SERPICO (Released to Theaters USA 1973)

 

Ben Meyers’ Rating: 4.1|5.0 Starsìììì  Serpico—true, poignant story—relies on solid camerawork and writing to build the film. Prosecuting officials for illegal activity is difficult as this movie illustrates well. This film works for adult audiences and is a worthy watch. No lack of quality here. It earns its watch. Film Poster Courtesy of Google Images Storyline  New York policeman, Frank Serpico, goes undercover to weed out corrupt cops taking 'dirty' money.  Additional Thanks Thank you to Director Sidney Lumet for directing effort. Thank you to Producer Martin Bregman for making the film possible. Cast includes Al Pacino, John Randolph, Jack Kehoe, Biff McGuire, Barbara Eda-Young, Tony Roberts, Allan Rich, and Cornelia Sharpe.   Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?  Yes. Al Pacino is very well chosen for the Serpico role. The movie has an easy-to-follow structure and earns its watch. Video Critique Available Here: Ben Meyers

THE UNTOUCHABLES (Theatrical Release USA 1987)

Ben Meyers’ rating: 2.3|5.0 Starsìì

The Untouchables—a good gangster movie, not a great gangster movie—is a poor casting choice for Kevin Costner. He seems weak and ineffective in nearly every scene while Sean Connery is not fully right for the script. Connery’s sleek, smooth-talking, no-nonsense James Bond manner creates awkwardness for this storyline. The good casting choices are Robert De Niro as Al Capone where he plays a strong part. Unfortunately, this movie does not begin to pick up pace until the end of the movie when Agent Oscar Wallace (played by Charles Martin Smith) is killed. The big shootout toward the end of the movie is well done and probably the best part of the whole movie.

Film Poster Courtesy of Wikipedia

Storyline

Al Capone (Robert De Niro) owns Chicago. Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner) is assigned the formidable job of stopping Capone.

Additional Thanks

Thank you to Director Brian de Palma for directing efforts. Thank you to Producer Art Linson for making the film possible. Additional characters/cast include: Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), Jim Malone (Sean Connery), Agent Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith), Agent George Stone/Giuseppe Petri (Andy Garcia), Police Chief Mike Dorsett (Richard Bradford), Walter Payne (Jack Kehoe), George (Brad Sullivan), and Frank Nitti (Billy Drago).

Buy a ticket? Yes? No? Maybe?

Maybe. It’s difficult to sit through 119 minutes for a single, good climatic scene.

Video Critique Available Here::

Ben Meyers