used to get to the top was crime and anti-social behavior.

The contrast effect used in this poster shows how in the white Montana is not seen or 'noticed' whereas if you move him into the black bit he seems to stand out and become the center of attention, this reflects his role in the film where every crime he does it seems to further boost his reputation and wealth. 

One other thing that should be taken notice of are his eyes, how he is not looking up towards the sky where you would expect him to in the film, he is looking towards the ground which also shows that perhaps somewhere deep inside, he is ashamed of what he does, or perhaps that he would not choose this life if he had the option to.


Posted by Ramish