“You want to get Capone? Here’s how you get him. He pulls a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of your to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue.” —Malone
Today’s quick review: The Untouchables. In 1930, notorious mob boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro) has Chicago wrapped around his finger. Treasury agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), assigned to catch Capone, assembles a hand-picked team of loyal cops to bring Capone down: Malone (Sean Connery), a crafty beat cop, Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), a federal accountant, and George Stone (Andy Garcia), a talented rookie.
The Untouchables is a Prohibition-era crime drama based on the real exploits of Al Capone and Eliot Ness. The movie follows Ness in his seemingly impossible task of enforcing justice in a corrupt city. To do so, he must skirt the boundaries of the law, using only a small, trustworthy crew to avoid the leaks that have been plaguing the police department. But his actions place him at the top of Capone’s list and put his family and friends in danger.
The Untouchables has qualities that make it a very capable drama, including a strong cast, serious and compelling subject matter, and tight dialogue. The story is straightforward enough, just a brazen police investigation with a few major setbacks, but its plot twists and element of danger are enough to keep it interesting. The writing includes a few iconic lines and is enough to give the characters a life they would have otherwise lacked.
The cast is one of the film’s main draws, with no real misses and a couple of great performances. Kevin Costner plays a credible Eliot Ness, capturing the character’s zeal and honesty as well as his limitations and naivety. Robert De Niro is in usual form as Al Capone, a powerful and charismatic mobster. But the heart of the cast is Sean Connery as Malone, an experienced beat cop who guides Ness in his war on Capone.
Watch The Untouchables when you are in the mood for gangster movie with a down-to-earth story and solid execution. The Untouchables relies more on quality acting, writing, and direction than spectacle, and the result is a tidy crime drama with better-than-average characters. Those looking for more of an action movie should check out Gangster Squad, while those looking for a more puzzling plot should check out L.A. Confidential.
7.9 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.5 for solid acting and writing.