Camonte – Alicia H.

My first impression of Tony Camonte is that he is very smooth.  The first time we see him,  he is whistling as he calmly strolls over to shoot his boss,  Big Louis.  Awhile later,  when the cops arrive at the barber shop to take him in for questioning,  Camonte’s seemingly unflappable attitude is once again on display.  His he is very nonchalant and does not seem to take the cop very seriously at all,  even showing his disrespect for the cop by lighting his match on the guy’s badge.  When the officer responds by punching him in the face,  Camonte seems to get a little angry for a split second,  but quickly brushes it off and composes himself before being lead off to the police station.  Once he’s there, the police chief reads out a long list of Camonte’s aliases and crimes,  and we find out that Camonte is suspected of committing the murder of Big Louis.  Camonte once again plays it cool,  joking that he and Big Louis were “like this,” as tight as his crossed fingers.  He denies everything, and makes a mockery of the police.  At this point, I don’t really like Camonte– he seems like he has a huge ego– but I still admire his cool attitude and wit, and he is pretty charming.

You can start to see how ambitious Camonte is when he goes over to meet his new boss, Lovo.  Camonte is admiring all of Lovo’s nice, expensive stuff, including Lovo’s girlfriend;  he wants it all.  Lovo says to leave all the ideas up to him, but soon it will be Camonte trying to take control.  Camonte reveals to his friend and coworker Rinaldo his philosophy on how to stay out of trouble: “do it first; do it yourself; keep on doing it!” At first, this all seems kind of fun.

However, Camonte’s love of control is further revealed when he arrives home.  When he finds his sister, Cesca, kissing a man, Camonte flies into a fit of rage. He orders Cesca never to do that again, and gives her some money to keep her happy and buy her submission.  Their mother warns Cesca not to accept that money, because it is bad money and Camonte is a bad person.  This is becoming more apparent.

As the movie goes on, I see more and more just how self-possessed and ambitious Camonte is. He will do anything to get his way. He shows complete disrespect for Lovo as he goes after his own targets, ignoring his boss’ orders. Camonte even repeatedly tries to woo Lovo’s girlfriend. Finally, Lovo gets tired of all this and tries to get Camonte killed. Camonte survives, orders Lovo killed, and runs off with Lovo’s girlfriend. He can be so impassioned and full of rage (about his sister), but he is so imperturbable when it comes to the violence all around him, much of which is committed on his orders.

Really, I don’t think that this movie glorifies the gangster lifestyle. Sure, it seems fun and glamorous at times, but it is clear that there is a dark side to the business.  The gangsters’ violence terrorizes the city. Gangsters are shooting other gangsters, and they could never really feel safe or trust people. Finally, even Camonte’s life is crumbling around him. Out of his possessiveness, Camonte shoots Rinaldo when he finds his friend with his sister, who (unbeknownst to Camonte) just got married.  His beloved sister cries and screams at him, calling him a butcher. Finally, he ends up at his house, surrounded by the police.  He laughs like a lunatic as he shoots down at the cops from his steel fortress. He’s manic and in denial of the situation.  After his sister is shot, he’s terrified because he’s finally going to be alone; nobody will be there to help him anymore.  His cool facade has been torn down and he has been reduced to a panicked, afraid, and pathetic human being.  I don’t think that this makes organized crime look appealing. I actually really felt sorry for Camonte;  I pitied him.

Camonte – Lucia

After watching Scarface, I have remembered more positive aspects of the character, Tony Camonte, than negative, despite that he was portrayed as a murdering gangster. The movie made Tony a likeable character by defying the negative gangster traits. For example, it would be expected for a gangster to be mean, rude, or merciless, but not in this case. Tony Camonte constantly made jokes, and as a result made him a likable character to the audience. It is difficult for a person to dislike a character when he makes the person laugh. In the movie, Camonte acts superior to the police cops by lighting his match on the police’s badge and by taking his time when the police demands to take him to the police station. The police did not intimidate him at all. This makes me respect him and almost look up to him. The movie also portrayed Tony as disciplined instead of a vicious murderer. For example, in the movie a police cop hits Tony Camonte, and in response, Tony initially makes a fist, but then looses his hands and does not fight back which would be initially expected from a gangster. Because of censorship, Tony’s mother had to disapprove of his gangster actions, but the director was able to have a scene where a barber helps Tony hide his gun when a police cop approaches. This shows that average citizens supported and helped Tony Camonte despite his reputation of being a gangster. This makes the audience believe that they should also support Camonte. These positive aspects outshine the negative aspects of the murders he commits and his suggestible sexual tendencies with his sister, Cesca. The movie does not make me think negatively of gangsters because of how Tony Camonte is portrayed.

