THE UNTOUCHABLES [1987 / 2018] [Blu-ray] [Limited Edition SteelBook] [UK Release]
The Hottest Mob Movie Since The Godfather!
Brian De Palma's ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ is a must-see masterpiece – a glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition era Chicago... and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Jim Malone, the cop who teaches Eliot Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1987 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards: Nomination: Best Supporting Actor for Sean Connery. 1987 National Board of Review, USA: Win: Best Supporting Actor for Sean Connery. Win: Top Ten Films. 1987 New York Film Critics Circle Awards: Nomination: Best Supporting Actor for Sean Connery. 1988 Academy Awards®: Win: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Sean Connery. Nomination: Best Art Direction-Set Decoration for Hal Gausman, Patrizia von Brandenstein and William A. Elliott. Nomination: Best Costume Design for Marilyn Vance. Nomination: Best Music for an Original Score for Ennio Morricone. 1988 Golden Globes: Win: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for Sean Connery. Nomination: Best Original Score in a Motion Picture for Ennio Morricone. 1988 BAFTA Film Awards: Win: Best Score for Ennio Morricone. Nomination: Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Sean Connery. Nomination: Best Costume Design for Marilyn Vance. Nomination: Best Production Design for William A. Elliott. 1988 American Society of Cinematographers: Nomination: Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Theatrical Releases for Stephen H. Burum. 1988 Awards of the Japanese Academy: Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film. 1988 César Awards, France: Nomination: Best Foreign Film (Meilleur film étranger) for Brian De Palma. 1988 David di Donatello Awards: Nomination: Best Foreign Producer (Migliore Produttore Straniero) for Art Linson. 1988 Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists: Win: Silver Ribbon for Best Score (Migliore Musica) for Ennio Morricone. 1988 London Critics Circle Film Awards: Win: Actor of the Year for Sean Connery. 1988 National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA: Nomination: Best Supporting Actor for Sean Connery. 1988 Writers Guild of America: Nomination: Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium for David Mamet.
FILM FACT No.2: ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ began production in Chicago on 18th August, 1986. Actual historical Chicago locations were featured in the film. Robert De Niro's research for the role of Al Capone included reading about him and watching historical footage and also wanted one extra scene written for his character, and time to finish his commitment to the Broadway production of “Cuba and His Teddy Bear.” Lastly, he wanted to gain about 30 pounds (14 kg) to play Al Capone; according to De Palma, De Niro was "very concerned about the shape of his face for the part." Brian De Palma initially wanted star of Miami Vice Don Johnson to portray Elliott Ness.
Cast: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Brad Sullivan, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson, Vito D'Ambrosio, Steven Goldstein, Peter Aylward, Don Harvey, Robert Swan, John J. Walsh, Del Close, Colleen Bade, Greg Noonan, Sean Grennan, Larry Viverito Sr., Kevin Michael Doyle, Mike Bacarella, Michael P. Byrne, Kaitlin Montgomery, Aditra Kohl, Charles Keller Watson, Larry Brandenburg, Chelcie Ross, Tim Gamble, Sam Smiley, Pat Billingsley, John Bracci, Jennifer Anglin, Eddie Minasian, Anthony Mockus Sr., Will Zahrn, Louie Lanciloti, Vince Viverito, Valentino Cimo, Joe Greco, Clem Caserta, Bob Martana, Joseph Scianablo, George S. Spataro, Melody Rae, Robert Miranda, James Guthrie, Basil Reale, John Barrowman (uncredited), Jimmy Borto (uncredited), Stephen Burrows (uncredited), Ernest Capponi (uncredited), Jack Fitzstephens (uncredited), Patricia E. Harrington (uncredited), Collin Hymes (uncredited), Clifton James (uncredited), Matt Johnston (uncredited), Robert Minkoff (uncredited) and William Rossman (uncredited)
Director: Brian De Palma
Producers: Art Linson and Raymond Hartwick
Screenplay: David Mamet (screenplay), Eliot Ness (suggested by book), Oscar Fraley (suggested by book) and Chip Miller (additional material) (uncredited)
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Make-up and Hair Department: Michael Hancock [Make-up Artist], Bette Iverson [Hair stylist] and Robyn Goldman [Hair stylist] (uncredited)
Costume Design: Marilyn Vance-Straker
Wardrobe Department: Giorgio Armani (uncredited)
Cinematography: Stephen Henry Burum, A.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Panavision)
Audio: English: 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio
English: 6.1 DTS-HD Audio
French: 5.1 Dolby EX Digital Audio
German: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Italian: 5.1 Dolby EX Digital Audio
Spanish: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
English: 2.0 Dolby Digital Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Portuguese and Swedish
Running Time: 119 minutes
Region: All Regions
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: The film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ [1987] is based on the 1959 ABC television series, and follows Eliot Ness's autobiographical account of his efforts to bring Italian-American gangster Al Capone to justice during the Prohibition era. It was directed by Brian De Palma and adapted by David Mamet, and starred Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, Sean Connery as Irish-American beat cop Jim Malone, and Robert De Niro as Al Capone.
