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The Untouchables

The Untouchables

Crime · History · Thriller · 1987

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

Movie details

The Untouchables

“What are you prepared to do?”

1987 Crime · History · Thriller 1h 59m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

Elliot Ness, an ambitious prohibition agent, is determined to take down Al Capone. In order to achieve this goal, he forms a group given the nickname “The Untouchables”.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Untouchables?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Brian De Palma

Written by

David Mamet

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Eliot Ness

Sean Connery

Sean Connery

Jim Malone

Robert De Niro

Robert De Niro

Al Capone

Charles Martin Smith

Charles Martin Smith

Oscar Wallace

Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia

George Stone

Richard Bradford

Richard Bradford

Mike

Jack Kehoe

Jack Kehoe

Payne

Court is in session

Put The Untouchables on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Big-Idea Head

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.