Reaction to Camonte

In Howard Hughes’ “Scarface,” the mobster character Tony Camonte is revealed to the audience through several mediums, including his expressions, his actions, and his words themselves.  Camonte’s character is first introduced to the viewer in the opening scenes, when the camera shows a whistling silhouette approach the mob boss, Louis Costillo, and shoots him. The cinematography employed in this scene makes Tony’s character appear mysterious, and indifferent to violence, as he offers a familiar greeting to Louis just before shooting him. The whistling motif also adds to the impression that Tony looks lightly on taking life. 

In the scene after the shooting, Tony is in a barbershop.  As the police arrive outside, the audience finds out that the barber is in cahoots with the mobsters, or at least Tony Camonte, because he hides his gun for him in the umbrella holder.  The audience could make the inference that Tony’s character is well liked by the common man, despite his questionable profession.  This aspect of Tony Camonte illustrates the folk hero side of the portrayal of mobsters in the 1920’s and 30’s. When Tony is approached by the policeman, he takes his time getting up, lighting a cigarette, examining his hair; he even asks the barber how it looks in the back before acknowledging the police. The viewer can see that Tony is a cool customer, so to speak; he maintains his calm after the cop strikes him for cracking wise.  One can also see his disdain for the law when he literally strikes his match on “the badge.”

Tony seems ambitious and self confident, more so at least than his boss, Lovo.  When Tony suggests that they should go after the North Side gangsters, Lovo tells him he should be content with what he has, and that the North Side gangsters are too.  As Lovo says this to Camonte, subtle twitch of his  lip indicates to the audience that Tony wants more than to be content, and that he believes his boss is holding him back from what he could become.  As Tony leaves the parlor, he eyes Lovo’s girlfriend, “expensive, huh?” He thinks she will go where the money is, and implies that he intends to get it.

Reaction to Camonte – Feda E

Tony portrayed two contradicting images in my head. At first I saw that he was a ruthless criminal indifferent to the murdering of Louis as he walked away whistling. Secondly I saw another side of him that had a sense of humor and was flirtatious which I didn’t expect because usually criminals seem more serious and dangerous

Tony is not intimidated by the government whatsoever and shows no respect to those who are in authority. This is proven when he boldly resists the officer who arrives at the barber shop to arrest him.   The cocky criminal, Tony, shows his resentment towards the officer by lighting a match on the officers badge.  I also sense some overconfidence to his conceited character which is hinted by the police station scene where he claims his innocence to crimes the officers accused him of.

Another thing about Tony is that he was trying to work his way to the top.  Setting aside crimes such as murder and aggravated violence he seemed to be an ambitious man.  He used his adapted behavior of hostility to his advantage by trying to become a gang leader and with that label he gains more power.  Money also tingles Tony’s fancy and by killing people higher up in the chain than him he gains more of it with the inevitable gain of power.  It’s as if he were climbing a ladder, with each step the higher he gets till one day he reaches the top, his destination, where money and power await him.  But the supremacy ladder has no end and the higher he climbs the harder the fall which is the foreseen.

On the other hand I also get the sense that the character at hand is quite childish.  He doesn’t understand the enormity of his defiance and takes the consequences to lightly.  Maybe over cocky and arrogant play a small role in his rebelliousness.  His family (mother) views him as a dreadful person and frown upon his actions.  The three things that seem to keep Tony up to speed are: Power, money, and women.  His interest in women is suggested when he gives poppy a lot of attention during his visit to Lovo.  He continued to flirt with her even when she rejected him as she was only interested in rich men.  He is also protective over his sister trying to control her by not allowing her to be with any other guy.  He cares for her in a very possessive manner leading to the notion of her being personal property and she’s his and his only.

The Tony Cammonti responce

Scarface (1932) portrays the typical gangster crisis in the 1930’s, created in the poor immigrant communities in New York. Movie in the old days viewed characters as extremes, which makes it easy for Tony to give a strong impression from the beginning of the movie, and for me to have good idea of what he is all about.