The film is set around the real-life exploits of Chicago mobster Al Capone and the band of maverick law enforcers who set out to put him away, and the film boasts a stellar cast line-up, including Robert De Niro, Sean Connery, Andy Garcia and of course Kevin Costner, where we find them a force to be reckoned with for better, or worse in fighting against the Chicago mobsters on hopefully bringing justice against Al Capone and his network of crime. Their searing performances helped make the David Mamet-penned picture the box office success story of 1987.
1930’s Prohibition has transformed Chicago into a City at War. Rival gangs compete for control of the city’s billion dollar empire of illegal alcohol, enforcing their will with hand grenades and the infamous Tommy Guns. It is the time of the Ganglands. It is the time of Al Capone.
In Prohibition-era Chicago, organized crime prospers under arch-gangster Al Capone [Robert De Niro], who earns millions selling bootleg liquor, extortion and other vices through various lieutenants and underbosses. Proud US Treasury Agent Eliot Ness [Kevin Costner] is appointed to specifically tear down the criminal empire, but learns the hard way that Capone has well-paid agents, spies, and informants even in the police. Fortunately Eliot Ness befriends Jim Malone [Sean Connery], a streetwise Irish-American officer who mentors the young lawman in street tactics, including putting together a core team of "Untouchable," bribe-proof deputies. Cleverly determining that their ordinary tax law can lock away Al Capone, who had not filed in a tax statement for years, and naturally, for his illegal millions, Eliot Ness and the Untouchables clash with the crime lord's deadliest gunmen in the prelude to Al Capone's famous trial.
The screenplay, by renowned filmmaker and playwright David Mamet, contains everything that is necessary for a rousing adventure, where the good guys, the bad guys, a fast-moving plot, and lots of meaty dialogue, with the occasional comedy thrown in for good measure, gut-wrenching tragedy, and of course the memorable ending. Plus, for a story that essentially turns out to be a representation of the age-old struggle between good and evil, and here is where David Mamet throws in a little complexity for good measure.
In order to get Al Capone convicted, Eliot Ness cannot rely on the law for justice, and he must go outside of its comfort zone. When he recruits Jim Malone, the cop asks him what he is prepared to do to win the war. Eliot Ness's response is, "I have sworn to capture this man with all legal powers at my disposal and I will do so." Jim Malone rebuts, "You wanna know how you do it? Here's how: they pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital; you send one of his to the morgue! That's the Chicago way, and that's how you get Capone! Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that?" By the end of the movie, here's what Eliot Ness says about his quest to bring down the worst of the gang lords: "I have foresworn myself. I have broken every law I swore to defend. I have become what I beheld, and I am content that I have done right." These are the words of an obsessed man who has finally attained his goal.
The other two "Untouchables" are played by Andy Garcia and Charles Martin Smith and for Andy Garcia, like Kevin Costner, this represented a springboard to stardom. Like Kevin Costner, Andy Garcia takes an understated approach to his character. And with the Union Station shootout scene, character actor Charles Martin Smith’s career did not receive much of a boost from appearing in the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES.’ Charles Martin Smith’s character Oscar, here we have the simple irony of a pencil-pushing accountant going into battle with Al Capone and toting a gun, provided much of the film's humour, although ultimately, Oscar becomes sadly more of a tragic figure than a comedic one.
‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ stands above the other Brian De Palma studio pictures, which seems timeless, and also thought-provoking work of visual significant and bold thematic genre scenarios. David Mamet’s sharp and often beautifully written screenplay guides Eliot Ness’s journey into the heart of moral darkness, revealing that the “Untouchables” are in fact, morally and physically, touchable. Brian De Palma’s splendidly designed film at once embraces nostalgia and traditional hero all at the same time. A visual exercise in myth building, is where the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ shows us Brian De Palma's mainstream masterpiece; a supreme and rousing entertainment that dispenses with the predictable "grittiness" of the gangster drama and audaciously serves us up a symbolic fable in its place. In America they do not have Robin Hood; or even an American Three Musketeers. But the heroic, saintly and courageous “Untouchables,” has at least in director Brian De Palma's cinematic interpretation, given us more than a joyous experience, especially for the film's running time and Brian De Palma has also given us a truly great gangster film of a great cult status.
THE UNTOUCHABLES MUSIC TRACK LIST
VESTI LA GIUBBA (aria from opera "Pagliacci") (Written by Ruggero Leoncavallo) [Performed by Mario Del Monaco] [Conducted by Francesco Molinari Pradelli] [Performed by Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Roma]
MOOD INDIGO (Written by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills and Barney Bigard) (Arranged by Bob Wilber)
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Paramount Pictures presents us the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ with a really amazing 1080p image and is helped with an amazing 2.35:1 (Panavision) aspect ratio. The master image is in a very nice shape, and pristine. Blacks and contrast are a clear improvement over previous video versions. Detail similarly offers more readily visible fine textures, and the film's generally bright visual style lends itself to excellent depth and clarity. Colours are also more vibrant, and though some of the deepest reds and darker interiors may stumble every so with a bit of fuzziness, in general saturation is very vivid. What ultimately keeps this transfer from rating even more highly is that it has clearly been tweaked, and suffers from some edge enhancement as a result. ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ looks wonderfully sharp throughout, but the cost is an artificial cast. Still, this is a four-star transfer, so caveats aside it's likely most fans will be more than pleased.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Paramount Pictures brings for the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ two very well presented 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio and 6.1 DTS-HD Audio experiences. The matrixed-in extra surround channel, combined with more dynamic sound design and surround sound are only sporadically engaged for action, but when they do kick in here, they're quite effective. The most obvious example is the Union Station sequence, which features some really nice use of discrete effects. It is not as continually engaging as a modern action blockbuster, but pans are fairly seamless between rear channels, and there is a nice sense of tonal realism to the sounds. The excellent composed film score by Ennio Morricone is wonderfully heard with the rear speakers we well, and the swelling strings and deep percussive are certainly a highlight of this track. Dynamic range is impressive for a 1987 picture – the explosion that anchors the first act features surprisingly hefty low bass, and similarly the rest of the also frequency range has a more open and spacious quality than most tracks of its era, with clean dialogue and a warm, airy feel to the high-end.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extra:
Special Feature: The Script, The Cast [2004] [1080i / 480i] [1.37:1] [18:32] With this featurette, it includes original interviews with the cast, and it is worth watching just for Kevin Costner's slip of the tongue: “I call myself idiot – sorry, Eliot.” At this point producer Art Linson was perhaps rethinking the decision to cast Kevin Costner in lieu of his first choice, Mel Gibson. Interesting titbits included here are the fact that Robert De Niro was not the actor originally cast in his now-famous role of Al Capone, while Sean Connery surprisingly took some enticing to take the part that eventually won him an Oscar. As an added bonus, we get a short view of an old B/W American Universal Newsreel with Al Capone and it says, “CHICAGO ILL. Gangdoms “big shot” brought to trial! – Crowds block Court House for glimpse of notorious All Capone.” Plus, we get to view a few clips from the 1987 movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ and we also get to view images of behind-the-scenes shooting of the movie. Contributors include: Brian De Palma [Director], Art Linson [Producer], Kevin Costner [Eliot Ness], Charles Martin Smith [Oscar Wallace], Billy Drago [Frank Nitti], Andy Garcia [George Stone] and Sean Connery [Jimmy Malone].
