The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
by Brian De Palma
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Sean ConneryDirector: Brian De Palma
Brand: Paramount
Cinematographer: Stephen H. Burum
Editor: Bill Pankow
Producer: Art Linson
Producer: Raymond Hartwick
Writer: David Mamet
Writer: Eliot Ness
Writer: Oscar Fraley
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 119 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2004-10-05
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: Paramount
Movie Reviews of The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: The Downfall of Al Capone...
Summary: 5 Stars
Mafia movies have long been profitable ventures for Hollywood executives, which is why every few years or so another mob movie is released to theaters, and 9 times out of 10 the movie is a success. Some entries into this genre aren't as good as others some examples would be "Boss of Bosses", "Billy Bathgate", or "Mobsters". But these subpar efforts are massively overshadowed by the resounding success of movies like "The Godfather", "Goodfellas", "The Departed", and "The Untouchables". The latter is the film I am choosing to review here having just watched it again for the 5th time in my life (I know that doesn't sound like much, but if you would see my DVD collection you'd understand).
"The Untouchables" focuses on the story of Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) and his efforts to bring down the reigning mob boss of Chicago during the 1930's, Al Capone (Robert De Niro). After the government initiated prohibition, a move that basically gave the mafia even greater power over the people, Al Capone is essentially running the city of Chicago to the point that some feel he should even run for mayor of the city. The government knows Capone needs to be stopped, so that his reign of madness and bloodshed can finally be brought to an end, but the problem is Capone owns so many high ranking city and government officials that it's virtually impossible for anyone to stand a chance against him. That is until an idealistic federal agent named Elliot Ness decides its time for Capone to be put away for good, and he will stop at nothing to see this happen. To assist Ness in this endeavor is an old beat cop named Malone (Sean Connery), a federal accountant (Charles Martin Smith), who believes he can get Capone for tax evasion, and a cop-in-training named Stone (Andy Garcia). Together these men might stand a chance of accomplishing the one thing that no one else has been able to do, bring down the seemingly all-powerful Al Capone, and cripple his mafia empire.
Both critics and audiences agreed, "The Untouchables" was a true gangland masterpiece, that takes you from the mean streets of Chicago to the mountainous United States-Canadian border, while never letting go of your attention for even a second. Director Brian De Palma ("Scarface" and "Mission: Impossible") engages you with this epic story of good versus evil that is so brilliantly crafted that it rivals "The Godfather" in terms of its treatment of the material and the accuracy of the performances. The entire cast is excellent from Kevin Costner to Sean Connery, De Niro's perfect performance is the biggest surprise as he brings to shocking reality the ferocity of the mob boss that ruled Chicago with an iron fist.
If you're a fan of mafia movies in the vein of "The Godfather" or "Goodfellas", or are a history buff that is interested in seeing the downfall of one of America's most powerful mob bosses, then you will definitely enjoy "The Untouchables".
"The Untouchables" is rated R for violence and language.
Summary of The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
The critics and public agree. Brian De Palma's The Untouchables is a must-see masterpiece - glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago... and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil and stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Malone, the cop who teaches Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first.As noted critic Pauline Kael wrote, the 1987 box-office hit The Untouchables is "like an attempt to visualize the public's collective dream of Chicago gangsters." In other words, this lavish reworking of the vintage TV series is a rousing potboiler from a bygone era, so beautifully designed and photographed--and so craftily directed by Brian De Palma--that the historical reality of Prohibition-era Chicago could only pale in comparison. From a script by David Mamet, the movie pits four underdog heroes (the maverick lawmen known as the Untouchables) against a singular villain in Al Capone, played by Robert De Niro as a dapper caesar holding court (and a baseball bat) against any and all challengers. Kevin Costner is the naive federal agent Eliot Ness, whose lack of experience is tempered by the streetwise alliance of a seasoned Chicago cop (Sean Connery, in an Oscar-winning performance), a rookie marksman (Andy Garcia), and an accountant (Charles Martin Smith) who holds the key to Capone's potential downfall. The movie approaches greatness on the strength of its set pieces, such as the siege near the Canadian border, the venal ambush at Connery's apartment, and the train-station shootout partially modeled after the "Odessa steps" sequences of the Russian classic Battleship Potemkin. It's thrilling stuff, fueled by Ennio Morricone's dynamic score, but it's also manipulative and obvious. If you're inclined to be critical, the movie gives you reason to complain. If you'd rather sit back and enjoy a first-rate production with an all-star cast, The Untouchables may very well strike you as a classic. --Jeff Shannon
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