Pacino's "cockroaches of the '80s"
Al Pacino has made exactly 2,347 movies during his long, distinguished career. Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. But it seems that way. So isn't a little odd that only FIVE of them appear in the '80s? What gives?
Turns out, I know the answer. Pacino -- who turns 68 years old today -- pretty much retreated from films in the 80s after several of the flicks he starred in were commercial and critic disasters. We're talking dreadful, unwatchable stuff like Revolution (1985), Author! Author! (1982) and Cruising (1980).
Instead, he spent the decade on stage, which does me no good for this blog, since I've yet to write a "Top 5 Stage Performances of the '80s" list -- nor am I likely to do so anytime in this lifetime.
So say hello, and happy birthday, to my little friend. A little extra "Scarface" love today.
TOP 5 "TONY MONTANA" LINES FROM SCARFACE:
5. "I always tell the truth. Even when I lie."
4. "I bury those cockroaches!"
3. "All I have in this world is my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one."
2. "In this country, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, then you get the women."
1. "Say hello to my little friend!"
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
I'll go there... Pacino's best stage performance of the '80s = David Mamet's "American Buffalo"
And I didn't think "Author! Author!" was that bad -- although Pacino's strength is definitely romantic comedy.
Posted by: jane | April 25, 2008 at 03:06 PM
...that should be definitely NOT romantic comedy. Darn quick trigger pinky posting finger.
Posted by: jane | April 25, 2008 at 03:11 PM
"Author! Author!" smells more like a late 70s disaster.
Posted by: Spears | April 25, 2008 at 03:11 PM
My favorite quotes from Scarface were and I am not sure if I am getting these exactly right because I couldn't find them online but early in the movie he says, "do you have your head in your culo?" I love that line, and he says later in the movie, "you gotta make the moves man" or something like that. My brother would always quote that line.
Posted by: Neil | April 25, 2008 at 03:16 PM
"Author, Author", I just watched that on cable for the first time, and it was so bad. It is hard to believe Al Pacino is that old.
Posted by: Neil | April 25, 2008 at 03:18 PM
I will try to incorporate at least 1 of those top 5 lines in conversation today. I don't know how, I don't know when, but it's going to happen.
Posted by: Marissa | April 25, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Late '70s disaster -- yeah, I'll buy that. It wanted to be Neil Simon-esque, but missed the boat.
Posted by: jane | April 25, 2008 at 03:21 PM
I always remembered Scarface for this gem: "Her womb is so polluted I can't even have a baby with her."
But now that you point out #3, that is my new favorite line. Tee shirt worthy, I might add.
Posted by: Tonianne | April 25, 2008 at 03:33 PM
You can watch any sports highlight show and at some point you will hear #1. Especially if it involves a home run. Tony Montana will live forever...
Posted by: Tom | April 25, 2008 at 04:27 PM
scarface is a great movie, even after all these years. i havent watched it in a while, but i own the dvd. al did crank out some movies in the 90s. didnt sea of love come out in the 80s. thats a pretty good al flick.
Posted by: chad | April 25, 2008 at 05:51 PM
I didnt see Al Pacino,but some of Revolution was filmed in Kings Lynn,Norfolk in England in the historic centre and on the docks i still have a few photos of the buildings they disguised which i saw when i was on holiday there in 1985
Posted by: dougal chestnutt | April 29, 2008 at 11:07 AM