Question: Was the double cross with the chainsaw scene a set up by F.Murray Abraham? Or was it a genuine deal and did he just suspect it may be dangerous, and sent Tony because he annoyed him?
Chosen answer: While it is never really mentioned I think it is a safe bet that it was a double cross. F. Murray Abraham was seen later in the film to be an informant and killed because of it.
It wasn't a double cross, as it was the driver of the car that suggested/whispered it to Omar the first time Omar met Tony and Manny outside the restaurant they were working at.
Question: Can anyone please tell me what Tony says to Rebenga as he is stabbing him in the prison camp? It sort of sounds like, "I'm gonna pay you f***." But that doesn't make sense.
Answer: He said, "From the friend you fu**ed."
Answer: I thought he said "for the free you f**k." would that not make more sense? They're chanting libertad and he was a top brass in a communist government.
Question: I've had arguments with one of my friends about this line in the film when Scarface says "the only thing in this world that gives orders is balls", my friend thinks he says "the only thing in this world that gives orders is BOSS" (which wouldn't make much sense). What does he say, balls or boss?
Chosen answer: You are correct. It's balls. You can find it in the script.
Answer: The official script says "Boss". It's a reference to Frank Lopez not being Tony's boss anymore. "Balls" is completely incorrect and out of context.
Question: Why did Tony's mother, before he went to look for Gina, say to him "Ungrateful! Bad son!"?
Answer: She raised him with religion and morals, gave him a good home with food to eat. It wasn't enough for him. He wanted more; enough was never enough. That's why she was cold to him when he first showed up at her door, and his sister admired him.
Answer: He's a mob boss. A ruthless, merciless, cold-blooded killer. What mother would be proud of that? Even when he first came to visit her, she knew he was up to no good.
But what did she mean by yelling "Ungrateful!" to him?
This is just my two cents, but after they've fled Cuba, and been given a new lease on life away from the communist regime, she feels Tony's being ungrateful towards his new country by becoming a criminal. And doubtlessly towards her as well, after she's clothed, fed, and raised him and Gina.
Question: When Scarface shoots Frank, Mel says "you can't shoot a cop" and Tony says "who said you was a cop?" This is stated as though Tony wasn't supposed to know Mel was a cop, but did anyway. Though Tony already knew this as mentioned to Mel earlier; "How do I know you're the last cop I'm gonna have to grease?" Why would this dialog take place if Scarface already knew prior?
Answer: Montana replies "who said you were a cop" as sarcasm. Tony knows Mel is a police officer but insinuates that because he is shady and corrupt, Mel doesn't deserve the title. Tony sees Mel as another criminal, not as a police officer.
Question: When being questioned by police at the beginning, Tony says he did time for 'buying dollars'. Does this mean he traded for US dollars, and if he did, what did he hand over in exchange?
Answer: It meant that he was buying US dollars from tourists or businesspeople and selling them to refugees who are willing to pay far above the normal exchange rate to have American money for when they attempt to flee Cuba to America. At the time, the Cuban Peso was supposed to have an exchange rate of 1:1 with the American Dollar, but offering someone 2-3 Cuban pesos per American one, then turning around and selling the American ones for 10-20 pesos each adds up. It's a "safe crime" to tell them he was in prison for, rather than being a killer.
Question: Does anyone know the approximate timeline of the movie? I noticed shortly after Tony kills Frank (I think it was the scene when he meets with his lawyer), he and Manny walk near a billboard advertising the "all-new 1984 Corvette". The '84 Corvette went into production in March 1983, so I don't want to call it a mistake in case it is factually correct.
Question: Do we ever find out how, when or why Tony got his scar? Or is it of no significance?
Answer: No, he never reveals how he got the scar. However he stated to the police chief upon arrival in the United States how he may have got it. Not sure whether it was said as an intimidation statement or whether it is true. The police chief asks Tony, "Where'd you get the beauty scar tough guy, eating pussy?" Tony replies "how am I gonna get a scar like that eating pussy?" He states right after that comment, "This was when I was a kid ya know? You should see the other kid... You can't recognize him."
Question: Just why doesn't Tony want his sister Gina to be married to his best friend?
Answer: Tony is very protective of Gina because he views her as the only "pure" thing in his life; while Manny might be his best friend, Tony views Manny as "impure" since they are both heavily involved in criminal activity. Had Tony known before killing Manny that he and Gina were newlyweds late in the film, he probably would have respected their union even if he wasn't particularly happy about it since Manny had made Gina an "honest woman."
Question: Spoiler! Did Skull shoot Tony in the back or spine?
Answer: Most likely, spine.
Question: When Tony gets busted for money laundering, he says "$200,000 more and we ought to take a leak." This line triggers the bust when the cops arrest him. Is this really what he said and why is this statement so significant to the investigation? (01:59:20)
Answer: That's the cop's signal for the task force to move in and make the arrest.
Answer: It's unlikely a set up. Tony is supplied with money and guns to defend himself. If this was a setup, the toad would've had more details. He would've known Tony had backup with guns and they would've waited to ambush them. Also makes no sense for Omar to put himself at risk without a legitimate opportunity to make cash. Frank knew about the deal as he supplied the buy money. Omar seemed loyal to Frank. Why would he send some low level thugs to be set up losing his boss' money in the process? All he would do is lose trust and be suspected.
Omar was an informant. He wasn't loyal to anyone. Omar's driver is the one that suggested to send Tony to the Colombians. And I think Omar knew the Colombians were shady, and that's why he sent Tony. It was, in a sense, a setup.