 

            Toni Camonti’s personality is the confident, ambitious, egotistical Italian American gangster. Which shows how much potential he has, especially since for his perspective as a foreigner, the conept of “America” as a system is easy to crack. Its noticeable how he carelessly disrespects the cops even in the police station, and boldly knew he had them and the politicians on top of them taken care of.

 

            Working his way through the top, Tony truly believes that no one ever lived to be his superior even of his own kind, gangsters. Another thing I noticed is that Tony has a very aggressive. He is aware of what he can do and what the people around him can and cannot do. So therefore, he keeps on pushing and pushing, he knows not to stop because he doesn’t have to. To me that is him using the optimum amount of the resources he has. A big example is the way he was hitting on his boss Johnny’s girl in front of his face, proves how sure he is to be at the peak, sooner or later.

           

From watching the movie and the way thing are going in the first 30 minutes.

Tony collected a good amount of clues for a good assumption of what is going to happen to him. I assume he will rise to reach the climax, until another gangster just like him but hungrier will take it all away to the downfall.

Camonte – Ben V

The film so far shows the gangsters in a variety of lights depending upon how you choose to view them.  During the beginning we see gangsters as disrespectful of authority and lacking in even the slightest hesitation to do what they want. As we go further into the film we see the interactions of different gangsters and realize that while they still do what they want they do hesitate when faced against each other even though we see Tony as a near exception to that. Tony’s lack of regard for life and safety of others is appalling; it’s only a matter of time before he finishes off his new boss Lobo and moves into other territories. The way this film is portrayed may seem to glamorize gangsters but upon closer observation it shows just how corrupt, immoral and chaotic gangsters are and make the world around them. Anyone with half a brain would realize quickly that being a gangster may sweeten your life for a short time, but you’d be forced to do more and more dangerous and immoral things to stay where you are or even move ahead. This force would change people’s outlook and make them want gangsters to be gone even more than they might have before the movie. Looking back at Tony we even see a lack of respect for a man and a woman couple as if he believes that all women belong to him. He prevents his sister from kissing another man during the house scene and then “encourages” her not to do it again. Both times he sees Poppy, Lobo’s girl friend, he shows a lack of respect for him and also a desire to pull her away from him with his flirting at her and disregard for Lobo’s authority. Tony’s lack of higher intelligence is shown the second time he talks to Poppy when he doesn’t get her slights.

Reaction to Comente

I belive that Tony Comente is know to be an All-time gangster.  Comente shows his discipline through out the movie. He does whats told of him by Lovo and everything that he does is for a reason.  You can also say that Comente is brave, hes not scared of anyone or anything.  The way he talks shows that he is confident in what he is doing. He’s seems to be proud of what he does. Comente cares about how he looks, hes well groomed. Its seems to me that the towns people respect him or there just scared of him. His own barber helps him put away his gun before the officer gets him for questioning. Comente is a wealthy man who really cares about his money. Comente seems to really care about his sister since he gave her money just so she can stop seeing the guy that she was caught kissing. I do think its disgusting that he hits on his sister. It makes me sick knowing that he does that.

Some people don’t agree with what Tony Comente is doing. I myself respect what he does. In the 1930′s life was hard so you have to make the most out of it. You have to make a living somehow, and thats they way Comente  making his living. Now I’m not upfor killing people but if they are ruining your business and trying to take over your life then you have to do something about it. In that time period, I believe that if your not a gangster then you really wont make it through that time.  If  I lived in  that time period, I would do the same thing that Comente is doing.  So basically what I’m saying is Tony Comente is a good man and an All-time ganster.

Reaction to Tony Camonte

 In many minds, gangster is associated with characteristics including: mysterious, puzzling and even daunting. Antonio “Tony” Camonte embodied these and many other qualities that were recognizable within the first half-hour of Scarface.

            The first time we are introduced to Tony is while he performs a murder. Even before his face is visible, Tony makes an appearance with his shadow. The outline of Tony’s body implies that he is powerful and feared.

            Camonte is composed especially around agents of authority. This composure is interchangeable with superiority. With that, we can conclude that he is not nervous or scared but instead secure.  Tony also responds to officers with questions showing his resistance towards power. For example, when the officer tells Tony someone would like to see him, Tony responds, “Who wanna see me?!”  Tony is not only confident with authority, but also with Poppy. Poppy gives Tony the cold shoulder, but Tony remains consistent in showing his liking of Poppy.

