The Untouchables (1987)

A Bloody Prohibition Era Mob Drama by DePalma. I'll Drink to That!

DePalma's dramatization of the legendary showdown between US treasury agent Elliot Ness and original American Gangster Al Capone is a solid, suspenseful film, even if it draws only loosely from historical facts.

Prohibition allows Capone (DeNiro) to build-up an extensive and lucrative criminal empire. In a bid to bring Capone down, the US Treasury sends Elliot Ness (Kostner) to uncover hard evidence of Capone's illicit income in order to charge him with tax evasion. Ness leads an unlikely team consisting of a Gruff beat-cop (Connery) an aloof rookie (Garcia) and a bookish accountant (Smith) on a mission to bring down not just Capone, but ultimately the entire corrupt system which protects him.

The film makes it clear that the 'Untouchables', as Ness's team came to be called, are not high-minded idealists who truly believe in the value of prohibition. It is not the 'evils' of alcohol that persuade them to face down Capone and their own corrupt colleagues in the government, but rather a faith in the rule of law and an unwillingness to see justice undermined by greed. This concept is only subtly suggested in the film, but it adds a layer of depth to what is essentially a cops vs. robbers movie.

DePalma, who directed 1983's "Scarface", lets the blood flow as often as possible in Untouchables, with mixed results. The brutality and violence is often effective (see Capones 'baseball' speech) but sometimes is so over-the-top that it's unintentionally funny (one character takes about 20 bullets to the chest and stays on his feet).

Aside from leading man Kostner, who's attempt to portray Ness as icily reserved comes off as wooden, the actors do a great job. Connery and DeNiro both offer commanding, if eccentric, performances and steal every scene they're in. Set pieces and costumes convey period authenticity and appear to be done with care. A film I can recommend and which is good for repeated viewings. September 23, 2008

Not quite untouchable...

`The Untouchables', from a distance, looks wonderful. I mean in all seriousness it is a beautifully shot film that is rich with some stellar performances, some thrilling action sequences and a moral that will have you fighting for justice. But when one takes a closer look at the film it starts to fall apart a bit. It's missing something, and that small something makes the film feel less than great.

The film tells the story of lawman Eliot Ness who waged an all out war against Al Capone. He rallied behind him a few men, a Chicago cop named Jim Malone, an accountant named Oscar Wallace and a rookie marksman named George (real name Giuseppe).

The film soars when exploring the seedy underground and back alleys that permeate most of the films running time. When following the screen as it filters through each detailed set piece one is enthralled by each passing scene. The performances, for the most part, are equally rich with character and appropriate mood. The action sequences are also wonderfully shot, scenes littered with abrupt violence (that baseball bat scene in particular) or sustained suspense (that whole scene within Malone's apartment) and these scenes, and many others, help carry the film to its conclusion.

Sadly though, when all is said and done, `The Untouchables' feels rather empty.

I don't know if this has to do with Costner, who just seems to green for the role. He comes off out of place amidst the rest of the cast. I just think that the role was too big for him. He would have been better suited for the role of Oscar Wallace, a smaller supporting role. Costner can be blamed for part of the films failure (I hate calling it that because the film is not a failure by any means) but he can't be blamed for everything.

I think maybe that you wind up expecting more when you know the subject matter. This is Al Capone, so this should really be good. The film doesn't feel dirty enough for starters. Sure, the set pieces are fantastic and depict that rawness needed, but the script doesn't build on its foundation. Second, Robert De Niro is sadly underused. He gives, by far, the best performance in the entire film and yet he is rarely seen. His few scenes are fantastic (I just love the way he makes Capone almost cartoon like without ever stripping away his ferocity) but they are too few. The lack of grit makes `The Untouchables' come off rather clean, like an episode of `Law & Order' set back a few years.

Sean Connery does a fine job adding some comic relief to the film, and his steely dedication to his character (and that apartment scene, I'm telling you) sealed his Oscar win, even if I would have went with De Niro over Connery. Andy Garcia delivers a nice performance, but the film seems somewhat uninterested with anyone aside from Costner and Connery. That may be another area in which the film could have been better, or added more depth. I never got the feeling that they were bearing all so-to-speak. I would have loved to have walked away from the film knowing who these men were and what they stood for. Instead we get the feeling that they were enforcing the law, end of story.

If you just want to sit back and enjoy a crime thriller than `The Untouchables' is your film. It is entertaining and exciting for the most part and is never boring, but if you want something that feels a little more important and gratifying then you might want to look elsewhere. It's a beautifully shot, nicely handled film that never exceeds the limitations pressed upon it by the simple script. September 15, 2008

Great then, and even better now on Blu-ray

With the passage of time, regard for THE UNTOUCHABLES continues to rise. What can I say that hasn't been said by every critic about this movie? It's a classic, and beautifully filmed. Blu-ray makes it even better. August 29, 2008

Blu Ray "Scam"?

I MUST agree totally with one other reviewer, that despite being "Blu Ray", this version of "Untouchables" is virtually IDENTICAL to my original DVD! Don't get me wrong, the picture looks VERY good, but NOT like current Blu Ray discs. For example, "Training Day" looks almost like VIDEO it's so clear. Yeah, I know "Un" is quite a few years older and that's why I mention the word "Scam" in my title. Movie Studios WANT you to purchase a film on Blu Ray to REPLACE the one you probably ALREADY have on DVD, but, buyer beware, Blu Ray doesn't always mean BETTER, ESPECIALLY with older films. July 19, 2008

Three-fourths Good

The first three fourths of this movie are excellent. The Last quarter, while suspenseful, is full of plot holes which cast a pall of unbelievability over the film. Acting, Directing, and Dialogue are snappy, the film is fast paced, and quite rivetting. June 24, 2008

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