World Famous Comics: The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
The Untouchables (Special Collector's Edition)
Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro Directed By: Brian De Palma Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Collector's Edition, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC Label: Paramount Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: October 05, 2004 Running Time: 119 minutes Theatrical Release Date: June 03, 1987
Product Description: Eliot Ness and his band of prohibition-era law enforcement agents try to destroy Al Capone's criminal empire. Genre: Feature Film-Drama Rating: R Release Date: 2-MAY-2006 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video: 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
Amazon.com: 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
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.
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.
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.
Prohibition Through Hollywood's Eyes Thoroughly enjoyable period-piece action flick. Interesting that Predator came out the same year. The Untouchables is every bit as violent, macho and bloody, yet Predator is seen as a mindless testosterone-overflowing glorified B-movie for teenage boys (which it is) and The Untouchables is seen as a "real" movie for full-grown adults.
The difference is, of course, De Palma, Mamet and co. make a genuine effort to place The Untouchables in a certain, albeit largely fictional, time and place and populate this world with characters who are allowed to act like something at least resembling real people. They do this with Academy Award nominated sets, music and costumes. In addition, the script is peppered with topical references like J. Edgar Hoover and Amos n' Andy. Also, it helps that the men in this movie have families, thoughts and emotions.
The genius of The Untouchables is how, as Pauline Kael said in her review, the movie makes no real effort to accurately portray the 1930's but presents it as closely as the average person thinks the 1930's must have been like. Sure, Eliot Ness and Al Capone were real people and Prohibition really happened but, deep down inside, The Untouchables cares as about much about America in the 1930's as Predator does.
The movie manages to please two audiences at the same time. The action/adventure crowd will like the tough-guy dialogue, fisticuffs, frequent gunplay and unsparing blood spurts. The adult drama crowd will like the sets, Connery's performance, the atmosphere and the pseudo-historicity. Both will dig the cool cars.
Rare Kevin Costner Kevin Costner was a different actor in this piece. Well written and well acted.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Tony's Online Tips
Trevor
