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Yeşim Yiğitbaşı 20201701044 KHAS130 Video Essay Script 24.05.2021
Description: A short video essay on the use of costume in Brian De Palma’s 1983 film, Scarface. See link below.
Link to video: https://youtu.be/97pVVyuvZRE
Meaning of costumes in Scarface (1983)
[ME]
Have you ever heard about Al Pacino’s Scarface (1983)? Even if you haven’t watched it, you would probably recognize this scene and this quote.
The eyes chico they never lie.
[ME]
Or this scene and the quote.
[TONY MONTANA]
Say hello to my little friend!
[ME]
Scarface directed by Brian De Palma tells the story about a Cuban guy, Tony Montana who builds a drug empire in Miami. In this video essay I want to talk about the meaning of costumes in Scarface, how costumes reveal or conceal a character’s personality and personal life and how they give hints about the events that will happen throughout the movie. Let’s get started.
Al Pacino’s character Tony Montana… his clothes definitely reveal him and his lifestyle. He is an immigrant from Cuba in America. He wears casual clothes at the beginning of the 2 movie like colorful flowery shirts, loose pants, he seems normal. However, the scar on his face shows his unsurprising secrets. He doesn’t tell how got the scar but according to his actions and killings throughout the movie it is most likely that he got the scar in a bad fight. Even if the scenario of the movie makes the audience sympathize with him, he is a bad guy. And he is aware of that he is the bad guy also he is aware that he cannot hide it like everyone else. He says:
[TONY MONTANA]
You’re not good. You just how to hide, how to lie. Me, I don’t have that problem.
[ME]
Tony does not hide who he really is just like everyone else he looks only as he is. Tony comes to America to live the American dream and he reaches his dream. Tony’s costume completely changes after he becomes rich. He starts to wear suits and jewelry. He also takes over Frank Lopez’s place. He takes not only Frank’s empire and his lady, but Tony also takes Frank’s costume too. He starts to wear a white suit with a red shirt after he murders Frank which is the same costume that Frank was wearing just before he died. So, the movie displays how Tony takes Frank’s place by making Tony wear the same clothes as Frank. And this is an implication to end of the movie which shows both Tony and Frank will inevitably share the same destiny and fate.
Michelle Pfeiffer’s character Elvira Hancock always appears to be looking glamorous throughout the movie. Elvira likes to dress up and always wears chic clothes with her hair done. She is usually distant from the rest of the crowd. Her clothes seem to conceal her secrets. She looks so shiny and pretty, so that the darkness and emptiness inside her doesn’t show. Tony even says that his wife is a junkie.
[ELVIRA]
What makes you so much better than me?
[ME]
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She smokes, drinks and powder her nose all day and she does not sleep and wanders around with bags under her eyes. Yet she conceals all of it with her clothes and accessories. She usually wears big sunglasses to cover her eyes and shiny clothes to conceal her inner darkness.
Throughout the movie the two characters who end up together -Manny, Tony’s close companion and Gina Tony’s little sister- appears to be wearing very similar color shades. The color of Manny’s shirt, the color of Gina’s dress when she meets Tony, the colors used in Gina’s make up. These colors seem to be very similar to each other. Their costumes give hints about their upcoming relationship before they even meet each other. They get married at the end of the movie without telling Tony however, they can’t escape Tony jealousy and Tony, kills Manny.
In this video essay I tried to explain the meaning of costumes in Scarface. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you for watching.