            Within the first half-hour of the film, it becomes questionable that Tony is hiding something. This is debatable; When Tony is knocked down by police officer, he is pulled back up and stares into the officer’s eyes. He disciplines himself to not hit or respond to the officer with violence. This indicates that Tony is being mindful of not getting into a deeper hole.

            Of course gangsters are slick in their tasks. Tony shows his quality by stating, “When I do, I don’t tell a cop.” Along with this secretive side, Tony embodies an entrepreneurial face. He makes suggestions on the O’Hara move that are sensible and profitable. He is a mastermind, “This business is just waiting for someone to run it.”

 

          Over time, Tony Camonte’s image has progressed from mastermind to childish and possesive. However, he still manages to maintain a somewhat charming side to him. Tony jokes around saying that he wanted one of “them” guns. He was childish when he realized the machine gun was  a new technology and treated in like a toy. He was acting immature and had that same state of mind when shooting the gun. Tony’s excitement was a bit of a turn off. Tony comes off as possesive with Cesca- this is strongly apparent when he pulls on her dress. Almost suggesting that she is his. Tony still maintains his charm in scenes with Poppy. For example, by telling her to go pack her stuff after he kills Lovo- she smiles/smerks and is not scared but rather happy to be with him. He is charming.

 

 

Reaction to Tony Camonte- Aldrin J

Tony Camonte acts like a true gangster, he is very tough and brave like a real member of a mafia. Just from the first time you see Tony at the beginning of the movie you could tell that he is a very ruthless person. He killed his own acquaintance like he was a nobody. He was just whistling like it was just another normal day for him. He is not afraid to get his hands dirty. Tony Comonte is not the kind of person that you would really want to see in a dark alley.

From what it looks to me, Tony is the guy who likes to know everything and want to keep his hands on everything. He is very powerful and has many influences on people in high places. He always gets what he wants and need even if that means paying people off or killing them. Tony is a rebel and the type of person who doesn’t like to be told what to do, he detest authority and disrespects them, he even plots behind Johnny Lovo, his own partner’s back. He tends to push thing a little to far, sometimes to the point that if no one is out there to hold him back he could get himself in serious trouble, for example, when he provoked the police officer to punch him and he wanted to punch him back.

I think that Tony also have a loving and caring side. He really cares for his sister and he wants her to have fun, he showed this by giving her money. He also showed his soft and funny side when he was trying to sweet talk Poppy. You could tell that he really likes her. Tony has a great balance of character that makes people want to hate him but love him at the same time.

Over all Tony Camonte is a very powerful and ruthless person and he doesn’t care what people thinks. He is very tough and have all the characteristics that makes him a good gangster and a great character.

I really like the fact that this movie glorifies gangster. I know that gangsters are not really good people, but sometimes its nice to not root for the good guys.

Reaction to Camonte – Ashley M

            Tony Camonte is not a typical gangster. My initial reaction when he killed Castillo was that he had no heart; after all, Camonte was the bodyguard of Castillo. Camonte got close to Castillo, got Castillo to trust him, and then killed him. Worst of all, Camonte whistled a tune as he murdered a man in cold blood. In addition, he shows absolutely no fear of the north side gangsters despite the fact that everyone else does. After watching the movie a little more, it was interesting to see how protective Camonte was of his sister. That showed that he actually did care about something beyond the life of a gangster.

            Tony Camonte shows disrespect for the sheriff on several occasions. He strikes his match on the sheriff’s badge as a sign of disrespect for his position. Also, Camonte moves slowly which is intended to send a message to the sheriff that he is on his own time, he isn’t going to move quickly for anyone. Even though Camonte seems like a typical thug in his utter disdain for authority, he actually demonstrates a superior amount of control. Camonte knows when to give in to the police which shows how intelligent he is.

            I expect to discover more of Camonte’s different layers as the film goes on. Aside from being a gangster, Tony Camonte has a lot going on. I believe Camonte’s mother’s sheer disdain for what he does is going to be a recurring storyline in the film. Also, I anticipate Poppy to cause some inner turmoil within Camonte.

            I do feel the film glorifies gangsters. Typically, in films, we as an audience are rooting for the “good guys” to prevail and serve justice however, Camonte’s humor and controlled skill makes him rather likeable. When he is not dealing with authority he appears to be friendly and respectful. This contradiction has made it so that I find myself siding with Camonte.