A Brian DePalma Gangster Tale or "....Another Fine Ness!"

Rating: 8/10 (2 August 2007)

From an unknown and forgotten man, the publication of the novel, THE UNTOUCHABLES by one Mr. Elliot Ness and the collaborator, Oscar Fraley, brought real, 1950's style fame to the then retired G Man. From the novel, to the 2 parter of "The Untouchables"which was a presentation of The Westinghouse DESILU PLAYHOUSE on CBS.(Later released as a feature film titled THE SCARFACE MOB) It was the big success and immediate popularity of the Lead, Robert Stack, that warranted making a series of it on the ABC TV Network. After a measley 5 seasons and only l18 episodes, THE UNTOUCHABLES was given the old ax and went into syndicated re-runs.
Well nigh well 25 years passed and it finally came to pass that that the public would be receptive to a retelling of the Chicago during Prohibition Saga. After all, it should be a natural. The movie going crowd seemed to liker those Gamgster shoot-em-ups, and especially if they involved old 'Snorkey', you know 'Scarface', Big Al, that is. Big Al as in Capone, would be the antagonist.
The film opens up with the Musical Theme being about as different as it could be from the Nelson Riddle theme and incidental music of the series.The film's score by "Spahhetti Western Veteran", Ennio Morricone, is shrill, annoying and highly pitched. It sets the tone of the production.
The violence is highly graphic and even could be called gory. This has been a trademark of Director, Brian DePalma's. Explosiives, gun play and the old fashioned blades are pictured in use and afterward. We of course expect such, due to the nature of the film's subject matter. It sort of borders on "gross" at times. This is not a real criticism of Mr. DePalma's work as the TV Series was none too subtle itself.
The Chicago setting is well used, what with the downtown and neighborhood locale, s put to best use in giving a Prohibition Era Gangster and Great Depression time feel. The wardrobe, costumes and automobiles used serve to amplify the old settings even more. They have actually created a much more beautiful Depression than the the original, but that is the nature of the Technicolor Film process.(It seems that ordinary items in every day settings look much better on the screen, even in home movies.) The cast of Kevin Kostner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith and Andy Garcia make a fine group of Law Men, albeit rather unorthodox ones at that. Robert DiNero seems to have a fine time with his interpretation of Al Capone, with costuming making him appear to be more bulky. He uses his acting abilities to best advantage to project an ego that would do better in living up to the "Big AL" moniker than any height or girth.
From a lot of what has been written about Mr. Ness and his exploits by different people, it would appear that of the characterizations of the boss Treasury Man by Mr. Robert Stack and Mr Kevin Costner, it would appear that Kevin's "Ness" was a tad more like the real guy, who is said to have been somewhat of a publicity hound.
Please allow me to make mention of the part of the crooked Chicago Alderman who tries to bribe Ness on behalf of the Crime Syndicate. It was a brief part, but an important one. It was well done and sort of over the top. The actor in the role was the Late Mr. Del Close, a veteran of Chicago's Second City and was considered to be the High Guru of Improvisational Theatre.
Sometimes we ask ourselves, just what was such a big deal about this Ness and His Boys? After all, these are the characters who our old buddy in the funny papers, Snuffy Smith, refers to as "Revenooers"!