Special Feature: Production Stories [2004] [1080i / 480i] [1.37:1] [17:19] With this featurette, it deals on the lighter aspects of making the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES.’ Brian De Palma recalls that Sean Connery refused to wear the costume designed for him by Giorgio Armani, fearing he might look “ridiculous,” while ribbing Kevin Costner relentlessly about his slightly ill-fitting trilby hat. Other members of the crew also share their experiences of working on the film, like having to switch off all the lights in Chicago's jungle of skyscrapers for authenticity in the background shots. And for your information, that's a lot of lights. Once again, we get to view a few clips from the 1987 movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ and we also get to view images of behind-the-scenes shooting of the movie. Contributors include: Brian De Palma [Director], Stephen Henry Burum, A.S.C. (Director of Photography), Sean Connery [Jimmy Malone], Patrizia von Brandenstein [Visual Consultant], Charles Martin Smith [Oscar Wallace] and Kevin Costner [Eliot Ness].
Special Feature: The Classic [2004] [1080i / 480i] [1.37:1] [5:41] With this featurette, it deals with the urban sprawl is integral to every gangster film, but in Reinventing The Genre, cast and crew reveal how elements of the movie western helped to broaden the scope of the movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES.’ The scenes you get to view at the Canadian border were a very special thrill for Andy Garcia, whose ambition was “to be in a period film and ride a horse” which of course his dream was fulfilled in one single swoop. By the way, you get to hear more from Andy Garcia, Kevin Costner and Sean Connery in the original featurette “The Men.” Once again, we get to view a few clips from the 1987 movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ and we also get to view images of behind-the-scenes shooting of the movie. Contributors include: Brian De Palma [Director], Stephen Henry Burum, A.S.C. (Director of Photography), Charles Martin Smith [Oscar Wallace] and Art Linson [Producer].
Special Feature: Original Featurette: “The Men” [1987] [480i] [1.37:1] [5:26] With this featurette, which is sadly far too short, where get to view a rare documentary about the 1987 movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ and it reflects on the rousing reception that audiences around the world thought of the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ and also throws a spotlight on the legendary composer Ennio Morricone whose film music score was the jewel in its crown. We also get included, interviews with the main cast, and also mainly concentrates on the general story and character development for the film. Plus of course we get to view a few clips from the 1987 movie ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES.’ Contributors include: Kevin Costner [Eliot Ness], Sean Connery [Jimmy Malone], Andy Garcia [George Stone] and Charles Martin Smith [Oscar Wallace].
Special Feature: Theatrical Trailer [1987] [1080p] [1.8:1] [2:44] With this featurette, we get to view the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES.’
Finally, ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ had the critics and the public agree, that Brian De Palma’s film is a must-see movie masterpiece, that is a glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of the mob warlord who ruled Prohibition-era Chicago... and the law enforcer who vowed to bring him down. This classic confrontation between good and evil and also stars Kevin Costner as federal agent Eliot Ness, Robert De Niro as gangland kingpin Al Capone and Sean Connery as Jim Malone, the cop who teaches Eliot Ness how to beat the mob: shoot fast and shoot first. ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ is a lot fun and edge of your seat drama. It's often said real-life lawman and city safety director Eliot Ness, but sadly when he died he was virtually forgotten in 1957, and had no clue his name would be the famous crime fighter. The good guys are really good, and the bad guys are equally evil and we have none of that trendy romanticising of the mob or pretending the criminals are cool rebels. With bigger-than-life actors, brilliant directing, and snappy and witty dialogue by the equally brilliant playwright David Mamet. Put simply, ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ is a great adventure gangster film, with at least a half-dozen tremendous action scenes and a script that delivers one quotable line after another. The film ‘THE UNTOUCHABLES’ is also a near on perfect motion picture, a totally epic indulgence spectacle and exhilaration, especially the brilliant director Brian De Palma, which it is the centre jewel in the director's crowning glory and total swan song of a brilliant edge of your seat crime drama, and probably never likely never to ever surpasses what Brian De Palma has accomplished with this 1987 movie, in telling a larger-than-life tale of Al Capone in a larger-than-life fashion. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
