The Untouchables
9/12/13

Viewed with three 40s of Mickeys
written directly afterward writing on and viewing "Gangster Squad"


It is a great film, and (last I checked) my best friend's favorite film.  Back in the day I didn't appreciate it like I do now.  It's depressing and uplifting and violent and wonderful.
It doesn't hurt that it's got one of the best soundtracks of all time (basically one kickass song that rivals The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, cause it's the same musician).
It's not The Godfather, which nearly brought my best friend and I to blows.  Maybe that's because it's about the good guys, and I like to root for the bad guys.  In this case I root for De Niro and the good guys.  His underlings are all nasty and without back stories, which serves the mood well.
Going off a bit, as I will do so a lot cause I've had a few, I think Nicholas Cage and Kevin Cosner have a lot in common.  He'll do a shit film and then a good film and then give a shit performance and then one worthy of award.  It's all back and forth.
 There are times when the film's editing fails to live up to the quality of the overall picture, as at times The Godfather's special effects (blood packs, etc.) do.  That being said, the fact that they've been left alone pleases me.  Nothing worse than a Lucas or Spielberg to tamper with something good and make it shit.  I cannot entirely fault Spielberg, however, because when he fucked with E.T. he released both copies, the new and old.  My personal vendetta against Lucas cannot be contained with words and this is not the time, nor the place.  There will be a reckoning.
I think, if he wanted to, Sean Connery could achieve a current acting record somewhat similar to Maggie Smith.  Just think about him in Downton Abbey.  That shit'd be baller as hell and you know it.  Anyway it doesn't matter, he's retired and done with film.  Like M. Night Shyamalan should be.
The film does have what I'll drunkenly term "rewatchability" but only after a significant amount of time.  Somewhat less than The Godfather, although that is quite lengthy if you plan to watch the whole thing in one sitting, though more than, say, Lawless, or some of those films made during the actual period.
I do remember the accountant in the film being one of the father's favorite heroes, most likely due to his own profession as an accountant.  I do feel something for the character and loathe his *MORE THAN 20 YEAR OLD SPOILERS* death.
Maybe I'm drawn more to The Godfather because I relate to the villains more, I don't know.  But I will always love the scene where Connery blows a hole through a dead man's mouth to fuck with another gangster (whom is unaware that the bloke is dead).  That's some shit i'd do while high on some shit.
So i'll advocate the film, for sure, but not for kids under the age of 6 or so.  I think I first saw it when I was 8 but I could be off.  Also I do remember seeing it on television a lot, with the language toned down and some of the (bad~~with posies and roses on top) violence toned down.  If it's on TV and you've got a little kid you should totally watch it with 'em.  I remember when they showed Saving Private Ryan on TV without cutting anything.  After every commercial they were super cereal that kids shouldn't watch that shit.  It fucked with me but in a very good way and I understood the world.
It's important that kids understand the world.  I remember when in kids' cartoons the bad guys still had real guns.  I remember when they were still bad.
Oh, the times they are a changin'.