One-hundred-plus years of filmmaking provides a long, rich, and deep history to look back on. Retro reviews and analysis of old films are practically necessary full-time specialties. Month after month, films release, vying to make as much money as possible. Some rise, some fall, but regardless of financial success, it’s never a sign of a lasting effect. A great example is the little-mentioned 2012 film released just eight years ago. 2012 made nearly 800 million dollars and effectively vanished off the face of the earth.
So, where does that leave past box office champs? Let’s take a look back ten, twenty, and thirty years ago at the biggest movies released in June.
1. The Untouchables
The Star
Officially, Kevin Costner is the headliner here, but The Untouchables is a star-studded affair. Sean Connery, Andy Garcia, and Robert DeNiro are all key players in this crime film. Connery was already a big name, as was DeNiro, while Costner was entering a streak of hits that arguably ended with Waterworld.
The Film
The Untouchables was a crime drama based on the life of Elliot Ness and his crusade to take down notorious Chicago mobster Al Capone. At the helm of the project was storied director Brian DePalma who was in top form. The mix of star-power, director, and acclaimed writer David Mamet produced a masterpiece of the genre.
The Untouchables was a throwback, old-school gangster film. But DePalma melded the classic vibe with slick visuals from a master of the craft. Mamet’s script was more than just a violent, action film. There is a dense, well-paced narrative that Sean Connery turned into a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, even while his Irish accent is borderline comical.
