Tucker researched for two years; he read the 1930 novel Scarface by Armitage Trail and watched both the 1932 and 1983 films numerous times.
[4] An appendix titled "Scarface as a business plan (or the 8 Habits of Highly Successful but Tragic Gangsters)" was also included in the book.
[5] By the suggestion of Sidney Lumet, the origin of the main character Tony Montana was changed from an Italian to a Cuban.
[5][2] Louis Bayard wrote for Salon that Tucker had set a difficult mission for himself, writing about a film that was "not good at all".
[6] S. James Snyder wrote for Time magazine that "Tucker bolsters his argument that whatever your opinion on the film, Scarface cannot be dismissed.