This week’s movie is The Untouchables (1987).
The crime drama is about federal treasury agent Elliot Ness as he sets out to take down Al Capone. The film has some truth to it, as Ness and Capone are based on real people, but is highly fictionalized for cinematic effect. Directed by Brian De Palma (aka Brian the Hack De Palma), the film features a number of memorable scenes – The Battleship Potemkin scene, the Canadian raid scene and pretty much any scene with Sean Connery and/or Robert De Niro (and personally I think this is De Palma’s best film). It stars Kevin Costner, who is a bit bright-eyed and wholesome but it works for the role, and features Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith, Patricia Clarkson, and a wonderful Billy Drago, along with Connery and De Niro, in supporting roles. Ennio Morricone provides a classic score that stays with you and Stephen H. Burum’s cinematography is good as well. What makes the film great is its stylized set pieces which are both aesthetically interesting and entertaining and exciting. Plus, there is Connery giving an Oscar winning performance and De Niro as Capone, who has some great monologues – the script was written by David Mamet. I love films about this era’s gangsters, and this is one of my favorites. It is a must see for fans of Conner, Costner and/or De Niro and for fans of classic 80s cinema. Check out the trailer.
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