Kevin Costner Reinvented the Western Lawman With The Untouchables

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Westerns immediately come to mind when people think of famous movie lawmen. Actors like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood defined the genre, often portraying characters who bent the rules to uphold justice. But Kevin Costner revitalized this archetype in 1987 with his role in The Untouchables.

This movie tells the exciting true story of Elliot Ness’s battle against Al Capone during the Prohibition era, bringing a classic Western-style sense of justice to the gritty streets of Chicago. It’s a thrilling crime film that remains entertaining even after nearly 40 years. Beyond simply recreating history, the film also reimagined the iconic lawman, influencing how Western heroes were portrayed in later films and earning continued praise from fans.

The Untouchables’ Elliot Ness Honors Past Western Lawmen in a Different Era

Many gangster films focus on the criminals themselves, often portraying the police as obstacles. However, The Untouchables is different, presenting the police as heroic figures fighting against overwhelming corruption. Though set in Chicago, the film depicts a city completely overrun by crime, where Al Capone operates without fear of consequences.

Stopping him feels like a classic underdog story, similar to The Magnificent Seven, where a small group faces overwhelming challenges. However, the way this law is enforced adds a new twist.

As a critic, I’ve always found a fascinating parallel between classic Western heroes like Will Kane in High Noon and Eliot Ness, as portrayed by Kevin Costner. Both films showcase a man utterly alone, facing down evil with little to no support from the town he’s sworn to protect. But where Kane feels abandoned, Costner’s Ness reminds me a lot of John Wayne – a figure of unwavering integrity, a man who will absolutely not bend his principles, even if it costs him everything. It’s that refusal to compromise that really defines his heroism.

Ness is a classic hero in the story. Though it doesn’t stick strictly to historical facts like some dramas, the narrative still effectively portrays the courage it took to fight organized crime. Because of this, Elliot Ness became more than just a 20th-century lawman; he shaped the public’s image of Western lawmen, turning them into legendary figures.

The Untouchables Impacted Westerns in a Perfect Way

The story of Elliot Ness and his team of ‘Untouchables’ offers a similar feel to classic Westerns where lawmen faced outlaws. Kevin Costner’s portrayal highlighted a period when police had to fight crime by employing unconventional methods, but ultimately for just causes.

Classic Westerns from the 1990s, like Unforgiven and Silverado, were strongly influenced by films like The Untouchables. However, Tombstone probably benefited the most from the groundwork Kevin Costner laid with his earlier work.

This 1993 film, similar to The Untouchables, tells a dramatized version of a true story about a law enforcement officer. Just as The Untouchables revitalized crime films, this movie brought a fresh perspective to Westerns, feeling like a continuation of that style. Both films present heroic characters in a legendary way, captivating viewers with stories they might not otherwise have discovered.

Kevin Costner’s portrayal of a lawman in The Untouchables was incredibly strong, and his subtle Western-style acting may be a key reason the film remains so popular. Many of today’s great Westerns and characters inspired by the genre clearly draw influence from Costner’s performance in that movie.

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2026-01-20 01:11