The Untouchables

Eliot Ness is a driven federal agent in 1930s Chicago who sets his sights on bringing down Al Capone's criminal empire. Frustrated by bribed officials and stalled prosecutions, he assembles a small, determined team with complementary skills, from a hardened street cop to a cautious accountant and eager young marksmen. They conduct careful investigations, make risky arrests and exploit legal gaps to gather evidence, while the violence around them intensifies. As operations escalate, Ness has to balance legality with effectiveness, and the film traces how each success raises the personal stakes for him and his colleagues, and it shows the personal costs too.

Directed by Brian De Palma and adapted for the screen by David Mamet, the 1987 film is drawn from Eliot Ness and Oscar Fraley's accounts. Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Robert De Niro headline, with Ennio Morricone supplying the score.

Sean Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jim Malone, offering a highlight of the film's acclaim. That Oscar win helped draw broader attention to the film's performances too.

The film's visuals, especially the infamous stairway shootout with the baby carriage and Morricone's brooding score, have been widely referenced in popular culture. Connery's no-nonsense mentor and the stylized violence helped shape later crime thrillers. Its imagery is still taught in film classes and referenced in later gangster media frequently.

Critics praised performances and De Palma's direction, though some debated the film's heightened style over historical accuracy. Audiences responded well, reflected in a roughly 7.8/10 user rating from thousands of votes. Themes include law versus corruption, personal sacrifice and the cost of justice, and some viewers mention historical liberties, while others enjoy its style today.