 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Untouchables
- Review Date: October 17, 2010
- R
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 1987
Common Sense Media says
Cops vs. the mob in bloody Prohibition-era drama.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this classic top-cop vs. the mob drama has bloody violence and deaths of heroic and sympathetic characters, principally in shootings (including head shots) and shotgun blasts. A bomb explosions kills a child, and another in a baby carriage is nearly caught in a crossfire. There's a messy aftermath of a notorious shock scene in which Al Capone beats a character to death, just offscreen, with a baseball bat. Swearing is heavy ("f--k" and "s--t," etc.). Most characters smoke and drink.
What's the story?
In Prohibition-era Chicago, organized crime prospers under arch-gangster Al Capone (Robert De Niro), who earns millions selling bootleg liquor, extortion and other vices through various lieutenants and underbosses. Proud US Treasury Agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is appointed to specifically tear down the criminal empire, but learns the hard way that Capone has well-paid agents, spies, and informants even in the police. Fortunately Ness befriends Malone (Sean Connery), a streetwise Irish-American officer who mentors the young lawman in street tactics, including putting together a core team of "untouchable," bribe-proof deputies. Cleverly determining that ordinary tax law can lock away Capone -- he's hasn't filed a tax statement, naturally, for his illegal millions -- Ness and the Untouchables clash with the crime lord's deadliest gunmen in the prelude to Capone's trial.
Is it any good?
It's often said real-life lawman and city safety director Eliot Ness, when he died virtually forgotten in 1957, had no clue his name would be famous as a pop-culture crimefighter. It was the inaccurate "nonfiction" bestselling book The Untouchables and a network TV-series adaptation (1959-1963) that inspired this entertaining, super-deluxe, big-scale feature film, which, despite frequent swearing and bloodletting, is very old-school Hollywood in its flavor and morality (and failure to get the facts straight). The good guys are really good, the bad guys are hissably evil -- none of that trendy romanticizing the mob or pretending criminals are cool rebels. Bigger-than-life actors, direction, and snappy dialogue (by playwright David Mamet) make THE UNTOUCHABLES a lot fun despite the corniness and simplifications. It comes on like, well, gangbusters.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the violence in this movie. How realistic is it? How does it affect you after watching it? Does who is commiting the violence make a difference?
The newspapers in the film seem to be friendlier with Al Capone than with Eliot Ness. Are there criminals today who have the media spotlight? What is so appealing about colorful criminal characters, if anything?
Elliot Ness ends up breaking the law himself. Do the means justify the end?
This movie is based on real lives and real events. How have they been changed or dramatized? How can you find out the real story?
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AGE
Overrated prohibition era crime thriller is for adults only.
Love him or hate em, I just really have never been a big fan of Brian De Palma. I know, I know. I just don't know what it is about him. I just don't enjoy his movies. There is just something about them that I can never put in words. The Untouchables, is certainly no exception for me, and even though it is loved by many and even got Sean Connery a Oscar, but I just didn't enjoy it. Although, I'm quiet sure many will. But, this movie is very violent, bloody, profane and is awash with realistic racism for the time and place. Still, the violence really gives us a extremely brief look as to what the mob was like, and gives us plenty of bloody shootouts that aren't appropriate for most teens. Still, if you are into these sort of movies, than fantastic. I just wasn't. That's all there was to it.
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Kid, 12 years old
December 21, 2011
AGE
Good!
This was a very good movie with Kevin Costner and Robert De Niro. The movie contains "the step sequence" which is considered one of the best movie shootouts ever. It is definitely worth seeing.
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Kid, 12 years old
November 5, 2011
AGE
Great movie
This is a really good movie. It is very gory, but I'm sure that most twelve year old boys will say, "That's so AWESOME!" It is a bit iffy because the violence can be disturbing and it's sad when some of the best characters die. The most disturbing part is when Al Capone mutilates a man's head with a baseball bat. The characters are likeable, and when bad guys die, the revenge is bitter-sweet. I would definitely recommend this movie, especially if you have played L.A. Noire, because it is one of the movies the game is based on.
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| Studio: | Paramount Pictures |
| Director: | Brian De Palma |
| Cast: | Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, Sean Connery |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 119 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | June 3, 1987 |
| DVD release date: | October 5, 2004 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
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