If you're afraid of getting a rotten apple, don't go to the barrel. Get it off the tree.

Rating: 5/10 (14 August 2013)

This was the last film of Brian DePalma's that I really wanted to see. I'm not really much of a fan of his but on the contrary I seem to respect him as a director. That was until I saw The Untouchables, things changed ever so much after the first viewing, at that is the only viewing that I can stomach. Although I will say that this film lead me to do some research of my own on Prohibition, I still feel that that is not what this film is about. On the other hand it wants to be so badly, politically speaking that is. It wants to be a historical/accurate portrayal of the era, at least in the beginning any way, but it diverges off on a path that makes it out to be a typical gangster film. The characters are all disposable to one extent or another, the only two that I actually care for are Capone (Robert DeNiro) and Malone (Sean Connery), the only reason I find them some what attractable is because they have the best lines. Kevin Costner is so full of himself that it is really a joke to watch him on the screen, the other actors are mostly expendable, anyone could have played those respective roles. I lost interest in the film about thirty to forty minutes in, I wanted to like it but I just couldn't. I've come to the conclusion that Brian DePalma couldn't direct his way out of a paper bag, the only film of his that I enjoy is Scarface and that is mostly for the performances. Other than that DePalma is a lousy director and should not be considered an elitist among the top tier American directors. When I review a film I hate to give anything away, therefore all I can say is that if you really want to watch this, be my guest, it's not the worst thing ever but it certainly isn't great. If it was good, all I would say is go see it, but if it is bad I can talk about it at length for the misfortunes and wrong turns that a specific movie can take, this is not really either of those, it isn't great and it isn't terrible, the thing that makes it unbearable, in my eyes anyway, is Brian DePalma, it is as if he is still a student in film school and it truly shows while watching the Untouchables.