Join us at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 4th for a screening of “The Untouchables,” director Brian De Palma’s gripping Prohibition-era crime drama about a team of incorruptible lawmen waging an all-out war against Chicago’s most infamous mob boss.
After building an empire with bootleg alcohol, legendary crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro) rules Chicago with an iron fist. Though Prohibition agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) attempts to take Capone down, even his best efforts fail due to widespread corruption within the Windy City’s police force. Recruiting an elite group of lawmen who won’t be swayed by bribes or fear, including Irish-American cop Jimmy Malone (Sean Connery), Ness renews his determination to bring Capone to justice.
An enduring classic, “The Untouchables” captures the gritty, high-stakes atmosphere of 1930s Chicago. Scripted by Pulitzer Prize winner David Mamet, “The Untouchables” is a masterwork of stylish tension, unforgettable dialogue, and legendary cinematic set pieces, anchored by an iconic, Oscar-winning performance by Sean Connery and Ennio Morricone’s soaring score.
“While overtly melodramatic, The Untouchables is a perceptive and hard-driven actioner. It’s an intriguing character confrontation, loaded with ironies, both personal and social — on one side, the flamboyantly powerful gangster whose booze smuggling made him a popular hero amid a Prohibition-weary public; on the other side, a faceless outsider whose straitlaced, insistent dedication threatened to overturn the town’s well-oiled troughs.
As Eliot Ness, Kevin Costner plays it tight to the vest. Those who recall Robert Stack’s superbly confident portrayal and hail-hearty voice in the TV series may be initially turned off by this interpretation. But to Costner’s considerable credit, he defers to the staid traits of character throughout; ultimately, it is these small, relentlessly Sunday School qualities that make his ultimate victory against the seemingly invincible Capone believable — the tortoise vs. the hare…
Director Brian De Palma brings The Untouchables in tight and true, in the spirit of Ness himself. Unlike Scarface, no one is likely to claim that this film’s considerable violence is gratuitous.
Technical credits, like the supporting character portrayals, are well realized and particular. Marilyn Vance’s costumes, from the luridly vivid gangster regalia to Ness’ Sears-style graywear, are starkly expressive. Meticulous details, contrasting further the character consistencies, are evident throughout in the production design — credit visual consultant Patrizia von Brandenstein for the expressive period nuances. Ennio Morricone’s astringent score, featuring a harsh and lyrical trumpet blend, is wonderfully piercing, the perfect sounds for this well-contrasted film.”— Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter
Tickets are $6 and available at the link above. UM students use code UMSTUDENT at checkout for free admission. Cane cards must be shown at the door.
