De Palma's magic

Rating: Null/10 (10 November 2003)

Flipping through the channels I came across a film just starting, and its music alone hooked me as the actor's names passed across the screen. From there I found more and more reasons to keep watching, mucho thanks to film-scoring legend of Ennio Morricone for bringing me into the world of the Untouchables.
De Palma's always been a director who keeps me on my toes. I love one of his movies, hate the next, feel eh' about the next after that. He's daring and different, I'll give him that, but generally his movies don't score to high with me (especially if he overuses split screens).

Untouchables is a more normal/traditional in its look and feel compared to typical De Palma material that's bursting with avant guard artistic style, and a more normal film seems like the right way to go with this material. Of course, when I say `normal/traditional' I'm not saying it's boring Hollywood formula. This is De Palma we're talking about. And yes, he still directs with awe-inspiring flair particularly in the raids sequences. One of the final major sequences in the movie - the hunt for Capone's bookkeeper involves a particularly brilliant shootout on the steps of a subway. The camera work, actors performances, and Morricone's music merge beautifully and seamlessly - everything moves with crystal clarity in narration while never losing a stylish touch.
All the characters may be the typical team you see assembled in similar films; however, the actors' performances rise above the stereotype potential and play their characters with just enough believability that they're something more. I like Kevin Costner as Elliot Ness, the simple wholesome man in the middle of a war he'd rather not be in but has sworn to fight. I really sympathized with him and his family. Sean Connery deserved his Oscar for his portrayal of the streetwise and cunning Jim Malone; the interactions between Ness and Malone carried an interesting wit about them that left me grinning every time the two would exchange words.
Robert De Niro is a delight as the infamous and carefree Al Capone with his over-the-to showboating to the media. Nods to Andy Garcia and Charles Martin-Smith with less to do, but still make the most of their screen time.
I had a lot of fun with the Untouchables, and as of right now it's probably my favorite De Palma film.