Mr. Untouchable

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In 1970s New York City, Leroy "Nicky" Barnes and crew ran such a profitable and law-skirting operation that Barnes was dubbed "Mr. Untouchable." For the movie of the same name, Barnes—in the dark, since he's currently in the witness protection program due to a $1 million contract on his head—and his former associates recall their time together.

Big question: Can director Marc Levin's ("Protocols of Zion," "Slam") documentary capture the era without glamorizing the criminals?

Skip it: There are some good stories here, but "Mr. Untouchable" recounts things with a sleep-inducing lack of depth and emotion, and a general disinterest in the inner-workings of Barnes or New York City at the time. You may wish that you, like the women who cut and bagged the drugs, could make $10,000-$15,000 a day, but you won't feel much else.

Catch it: If you want to learn how to put "drug dealer" on your resume. As Joseph "Jazz" Hayden explains, the job can also be termed "sidewalk executive."

Bottom line: The rare opportunity to hear anecdotes straight from the horse's mouth doesn't pay off, as Barnes spends too much time just dully reflecting on the people in a photo album and revealing nothing insightful about the persona he once embraced so vibrantly. What "Mr. Untouchable" seems to be pushing isn't an inside look at the men who ruled a city, but just an excuse to collect "Superfly," "Sexual Healing" and "Let's Stay Together" on a soundtrack.

Bonus: No need to feel bad when a drug lord comes after you because, as one of Barnes' assistants says, "It's not personal, it's just business." That just washes all the fear and pain away!

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