The Untouchables

For the pedigree of talent involved in “The Untouchables”, one would expect a blockbuster thriller filled with terrific performances. Thar’s largely what one gets. The script by David Mamet gives the best lines to the late Oscar winning Sean Connery as Malone a part of Elliot Ness’ team trying to nail Al Capone. There are some misguided aspects to the film-the character of Ness as played by Kevin Costner is written as a leading man role without the depth of emotion one would hope or, perhaps, Costner was overshadowed by Connery and Robert DeNIro as Capone (they only have one major scene together and DeNIro wipes the floor with Costner with a much more showy role).One of the flaws of Mamet’s script and the editing is the lack of time that is spend on showing how the team builds a relationship wasting the time with Costner’s wife Edna (played by the wonderful Patricia Clarkson a terrific actress who isn’t well utilized in an underwritten role). If they had, when the members of Ness’ team begin getting picked off, we would have felt more for them and it would have been played more convincingly. At 119 minutes I,coild easily see the film expanded by 20 or so minutes and still working but providing additional depth to the relationship of Ness’ team as they go after Capone.Still, the film succeeds for fails by DePalma’s set pieces and they are marvelous; the scene where Malone is stalked by killers in his own apartment and the clever homage to Eisenstein with the shoot out on the train station staircase. Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith provide good support as members of Ness’ team.Ennio Morricone's score is a highlight adding suspense to the film.I always got the impression that DePalma took this (like “Mission:Impossible”) as a job for hire. He does a great job with the sit pieces in the film but one also gets the impression he isn’t as invested as his more personal films.The 4K transfer of the film looks exceptional beating the original Blu-Ray with exceptional detail and virtual no black crush (loss of detail in dark scenes). Depth is terrific as well and the soundtrack with a nice 5.1 mix.The bad part is that there is no updated Blu-ray included for those who are transitioning from one format to the next but there is a digital download included with an expiration date of 5/24.‘The Untouchables” is still a terrific but-IMHO-flawed thriller. Connery gives an outstanding performance (it won him the Oscar) overshadowing Costner. Mamet’s script is pretty good but could have used more character moments in Ness’ team.

What a great movie! This has the perfect blend of genres, as if feels like a noir and a western. The all star cast is amazing, and Connery seems to shine the most next to Costner who looks like an alternate version of James Bond. Billy Drago is the perfect henchman for Robert De Nero's Al Pacino. The other role I liked Billy in was the fourth Tremors movie. Well worth the two hours.

I had the laserdisc version of this movie back in the day. Laserdisc was expensive so I wound up watching them over and over, etc. Haven't seen this one in awhile but the memories came back about what a great movie this is.Only giving it four stars because the presentation has a problem. The picture gets light and dark in several places. It's an HDR problem that I've seen before but not in awhile. Hardly happens with Dolby vision. Still a great movie worth having

Looks and sounds better than the first time I saw. The watch was enjoyable and can only recommend.

Very dramatic. Great movie. But you can't fail with Sean Connery in a movie. Even "Zordaz" was great.

ANOTHER GOOD MOVIE IF YA LIKE GANGSTER MOVIES.

All the best actors in one place. It's an automatic win win

I was surprised how well this film transferred. It's crystal clear... almost too clear. Like Unforgiven the VHS/DVD transfers of these films were grainy. But this 4k knocks it out of the park.Sadly they should of redubbed the ending "Gotcha" line for Costner because wow what a dud delivery.

Sean Connery won the best supporting actor Oscar for his performance and he must have a chuckle every time he sees the trophy, reveling in the knowledge that he pulled one over the Oscar jury. He's a great Scot with a Scottish lilt to his voice that he couldn't hide even when playing an Irish cop, and that lilt often came over in his James Bond days too.That criticism aside this is a beautifully crafted film in my opinion, with Brian De Palma setting out 30's Chicago and the period American settings wonderfully well giving us the feel of the times.Loved the set-up of the major events in the film and even the minor skirmishes between the protagonists such as a shooting in a lift and Capone's dinner table meeting with his cohorts, all were skillfully directed, and chilling too.Kevin Costner, at times stoic or passionate, Connery's wise, rough and weary vet, and Robert De Nero as Capone, brilliant but underused, were stand out performances which complimented the dramatic action sequences that made this unforgettable in the gangster genre.Music by the master Ennio Morricone, different but fitted the film's mood like a silk glove.English subtitles, needed specially for Sean's Oirish accent!

There are some very worthy actors in this film, Sean Connery for instance delivers a fortifying experience which adds to the skills of the others. I am not a fan of Kevin Costner, not because he is a bad actor but simply because I regard him as being rather dull. Nevertheless, this is an extremely well put together classic film and it still will be watched long after we have passed on.

