Introduction"The Untouchables" is a classic crime drama movie from 1987 directed by Brian De Palma and written by David Mamet. Based on the book of the very same name, the film narrates the real-life story about the efforts of Federal Agent Eliot Ness to reduce the notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone during the Prohibition period of the 1930s.
Plot OverviewThe movie starts in the year 1930 in Chicago, where the sale and usage of alcohol is forbidden. The city is guided by Al Capone (Robert De Niro), an effective and callous gangster who defies the Prohibition Act and continues to run a widespread prohibited alcohol trade. Eliot Ness (Kevin Costner), a young and idealistic Treasury Department federal representative, is assigned with the mission of putting Capone behind bars.
Prevented from the corruption within the police, Ness kinds his own group, "The Untouchables", consisting of Irish-American police officer Jim Malone (Sean Connery), student sharpshooter George Stone (Andy Garcia), and accountant Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith). The four-man task force aims to bring justice by catching Capone and staging a full-blown war against arranged criminal activity in Chicago. Malone influences the group with his street knowledge and raw nerve, becoming Ness's mentor and good friend in the process.
The Climax and ConclusionIn their fight versus Capone's empire, the group has to face numerous betrayals, bloody fights, and tremendous challenges. Following a deadly ambush that kills Wallace and Malone, Ness and Stone effectively intercept a shipment of contraband alcohol on the Canadian border and gather sufficient evidence to prosecute Capone.
The movie culminates in a significant courtroom face-off where Capone's henchman Frank Nitti (Billy Drago) is revealed to have actually bribed the jury. To conserve the case, Ness encourages the judge (a character based on the actual trial judge, William J. Wilkerson) to change the jury with another case's. His method works, and Capone is ultimately tried and sentenced to 11 years in prison for tax evasion.
Main Themes"The Untouchables" is not just an action-packed police procedural but an extensive exploration of morality, justice, and duty. It prominently explores themes of corruption, defiance against societal norms, loyalty, and the personal toll of maintaining the law. While Ness is at first portrayed as an upright, uncorrupted character, the war versus Capone's empire forces him to cross ethical lines, becoming as callous as the criminal he seeks to bring down.
Critical ReceptionUpon its release, "The Untouchables" garnered prevalent crucial acclaim. Connery's performance as Jim Malone was specifically applauded, which made him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Its cinematography, music, action series, and the efficiencies of the other main leads were extremely admired. Over the years, "The Untouchables" has cemented its position as a classic in the gangster film category, its influence undeniable in the wave of criminal activity movies that followed.
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