Scarface is one of the most iconic crime films and has some of the most quotable lines in cinema. The story of Tony Montana is intriguing and it has many crime thriller cliches mixed in, but the way Scarface is executed creates a well crafted film.

Scarface follows the story of Tony Montana, a cuban immigrant who becomes involved with crime. Viewers watch Tony rise the ranks of crime by starting off as a thug or goon, and then evolving into a crime boss with an empire and finishing with his downfall. The side characters such as Tony's best friend, sister and love interest/wife change to the way he behaves as well as being complex in their own ways. The way Tony's character evolves seems realistic and viewers can see how his life of crime has a taken a toll on his sanity, personality and ambitions. As these change, he becomes more paranoid, less trusting but also more ignorant as he feels like he is untouchable. The main characterisation of Scarface is the area where this movie peaks.

The imagery shown throughout Scarface shows how luxurious a life of crime can be, but it also displays the brutality, grittiness and dirtiness of crime. These contrasts through imagery, symbolism and cinematography can help a viewer feel immersed in the world of Scarface. The acting performances also help display these themes, predominantly the performance from Al Pacino as Scarface himself. The only small downfall of this film is how it does not really reinvent or innovate the crime genre in any way. It also follows a similar structure to most crime films and is paced similarly to them as well. Although it has a somewhat cliche plot, the execution of Montana's personality elevates this story.

Scarface is a somewhat cliche crime film, but due to the acting performances, characterisation of Tony Montana and other elements causes this film to be a classic crime thriller. It is an example of crime directed correctly and Scarface has become one of the most iconic film characters due to how he evolves throughout the film.