Weil wirklich fast jede/r den Film kennt, hier nur einige Aspekte zu den damals, im Jahre 1987, gedrehten Streifen in der Regie von Brian De Palma. DER Film wurde mit "dem Paten" verglichen. Man sprach über ihn, noch bevor er in die Kinos kam.Dafür tat De Palma einiges. Um den Hauptdarsteller zu bekommen, hatte er "viele Frösche gesehen, nicht geküsst". Am Ende bekam die Rolle des Bundesagenten für die Wirtschaftskriminalität Kevin Costner, der damals 32 Jahre jung war, einige Filme hinter sich hatte und hier die Möglichkeit bekam, groß rauszukommen. Das ist ihm auch gelungen.Noch schwieriger war es die Rolle von Al Capone zu "vergeben". Wer würde sie am besten verkörpern? Wer sieht dem richtigen (es gab ja viele Bilder) am ähnlichsten. De Palma traf wieder eine gute Wahl, Robert De Niro wird es machen. Und tatsächlich, der damals schon bekannte De Niro sagte zu.Dann musste man noch die "The Untouchables" zusammenbringen. Hier ließ sich De Palma künstlerische Freiheit. Neben dem Agenten Eliot Ness (Costner) waren dabei ein älterer, weiser Polizist, Jim Malone (Sean Connery), ein junger Beamter; George Stone (Andy Garcia). Die drei nahmen noch ihren "Buchhalter/Buchprüfer", Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) mit. Er konnte mit dem Gewehr umgehen.Weil De Palma einen PERFEKTEN Film machen wollte, waren auch andere Rollen top besetzt. Die Musik komponierte der wunderbare Ennio Morricone, die Kleider kamen von...Giorgio Armani.So sollte alles stimmen.Und es war auch gut und ist immer noch gut. Aber, nicht gut genug...Warum? Wer wollte den Film mit dem von Francis Ford Coppola vergleichen? Somit ist die Erwartung an den Film schon vor dem Beginn groß. Und man hat gewisse Vorstellungen, ein Kopfkino sozusagen. De Palmas Film hat außer dem Schwarzmarkt, dem Schmuggel...und der Gewalt nicht viel zu tun mit Coppolas (3) Filmen.Hier sind die vier brave, nicht korrumpierte "Staatsangestellte" im Vordergrund. Die vier (in der Wirklichkeit waren es mehr) kämpfen fast wie die modernen Robin Hood's gegen die Gesetzlosigkeit. Und die finden sie - überall.So kann Capone nur müde (und abschätzdend) lächeln, als man ihm den Prozess machen will. IHM? Er hat seine Freunde überall. Eine kleine Gruppe gegen ihm, was kann die schon machen. Wie dann der Prozess ausging, ist bekannt. Capone hat einen kleinen Fehler begangen, er war " zugroß", um sich mit solchen Kleinigkeiten wie "etwas Steuer" zu bezahlen zu befassen. So wurde ihm ein "Schreibfehler" zum Verhängnis.Ermöglichte die Prohibition den Aufstieg von Capone und seinen Komplitzen? Die Wirtschaftskrise? Dass während der Prohibition Alkohol in Strömen floss, ist bekannt, dass sie nicht viel bewirkt hat, außer den illegalen Handel. Was verboten war, das war interessant.Aber, so weit geht der Film nicht. Er zeigt die Zeit vor dem Prozess, die Zeit, die wirklich gefährlich war, ein Leben nichts wert war. Die Geschichte könnte man anders, präziser erzählen, vielleicht nur aus der Sicht eines Mannes. So fehlt überall irgendwas. Die Menschen Laufen, es gibt einige Anspielungen an große Filme vorher... und das war dann schon. Natürlich sind De Niro, Connery (der sogar einen Oscar bekommen hat.., naja), Garcia und Costner gut.Es bleibt ein bitterer Nachgeschmack - es sollte ein Film über die Zeit um 1930 in Chicago werden, es ist eine Mischung aus Actions/Thriller/Kriminalfilm geworden.Es könnten 5 P sein, können es aber nicht, weil es hier um eine EHRENSACHE geht und da duldet man keine Zwischentöne, nur die pure Musik, die DAS BESTE in dem Film war. Dank Morricone.De Palma hat mich bei "Scarface" und "Carlito’s Way" überzeugt. Sein "Pate" ist nicht De Niro, sondern Al Pacino.

A fantastic blu ray transfer especially when the untouchables work with the Canadians !The colours are strong and they give depth to the picture , Kevin Costner at his best and Sean ( 007 ) is really good!If you like gangster films you will love this film!

I was a little under whelmed to be honest! Not a bad watch but as good as the Godfather? Come on! Yes, it's worth an evening of anyone's time but I would suggest this won't linger too long in the memory.Costner's role as Eliot Ness is far too tame - he could have been on Jackanory and wouldn't have frightened the kids! Connery won an AA for this but it's beyond me as to why, he was good but the role did not allow a great performance. In places this film was downright corny. I even found De Nero's role as Capone slightly laughable in places.Gangsters are meant to be ruthless and menacing, the top cops equally so, neither came close to that here. The story line was far from gripping and overall for a mobster tale it was very bland - I never hid behind the sofa once!Very average fare.