Young film fans out there you might have missed this gangster film and you should rectify that pronto! Thirty-five years ago a film came out about the “relationship” between government lawman Eliot Ness and crime boss Al Capone. An interesting cat and mouse game between two men of principles – very different sets of principles. Makes for a great watch!
Director Brian De Palma has always, no matter the genre of film he makes, made high watchable films. Scarface, Body Double, Mission: Impossible, Carlito’s Way, and Carrie were all fun watches. Whether horror, action or gangster film you are almost always guaranteed to get an interesting film from this filmmaker. He made a few gangster films, of varying quality, and this is one of the better ones.
Even thirty five years later, The Untouchables is worth a watch. Set in the United States during the Prohibition Era, it pits two men against each other. Each is on a different side of the law. Each doing what they must to do their job.
Federal Agent Eliot Ness (played by Kevin Costner) is like a dog after a bone when it comes to Al Capone (played by Al Pacino). He will not rest until he has captured his man. Capone is the biggest gangster operating in Chicago and Ness wants him behind bars. He is determined to do what no other lawman has been able to – catch Capone doing something illegal so he can put him in jail. Ness and his hand-picked team work night and day trying to accomplish this.
Besides Costner and Pacino, the cast of this film includes Sean Connery (who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role), Andy Garcia, Patricia Clarkson, and Charles Martin Smith. Impressive talent all pulling in the same direction. While Costner has the less showy role, he does a solid job as the ultra serious Fed. Al Pacino is in his element here. He does a great job as the slippery, corrupt and ruthless gangster. Chews scenery left, right and center. Sit back and enjoy.
Great gangster film with a side of law enforcement. Also a great peek into this time in American history.
Special Features:
- NEW 4K RESTORATION OF THE FILM
- The Script, The Cast
- Production Stories
- Re-Inventing the Genre
- The Classic
- Original Featurette: “The Men”
- Theatrical Trailer
- Optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature
