THE UNTOUCHABLES (1987) (***1/2)

This film is a gritty crime drama, which pits a good guy against a bad guy. However, in 1920s Chicago the line between good guys and bad guys is quite blurred and the by-the-books Washington agent Elliot Ness (Kevin Costner, JFK) must learn that lesson real quick.

The story is based on the real life tale of Ness and his fight to put notorious gangster Al Capone (Robert DeNiro, RAGING BULL) behind bars. Ness puts together a close team of men, known as the Untouchables, to help him. Jim Malone (Sean Connery, DR. NO) is the veteran beat-cop who knows how business is done in Chi-town. I loved the scene when Malone plays bad cop and gets the mob messenger to confess. Oscar Wallace (Charles Martin Smith, DEEP IMPACT, NEVER CRY WOLF) is a federal accountant, who is brought in to make a tax evasion case against Capone and gets quickly caught up in being a cowboy-like Untouchable. The final member is George Stone (Andy Garcia, GODFATHER III), a rookie cop who hides his Italian ethnicity. I really liked how Ness's character slowly comes to learn about the rough way things are done in Chicago.

Director Brian DePalma (SCARFACE, CARRIE) really brings a style to the film, which shows the tough attitude of the Prohibition area. I like the railway scene for it's tense build, even though the beginning seemed to drag. The "baby carriage on the steps" homage to the classic Russian silent film, BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN, is also great.

As for the performances, Costner gives a middle ground performance for him. Not nearly one of his worst, but not like his work in baseball films. Smith and Garcia give the film the right dose of color, which is what their roles are supposed to be. Smith really makes us care for his nerd on fire bravado. DeNiro is dynamic as Capone, a brutal gangster who finds Ness a real annoyance. However, Connery, who won an Oscar for his performance, gives the best performance of his career. Connery gives Malone wisdom and ingenuity. He's the heart of the film, giving Ness the nose of reality that he needs to succeed.

The only thing I didn't care for was the heavy synth soundtrack, which really shows the films late '80s production date. There's one part where the camera moves into Capone's bedroom, which I laughed at because the music was so awful. It's Oscar nomination came on Ennio Morricone's name alone.

However, overall, the film works equally as a classic "men on a mission" and a "man versus man" drama. I definitely recommend checking it out if you haven't seen it before; it's a great gangster yarn.