Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.
Kevin Costner
Eliot Ness
Sean Connery
Jim Malone
Charles Martin Smith
Oscar Wallace
Andy García
George Stone
Robert De Niro
Al Capone
Richard Bradford
Mike
Jack Kehoe
Payne
Brad Sullivan
George
Billy Drago
Nitti
Patricia Clarkson
Ness' Wife
Vito D'Ambrosio
Bowtie Driver
Steven Goldstein
Scoop
Peter Aylward
Lt. Anderson
Don Harvey
Preseuski
Robert Swan
Mountie Captain
John J. Walsh
Bartender
Del Close
Alderman
Colleen Bade
Mrs. Blackmer
Greg Noonan
Rangemaster
Sean Grennan
Cop Cousin
Larry Viverito Sr.
Italian Waiter
Kevin Michael Doyle
Williamson
Mike Bacarella
Overcoat Hood
Michael P. Byrne
Ness' Clerk
Kaitlin Montgomery
Ness' Daughter
Aditra Kohl
Blackmer Girl
Charles Keller Watson
Reporter
Larry Brandenburg
Reporter
Chelcie Ross
Reporter
Tim Gamble
Reporter
Pat Billingsley
Bailif
Sam Smiley
Bailiff
John Bracci
Fat Man
Jennifer Anglin
Woman in Elevator
Eddie Minasian
Butler
Anthony Mockus Sr.
Judge
Will Zahrn
Defense Attorney
Louie Lanciloti
Barber
Vince Viverito
Bodyguard
Valentino Cimo
Bodyguard
Joe Greco
Bodyguard
Clem Caserta
Bodyguard
Bob Martana
Bodyguard
Joseph Scianablo
Bodyguard
George S. Spataro
Bodyguard
Melody Rae
Union Station Woman
Robert Miranda
Gunned Head
James Guthrie
Pagliacci
Basil Reale
Hotel Clerk
John Barrowman
Street Person (uncredited)
Jimmy Borto
Court Reporter (uncredited)
Stephen Burrows
Hoodlum (uncredited)
Ernest Capponi
Gangster at Round Table (uncredited)
Justin De Rosa
Capone's Hitman (uncredited)
Eddy Donno
Capone's Hitman (uncredited)
Jack Fitzstephens
Train Announcer (uncredited)
Collin Hymes
Baby in Carriage (uncredited)
Clifton James
District Attorney (uncredited)
Matt Johnston
Union Station Bodyguard (uncredited)
Robert Minkoff
Man (uncredited)
William Rossman
Gangster (uncredited)
Director
Brian De Palma
Book
Oscar Fraley
Book
Eliot Ness
Writer
David Mamet
Writer
Chip Miller
January 12, 2020
10
Never stop fighting till the fight is done, here endeth the lesson.
As good a gangster movie that has ever been made as DePalma does justice to Mamet's electric script. The acting on show is right out of the top draw, the inevitable ease that DeNiro puts menace into Capone is quite impressive, whilst the fresh faced pugnacious tenacity of Andy Garcia's George Stone is something of a delightful experience. Yet that is not enough because we still need the central actors to carry the film if it is going to triumph. Connery is a given performance wise (accent aside of course, but then again who cares when the character portrayal is as sharp as it is here?) but it is Costner as Eliot Ness that shines like the star he was soon to become, it's a magic performance that manages to fuse genuine tenderness of family love with little trips to the dark side in pursuit of making good triumph over evil.
I love that the film is showing how violence and fear affects families, mother and child is a theme that is central to the film's heartbeat, notice how some of the more violent scenes are followed by tender scenes of Ness and his family. The set pieces here are attention grabbing entertainment, a roaring Canadian border rumpus and a smashing roof top pursuit and face off are top value, but it's DePalma gold watching a brilliant Battleship Potemkin homage at the Union train station that takes the cake as the film enters the last quarter. Surely historical facts does not matter when films are as sharp as this one is?. It's frightening, touching, and even witty. So for me at least, the film is 10/10 in every department (and yes, even with Sean's accent).
Footnote: The academy saw fit to nominate Ennio Morricone for his wonderful score, yet strangely he used some of it for the main theme in John Carpenter's 1982 film "The Thing", they must have missed it that time I presume! Must be the genre angle one thinks...
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$25,000,000.00
Revenue:
$76,270,454.00