the historical novel format in literature be a popular way to tell a fictional story against the background of real event that actually happen . this type of format can be very entertaining in the medium of film also provide that producer and director be honest with the audience and do not deliberately mislead viewer into think they be watch something that resemble real history . the problem of unintentional misrepresentation could have be easily solve in this film if there have be a simple disclaimer statement at the start of the movie to warn viewer they be watch fiction and not history . the untouchable be a very entertaining and skillfully produce film that succeed wonderfully in offer viewer an enjoyable movie and memorable character such a the fictional police officer play by sean connery . but at the same time the film fail miserably to offer the necessary warning that it be only a work of fiction . it be just plain wrong to imply that this film be even loosely base on real event or people . the screenplay by writer david mamet be almost completely fictional . it be not base on the 1957 book with the same title author by elliot ness and oscar fraley or the 1959 tv series star the late robert stack a ness which follow the book a little bit in it first season . this film have no more connection to the original book than the recent steve martin fictional cheaper by the dozen have to the original 1940s book by ernestine gilbreth . the title be the same and that be all . except for use the name of a few people who really live and there be almost nothing in this film that remotely track real historical event that happen in chicago between the formation of a special treasury department task force call the untouchable in january 1930 and the federal trial of alphonse capone in october 1931. as long a viewer understand that it be fiction and most people will find the character enjoyable and the action excite . movie fan can enjoy this film at the level of entertainment alone and not worry about the bad history but for one problem where the first defect also intrude on the acting . most of the character seem real enough and sean connery give a fine performance . but unfortunately the characterization of al capone by robert deniro be that of a cartoon character . here be where the historical dishonesty interferes with the entertainment value of the film because deniro make a ruthless gangster seem almost appeal a a warm and fuzzy colorful character . make no mistake and the real al capone be an amoral monster who order the murder of many people who get in his way and civilian be hurt also . he be not colorful or clever a deniro portray him . the bad slander of the film and it artistic defect a well be a dramatic climax in which elliot ness murder frank nitti for revenge by toss him off the roof of the federal court house in 1931. the real frank nitti die 12 year later in 1943 at the hand of fellow gangster on chicago west side . there be no motive for revenge by ness since there be no sean connery character in real life . writer david mamet grow up in cook county and presumably know local history . so it be hard to see why he choose to so severely distort historical event to provide him with a dramatic crutch for his convoluted plot device . the real elliot ness be a fine law enforcement man who later become chief of police in cleveland and ohio and he never murder anyone in cold blood . many entertaining movie take great liberty with history for the sake of dramatic impact . there be nothing wrong with that by itself just as long a producer be honest about what they be do and the audience member do not walk away from the film think that they now know the true history of an era .