The Untouchables (1987)

The Untouchables (1987) is a tense, stylish crime drama set in Prohibition-era Chicago. Federal Agent Eliot Ness arrives determined to bring down Al Capone’s bootlegging empire but quickly learns the city’s police and political systems are riddled with corruption. Frustrated by dead ends, Ness assembles a small, hand-picked squad of incorruptible men — including veteran patrolman Jimmy Malone, sharp-shooting rookie George Stone, and accountant-agent Oscar Wallace — to take the fight directly to Capone. Watching the film you’ll experience a mix of suspenseful cat-and-mouse detective work, explosive set-piece confrontations, and moral urgency as honest lawmen clash with a ruthless crime boss who controls much of the city. The story balances procedural determination (investigations, stakeouts, and legal strategy) with urgent, sometimes brutal action sequences that underline the stakes and danger of taking on a mobbed-up machine. Tonally the movie is both gritty and operatic: it evokes the grime and danger of 1920s Chicago while delivering dramatic, larger-than-life performances. Expect moments of high tension and emotional weight as the team bonds and confronts what it costs to stand against corruption. Strong performances anchor the film, bringing gravitas to the personal conflicts behind the public battle for justice. If you watch The Untouchables, you’ll come away with a vivid, fast-moving portrait of law versus crime, a sense of the era’s atmosphere, and the satisfying arc of a small group of principled men risking everything to hold a city to account.

Actors: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro

Director: Brian De Palma

Runtime: 119 min

Genres: Crime, Drama, Thriller

7.8 /10 79 /100 7.8 /10 7.8 /10