I remember watching this movie thousands over times over the
1980’s to the 1990’s and even really surprised they didn’t spin it off into a
comic book or…a sequel. But I guess that doesn’t seem to be Brian DePalma’s
way. Even with successful movies, he tends to stop cold in his tracks, ready to
re-invent…or steal from Hitchcock again.
This is his LEAST Hitchcockian borrow. That would be to
say…none. The story is of prohibition in Chicago. A new Treasury Department guy
named Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is assigned to put a stop to bootlegging…since
Uncle Sam doesn’t get anything from it. Ness is way in over his head having to
deal with the mobsters AND a corrupt justice system. So he enlists the help of
a ragtag bunch of men, starting with Malone (Sean Connery) an aging Irish beat
cop. They get Stone (Andy Garcia) as a new recruit in the police academy and
recruit Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith) an accountant…well, because they
just needed someone they could trust. That’s it. Four people to take on the
biggest mobster in history.
Yes, this is made to comic book proportions. The gun battle
scenes are bloody as hell. And as a kid watching that type of violence, I could
tell you…it really screwed with my mind for sure. It’s a brutally beautiful
movie (lensed by Stephen H. Burum). The detail to the sets of decadence is a
study in thrift, considering they were left pretty much alone. Armani did the
wardrobe for crissakes.
Well, saving the best for last, the wildly hot-tempered Al
Capone is played by Robert DeNiro. It’s hard to believe this is the same guy in
all these schlocky comedies now. He really must have bills to pay (ala Robin
Williams). He attacks Capone with the joy of a shiek. Everyone waits on him.
Blustery and charming, even with a growling Chicago accent, he still shoehorns
himself into rich society. Why not?...he’s supplying the booze.
Written by David Mamet, the dialogue snaps. While corny,
somehow it fits perfectly for this type of movie. It’s large and operatic,
which explains the Ennio Morricone themes. They are hard charging and old
school symphonic blast. The melodies are catchy (which if you’ve watched ANY
action trailer from the 80’s, it was either this score or “Aliens” that was
overused). I don’t think anyone could pick out the cadence of a Mamet-ized
dialogue in this movie, just just the tough guy talk is pretty bad-ass.
Kevin Costner looks amazing for the role. But, to be honest,
sounds like an idiot. Something in his voice is still too modern. And when he
forces that era speak, it’s hard to take. Similar to Keanu Reeves in “Point
Break” when he tells people that he is an FBI agent. You can feel Costner isn’t
completely buying the lines. Most likely as Mamet dialogue is hard to get
right. But he looks right for the humorless Ness. Sean Connery, well, he’s the
meatiest of the meatiest roles. He gets to dispense with the humor and the
wisdom. And he is a tough cookie. We know very little about his personal life,
only that he’s sick of crime in the city. And he’s an honorable man. He stands
up to his own department against the law, even though…you can tell he doesn’t believe
it.
It’s still a fantastic movie to watch. Holds up well,
because of the performances. The harsh realities of life, and it gives you a
tiny glimpse of history, of when drinking was illegal (there ya’ go potheads).
btw...they originally considered Bob Hoskins to play Al Capone.
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