The Untouchables (1987)
Brian De Palma's absolutely stunning take on the old tv show which made a star out of Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, a family man treasury agent given the task of ridding prohibition era Chicago of bootlegging, in particular one Al Capone.
The dialogue courtesy of David Mamet crackles and Ennio Morricone's score is outstanding. Although Costner is the 'hero' of the piece the rest of the cast are probably even more memorable - Andy Garcia's young sharp shooter, Charles Martin Smith's ill fated tax agent, Billy Drago's hitman Frank Nitti, an on edge Robert De Niro as Capone and of course Sean Connery's Oscar winning turn as a veteran beat cop who shows Costner the ropes and teaches him 'the Chicago way'.
De Palma gives the film some outstanding directing flair showcasing some bloody set pieces, most notably the climax at the railway station which says a huge 'hello' to Battleship Potemkin's steps sequence, but you won't care because De Palma will have you gripped with tension as it happens. There is of course a brilliantly sustained tracking shot which gives one sequence a near horror movie feel to it.
I must have seen The Untouchables ten times over the years and it remains just as it's always been - cool as f*ck!
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