The movie is set in the 1930 during the time of Prohibition. A time when liquor is considered illegal and the crime lord then was the famous Al Capone (played here by Robert De Niro). The movie is about Elliot Ness (played by Kevin Costner) tasked to to stop Al Capone's activities and to his eventual arrest. A feat that is easier said than done.
Capone had a reach in all nooks and crannies in government that he corrupted so many that Ness' efforts go unnoticed. This reach prevents Ness from catching Capone's illegal activities. Frustrated, he enlisted the help of Jim Malone (played by Sean Connery) a old beat cop who wasn't swayed by Capone's bribes. A first Malone was wary of Ness' intentions until he finally decides to help him. To finally complete the team, they enlisted other newbies in the likes of George Stone (played by Andy Garcia) and Oscar Wallace (played by Charles Martin Smith). Together they had a number of successes against Al Capone's crew. This new popularity in successful raids took a large financial toll on Al Capone's activities that he wanted the "untouchables" dead.
In their efforts to defeat Al Capone, they found out that in spite of all his illegal activities, it was difficult for Elliot Ness to prosecute him. It was Wallace who recommended to Ness that they can go after Capone through tax evasion. Capone wasn't filing his income taxes yet he lived a luxurious life. All they had to prove was that money from these illegal activities were being funneled to Capone. Then their big break came and they were able to track down and arrest Capone's bookkeeper. The one who can finally turn to Capone as having received all these money so they can finally arrest him.
Remember that Capone had a vast reach in the city, this bookkeeper was killed right at the police station while being transferred with Wallace killed also in the process by Capone's favorite hit man. This prompted Malone to confront the Police chief to finally get the location on Capone's head bookkeeper. The latter was being secretly smuggled out of the city by Capone as he is being targeted by Ness. Before this information was passed on to Ness, Malone was brutally assassinated and was barely hanging on when Ness finally arrived to the scene. Ness then proceeded to the train station with Stone to apprehend the head bookkeeper which they did. The latter then wanted to collaborate with Ness thus Capone was arrested and tried in court.
Capone was still unperturbed even in front of the judge and this worried Ness. He eventually then talked to the judge and told him that judge's name was on the ledger of bribes by Capone. This lead the judge to switch the jury much to the dismay of Capone, who obviously had already paid the jury. Capone got angry with his lawyer who could not prevent the switch eventually pleaded guilty to the court. Thus Capone was found guilty of tax evasion and sentence to eleven years in prison.
The last scene of the movie shows Elliot Ness closing up his office and give's Malone's medallion and key to Stone as a parting gift. A reporter then comes up to him and says the Prohibition might be lifted, allowing the sale of liquor, he was asked what he will do then. Elliot Ness replied "I think I'll have a drink."
The movie has almost no faults as we have big name stars here. We have Robert De Niro, Andy Garcia, Sean Connery and Kevin Costner in key roles what's there to nitpick? The story was rich in content, the dialogues were impeccable, the scenes were nicely executed it's not that I can't I simply wont nit pick this movie with faults. All the other actors fared well and added to the value to the film.
Kevin Costner was great as Elliot Ness here. Naive at first but became a hardliner gradually with the help of Sean Connery who provided the pillar for which Elliot Ness' character held high. Robert De Niro showed his acting prowess as the unforgiving mob leader who doesn't hesitate to kill just to prove a point. His banter with Kevin Costner in the hotel lobby was we thought was the highlight of the two together but clearly it was De Niro who stood out more. Sean Connery and Andy Garcia played their roles well much to our delight.
As trivia, Sean Connery won here as Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jim Malone.
Currently being shown on Netflix, this movie is a timeless classic that we can always watch again and again and still would be as refreshing and interesting like the first time we watched it.
