This movie needs and deserves more respect

Rating: 9/10 (25 July 2013)

It's sad that such a great movie is ranked near the end of the IMDb Top 250 list and struggles to stay in it (not that IMDb Top 250 makes sense anyway) . I don't think people realize what a small piece of art this movie is and treat it as mere entertainment . Also, when talking about the best 80's movies people often forget about this pearl . Life's unfair.
"The Untouchables " is a gangster movie , yet you shouldn't compare it to "Godfather" , "Godfather 2" , "Once upon a time in America" or "Goodfellas". The reason is simple – it's a different kind of a movie despite it has gangsters in it. The movies I've mentioned more or before more or less tell the same story of hero raising to the top of the criminal world and then falling into hell . "The Untouchables" is more of a  western . It's a story about group of people that couldn't stand the injustice in their city anymore and decided to fight with it by all means necessary. Yes , it's very entertaining , but it has a lot of heart and substance too.
As one of the heroes says everybody knows where evil hides , it's just nobody wants to do anything about it ( out of fear , apathy or corruption) . To fight evil you have to be even more ruthless than the criminals . You have to sometimes do illegal methods (torture , blackmail). You have to get dirty if you want to keep the streets clean . You have to be brave , because it might cost you family or life . That's the whole movie is about . It's all in the story of Elliott Ness . When we first meet him his a honest and idealistic , yet unexperienced and soft rookie when it comes to fighting crime . Through the movie he will become tough , charismatic and confident crime fighter.
I don't agree with opinion that characters are one dimensional . Ness (Kevin Costner) as I've mentioned earlier changes through the movie . Malone (Sean Connery) is a true mentor for our heroes . He's bitter and lonely old man when we meet him . Later , he will become a father figure for the rest of group . He's wise , strong willed , cynical and determined . Stone (Andy Garcia) is a young rebel with a softer side. Oscar (Charles Martin Smith ) works as a good comic relief , yet people forget he's also intelligent and brave. Al Capone ( Robert de Niro) deep down is nothing , but a simple primitive street thug , yet he hides it under his gentleman behavior.
Sean Connery quite probably gives the best performance of his career . The Oscar was deserved . I'm not a fan of Kevin Costner , yet he fits the role of Ness PERFECTLY . Along with "Silverado " it's his best performance . He's character could be very boring since he is so noble and all , but Costner makes him a true human being you can care for. Robert de Niro has a rather small screen time and many complained about that . Still , he plays Capone with obvious irony and that makes his character memorable.
Let's not forget about Billy Drago (Frank Vitti) , Richard Bradford (Mike) , Jack Kehoe (Payne ) and Patricia Clarkson ( Ness wife) . They all give solid support to the main stars of the movie .
The music by Ennio Morricone is BEAUTIFUL ."Four friends " , "The Death theme" , " Al Capone's theme " , " The Strength of the righteous " and "The Untouchables" . Beautiful tracks . I need to get the soundtrack . Along with Basil Poleudoris music for "Robocop" this was the best soundtrack in 1987 . The art direction-set decoration and costumes are wonderful. The movie looks very elegant and takes you right into the prohibition era.
David Mamet created a screenplay with incredibly stylish and memorable dialogues . Along the way there are also some surprising twists and good character development . Brian de Palma has outdone himself with the direction . He gives the audience brilliant shootout scene (obviously inspired by "Pancernik Potiomkin") , great chase scene and assassination scene . I loved the first person perspective in one important scene and the various camera angles through the movie . It's also worth noticing that "The Untouchables" is one of few movies that shows how violence hurts and affects lives of the characters , just like in real life it would. I cry during this movie about 4 times , but I'm not gonna spoil the movie .
Awesome . I give it 9/10.