What is is about gangsters that fascinates us so? They're criminals, and thusly either by nature or because of the life they lead, violent men. Some of the most classic films of all time surround this world, and I'd say that every Amrican actor worth anything has at one time played a charming crime figure. Maybe it's the "Robin Hood" type treatment they're often given, or the sense of style and panache that one can't help but admire.

Or maybe it's because that with a criminal this cool or bad it makes their downfall and loss to the good guys even better. That's the case with "The Untouchables", a true classic and possibly the best gangland film ever made. Elliot Ness and his crew of "untouchables" are perhaps the most glamorized and interesting crime crusaders ever, and it's mostly because of excellent movies like this one.

You can't nitpick the classics in my opinion. You either come across as stiff and boring or annoyingly to smart for your own good. I may take some heat for that but so be it. Yeah, I think we could all guess that "Untouchables" is grounded in about 0% reality. Yes, Elliot Ness took down Capone for income tax evasion and Capone was in control of Chicago. Other than that, the liberties taken are many. And what great liberties they are.

David Mamet is an exceptional writer as everyone will agree, but I always find myself gaining more joy out of this than anything else he's done. It's such a wonderful mixture of his dialogue and good old movie joys like tommy guns, corrupt cops, bad guys who get what's coming to them, and good guys you root for. I suppose it doesn't have the depth and seriousness throughout that makes it an Oscar winner, but in my perfect world, it does.

Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner) comes to Chicago to take down Capone (Robert DeNiro). But he can't keep a secret or do much good. So he asks the help of Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery) a streetwise beat cop. Together they recruit George Stone (Andy Garcia) and bookish treasury agent Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith). Together they are the Untouchables and they take to it to Capone. But they battle police corruption, the nasty mob personified in Frank Nitti (Billy Drago), and Capone himself. Inside is great action, suspense, blood, and good old charm and police work.

This film is fun from beginning to end, and the themes it lays out are tried but very very true. It's a question of how far can you go within the law and when is it okay to step outside the law? It's about friendship, family, and doing the right thing even when it's very unpopular. Connery asks Costner, "What are you prepared to do?!" to which he responds, "Everything within the law." Connery retorts, "And THEN what are you prepared to do?" Ness loves his wife, and it's a very sweet subplot. "It's nice to be married" he's fond of saying.

Sean Connery is the gem of this film. He won his best Supporting Actor Oscar for this and it's well deserved. This is a role that caters to all his best strengths. The coolest man in Chicago, lethal, charming, and a mentor. Mamet serves him up lines like juicy steaks and Connery nails everyone. "Everyone knows where the booze is, the question is who wants to cross Capone." This movie made me realize why I just didn't like him all that much in "Finding Forrester". It was a role that was just too down and serious for him. Steven Soderbergh told Julia Roberts that for him to put her in "Traffic" (which she asked for) would require her to leave out everything he finds compelling about her as an actress. That doesn't mean she's bad, and it doesn't mean Connery's bad. It means that Connery is at his very best as a charming man like Malone and his charisma comes from that. Trying to stifle that cool affect of Connery is stupid and sad to watch.

And Robert DeNiro, what more can I say. He's amazing, putting on pounds and shaving his head for what could have easily been a cameo. Instead he electrifies the screen. He doesn't take away from the main cast, he makes them better even when he's not sharing scene. His Capone is so bad that we want to see him go down all the more. "You can get more with a kind word and a gun than you can with just a kind word."

This is Brian DePalma's masterpiece. The camerawork is wonderful, from the first person view of Malone's intruder to horseback ride on the Canadian border to the famous train station steps sequence it's all magnificent. Plus he captures the look and feel of 30s Chicago. This was before "The Matrix" or John Woo, yet here is the same ultra-bloody gunplay and shotgun action. His action is innovative and beautiful in its choreography. Yet we still understand the feelings of all the characters through his direction. As Costner stands over Frank Nitti and wrestles with himself on whether to kill him or not we can sense it. As with "Scarface" he can still shock us, but this film also has the heart and reason behind it as well.

Ennio Morricone's score is one of the best ever. As a big fan of film scores I mean that. The use of percussion to get you going write away with the cello and harmonica is great. The big brass and strings theme for the high moments is also effective. Yet I love the sad, slow clarinet solo that highlights all the dramatic parts. It's a fantastic score that really brings the movie to life and conveys what's going on.

I simply love "The Untouchables". It's the total package in a day when we're lucky to get even one part of the package. It's well-written while still being exciting and action-packed. It's well acted with charismatic actors without being over-the-top and showy. And it's well-directed without being the assault on the senses that many interesting directorial efforts can be. It's a classic pure and simple that I know my kids will enjoy years from now just like I do today.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older