Mr. Untouchable (2007) User Reviews

Boring

[billcr12 · 6/10 · 1 April 2012]

Mr. Untouchable tells the story of the Harlem drug kingpin Nicky Barnes who had built up a multi million dollar empire in New York City into the 1970s and because of his nickname which is used in the title, drew the attention of then President Jimmy Carter who was so incensed that he made it a priority of the attorney general to take down the notorious criminal.

Director Marc Levin relies heavily on Mr. Barnes during extensive interviews for most of the documentary, and what should be a riveting tale somehow becomes tedious as the former convict is just not all that interesting. He complains about former associates turning against him and the deal he made to become an informant with d.a. Rudy Guliani to shorten his prison sentence. I was expecting a charismatic, charming, insightful man due to his wide ranging experiences, but instead a crashing bore who belongs in jail.

The Best Example of Ethnic Succession

[gavin6942 · 7/10 · 20 June 2014]

The most powerful black drug kingpin in New York City history, Nicky Barnes came from humble beginnings to make himself and his comrades rich beyond their wildest dreams, ultimately reaching national infamy in 1977 when the New York Times put him on the front cover of their magazine.

In organized crime, there is a theory called ethnic succession that explains how the Italians took over criminal enterprise from the Irish. For decades there was speculation that the black community would take over from the Italians. For the most part, this has failed to materialize, with black gangs being largely unprofessional and unorganized. Nicky Barnes and his organization is the big exception.

Everything I know about Barnes I learned from this documentary, which does a great job of explaining his place in history and how he was targeted by law enforcement. Some interesting points are made. Certainly he deserved to be targeted. But was it a real conspiracy?

Good

[Cosmoeticadotcom · 8/10 · 21 June 2012]

The real star of the film is Barnes, who shines in his interviews: he's menacing but charming, erudite but ruthless. He matter of factly discourses on the 'terminate or be terminated' aspect of the drug trade. Another aspect of this documentary is that it NEVER condescends, with silly anti-drug messages. It allows Barnes to be see, good and bad, and let the viewer decide if he's a hero, a thug, or both. Interestingly, many negative reviews of the film excoriate it for exactly this excellent tack. Brain dead moralism, it seems, never goes out of fashion for some wannabe critics. What these critics never seem to attack is the outrageous waste of taxpayer money that is the infamously failed Drug War. If the stuff were not illegal, guys like Barnes would not exist. It's the illegality, in the face of a high demand, that causes the problem; not to mention the Federal government's own involvement in propping up the drug trade in Third World Countries as an economic force against, first, communism, and, now, Islamofascism. The real thugs are not the Barneses of the world, who were just slick operators in a system they inherited, but the framers of the system that has kept a majority of black and other minority youth from realizing their full potential.

And, the thing is, if one heads into this documentary with no knowledge of the drug trade, and an open mind, one will come away thinking how heinous and narrow-minded the Feds are, because this film relentlessly shows these flaws in the often smug cops who, it's obvious, would much rather have been Barnes than convict him. Any work of art that can do that is achieving something rare. And credit must go to director Levin, cinematographer Henry Adebonojo, and editor Emir Lewis for a terrific piece of cinema that draws one in from the get go and never lets go. Mr. Untouchable may have been a perfect appellation for Barnes and this film about him, but untouchable is not a term to describe this film, for it touches on Barnes and things beyond, like few films in its genre, and with this subject ever have. It is deep, profound, daring, provocative, and, well….great. And if you need any more reason than that to see it, then you don't understand nor care for art.

Great portrayal of a real life story

[TheFilmBabes · 10/10 · 3 March 2008]

This film was very well done. I enjoyed not only the story line, characters and authenticity, but the cinematography was fantastic! If you're looking for a movie experience that will leave you thinking, this is the one.

The real life story of drug lord Nicky Barnes is fascinating and truly an eye opener. It takes a look into the city of New York in the 70's from a criminal view point.

The acting in this film was top notch & very believable. Great work from many "unknowns". I would recommend this film to all types of movie lovers.

Alex, You Let Me Down

[view_and_review · 5/10 · 3 March 2022]

The last time I was this disgusted watching a documentary about a drug dealer was "Cocaine Cowboys 2." "Cocaine Cowboys 2" was about an Oakland, CA drug dealer named Charles Anthony Crosby who touts his prowess as a drug dealer while also singing a hymn to Griselda Blanco. "Mr. Untouchable" is slightly better because it has statements and interviews from a wider array of characters, but it is still largely nothing more than an ode to a drug dealer.

The subject of this documentary was Nicky Barnes, a big time drug dealer in Harlem in the 70's. It is informative, but it was far more of a requiem. I don't care to hear about the "accomplishments" of a drug dealer. There are very few people worse than drug dealers. Only warmongers and CEOs ruin more lives, and in the end Nicky Barnes was a simple snitch. I watched this documentary because it was produced by Alex Gibney who I'm a huge fan of. If Alex Gibney's name wasn't attached to this film then I wouldn't have wasted a nanosecond on it.

Free on Vudu, Pluto TV, and Tubi.

A Saint in a world of Sinners

[Vlad 1 · 10/10 · 6 November 2007]

Sitting at the Cinema Village the other night was a mind-blowing experience.There was more to Leroy "Nicky" Barnes: the man, then Cuba Gooding Jr: the actor could have ever portrayed in "American Gangster". Marc Levin has captured the real deal with "Mr. Untouchable", he paints a picture of the drug-infested landscape of the forgotten Harlem in the 1970's.We are reminded of how Harlem was before the War on Drugs was initiated in the Nixon administration.This was a true story of cops and robbers, dealers and kingpins, junkies and victims.Where bodies were dumped in the 1970's-hipsters now guzzle down Pumpkin Spice Lattes at the newest Harlem Starbucks.There will never be another Nicky Barnes.

Mr. Untouchable

[verajay-20738 · 9/10 · 4 December 2023]

Loved it. I watch over and over! Sad what happened, to Shamecca. She was pretty. I have his biography its a good read. His wife Thelma was pretty too. I heard Frank James passed away. Guy Fisher bought the Apollo Theater once. Guy and Shamecca affair and disloyalty of his Council members caused him to snitch,and bring the organization down. He was friends with Joey Gallo,and the italians. Has two daughters, I wonder what happened to his sister?.Harlem 1970s was rough! Addicts everywhere, robberies,. He met Shamecca at when she was 19,she was going to school for court reporter! A very complex man.