Reading Recommendation:
Scarface Nation: The Ultimate Gangster Movie and How it Changed America by Ken Tucker

Why did a critically unpopular and commercial disappointment released in 1983 become one of the most well known and most quoted movie of all time? Frequent NPR contributor Ken Tucker attempts to answer these questions in his thoroughly entertaining new book. Tucker offers a history of the film's production and discusses the film's influence on pop culture, especially hip-hop culture. Most people don't even realize the Pacino Scarface is a remake of a 1930s gangster film of the same name and Tucker discusses that one too.

Tucker makes the point that Scarface is an anomaly by being a one movie franchise unlike the Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, or Star Trek series. Scarface is one of those movies that have permeated the culture to a point that people probably know it's most well known quotes without even seeing the picture. Tony Montana's "say hello to my little friend" might be as ubiquitous as "may the force be with you" or "here's looking at you kid."

Even though Scarface is one of the most quoted films of all time and it would be impossible to enter the average college dorm room and not find it's famous black-and-white poster, it definitely is not one of the "great films" and does not hold a candle to The Godfather. It marks the point where Al Pacino decided it would be a good idea to play every character over-the-top and it's 80s synth-score is pretty cheesy by contemporary standards. And it's a wonder how Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio got another role with that frizzy Latina hair she displays in the film. Regardless, Scarface has had a profound impact on our culture and Ken Tucker's book is a good primer for anyone interested in the Scarface phenomenon.