‘The Untouchables’ Celebrates its 35th Anniversary With a 4K Release Fit For Al Capone
Originally released on June 3, 1987, the Brian DePalma classic, The Untouchables, celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and still remains an absolute masterpiece featuring an amazing ensemble cast, and an edgy and well-crafted script by David Mamet. Robert De Niro features as iconic gangster Al Capone, while Kevin Costner as law enforcer Eliot Ness and his team of ‘Untouchables’ (Andy Garcia, Charles Martin Smith, and Sean Connery in his Oscar winning role) are unforgettable in this hardcore, larger-than-life depiction of Prohibition-era Chicago.
The 4K remastering is well worth the purchase price, and that’s saying something considering many of these upgrades for films 20 years or older can be hit or miss. A recent 4K release of the Sting seemed as if half of the scenes weren’t remastered at all, and that juxtaposition of clarity and pixilation made for a very disappointing viewing experience. The Untouchables, however, is a pleasure to watch. When a film is upgraded to 4K it should be as if you are watching the film for the first time all over again, and that is certainly what you get here. Not only is the picture beautiful and crisp, but the black levels (something that isn’t always noticed) have such a great contrast, it really makes a lot of the night scenes come to life. DePalma shot a lot of this film at night to capture the grittiness of Mamet’s script, and it felt as if there were details that had previously gone missed in past viewings, that audiences can enjoy this time around.
As you can undoubtedly see (at the top of the article), the cover art steelbook option of the 4K release is absolutely stunning. The cover art is among one of the best designs to come out of this era of 4K anniversary re-releases, and would make a welcome addition to the collection of any serious physical media collector. However, that’s where the bells and whistles end. It was a massive disappointment, that for a 35th anniversary ‘edition’ of the film, there were no new special features, and those features that were included weren’t truly upgraded, either. All of the special features (listed below) were on the basic DVD edition of the film that has been out for decades. Celebrating such an important milestone should garner some new interviews, or at the very least, perhaps a new feature as tribute to the late, great Sean Connery in his Oscar winning role.
Regardless, as most physical media collectors are upgrading their collection, you cannot go wrong with this upgrade (and as an added bonus, the cover design is truly art). Watching the film with new eyes while getting ramped up by the intense bass piano notes of Ennio Morricone’s score, or basking in the beauty of Georgio Armani’s gangster-era costuming should make this 4K release a must have for any fan.
Press Release from Paramount
Directed by Brian De Palma and nominated for four Academy Awards, the acclaimed drama The Untouchables makes its 4K Ultra HD debut on May 31, 2022 from Paramount Home Entertainment.
Originally released on June 3, 1987, The Untouchables celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and remains a must-see masterpiece featuring visionary filmmaking and exceptional performances from an outstanding cast. Robert De Niro as mob warlord Al Capone and Kevin Costner as law enforcer Eliot Ness are unforgettable in a glorious, fierce, larger-than-life depiction of good versus evil on the streets of Prohibition-era Chicago.
Sean Connery won his only Oscar for his portrayal of veteran officer Jimmy Malone in the blockbuster hit that was the fourth highest grossing film of 1987. Written by David Mamet, The Untouchables also boasts a Grammy Award-winning score by the legendary Ennio Morricone and an excellent supporting cast including Patricia Clarkson, Andy Garcia, and Charles Martin Smith.
The Untouchables will be available on 4K Ultra HD and in a 4K Ultra HD 35th Anniversary SteelBook with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and access to a Digital copy of the film. The discs also include over an hour of legacy bonus content in high definition as detailed below:
The Script, The Cast
Production Stories
Re-Inventing the Genre
The Classic
Original Featurette: “The Men”
Theatrical Trailer