In the 1980s, filmmaker Brian De Palma gave us Scarface, Body Double, and Blow Out – three films that feel so of their era, that they have aged accordingly. But in ‘87, he also dropped the epic crime saga The Untouchables, a film that feels timeless due to its perfectly realised period setting.
Set during the Prohibition era, the film follows Federal Agent Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) as he assembles a hand-picked team to help him bring down ruthless crime boss Al Capone (Robert De Niro) once and for all.
With a magnificent script from David Mamet and a magnificent all-star cast including Sean Connery, Andy Garcia and Patricia Clarkson alongside Costner and De Niro, the film oozes quality – aided by De Palma’s stellar direction.
The 4K UHD disc from Paramount is exceptional, breathing new life into the film after 2007’s underwhelming Blu-ray release. The clarity is flawless, with the film’s beautiful grain structure treated with love unlike the aforementioned Blu-ray that scrubbed most of it away to nothing. Dolby Vision boosts the colours beautifully without feeling intense, maintaining the film’s period-appropriate bleakness. A new Dolby Atmos track is explosively impactful and pulls you right into the streets of 1930s Chicago.
The Untouchables remains a classic of the gangster/crime genre, and this new 4K disc presents the definitive way to experience the film.