Must See Movies...The Untouchables

4 weeks ago 24th Jul 16:24

Brian De Palma’s 1987 gangster classic The Untouchables is this week’s must see movie that brought together some of cinema’s biggest names.

Kevin Costner is idealistic federal agent Eliot Ness, whose assignment to clean up Prohibition-era Chicago leads to violence and manly questions about upholding the law. Initially powerless to stop the flow of booze into the city (the police force is corrupt and everyone in town seems to be...Leading the all star cast Kevin Costner stars as idealistic federal agent Eliot Ness, whose assignment to clean up Prohibition-era Chicago leads to violence and manly questions about upholding the law.

Initially powerless to stop the flow of booze into the city (the police force is corrupt and everyone in town seems to be on the mob's payroll), Ness finds guidance from an older streetwise cop Malone, Sean Connery, who convinces him he'll need to break some rules if he wants to bring down head mobster Al Capone (Robert De Niro).

Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith play Ness's other recruits, who together must stand tall against a city full of assassins.

With such a talented cast and well known director in De Palma The Untouchables was always going to be a good movie but now, twenty plus years later, the film is a must see in the gangster, cops vs. crooks genre.

Writer David Mamet delivers a fast paced, witty script that De Palma builds around in a great violent homage to the period of Prohibition Chicago.

While they may be a bit loose with the facts, based on Elliot Ness’ account of the era of Capone, this still remains of the best films of it’s genre and one of De Palma’s best movies period.

It’s main attribute is it’s cast: the honourable and by the book Ness contrasts beautifully with Connery’s whatever it takes to get the job done Malone. And Connery delivers one of his career best performances eclipsing everyone else, yes including De Niro.

The film was a hit both critically and commercially upon release grossing in excess of $76 million as well as Sean Connery receiving a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Malone.

A testament to the film’s success and popularity a new film, also to be directed by De Palma, The Untouchables: Capone Rising is in the pipeline.

A prequel to the original the film will follow Al Capone’s arrival in Chicago and his dealings with cop Jimmy Malone, to be played by Gerard Butler.

FemaleFirst- Helen Earnshaw