Kevin Costner - Defining America

The Untouchables (1987)

The Story: An ad hoc group of lawmen comes together to bring down gangster Al Capone (Robert De Niro). Like most megalomaniacs, Capone isn't thrilled about it.

The Subtext: As a country, we generally recognize that Prohibition was an awful idea so bootleggers are exempt from our usual disdain for lawbreakers. What's the harm in tossing back a drink after a long day at the sweatshop? But Capone also owned the justice system, and that, we will not tolerate.

The Untouchables, Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, 1987. © Paramount/courtesy of the Everett Collection