david-alkhed Before I review Barry Levinson's 1991 film Bugsy, I must stress that I have a soft spot for gangster movies, or anything gangster related really. Some of my favorite movies are Goodfellas, The Godfather 1 and 2, and I also really like The Untouchables, the original Scarface, Road to Perdition and Once Upon a Time in America. I also really like HBO's Boardwalk Empire. So I am kind of a sucker for gangster movies so I was really looking forward to watching this movie, and I was not disappointed.First of all, I want to talk about the performances. Warren Beatty was perfect to play Bugsy. He manages to make a character who could have been portrayed too comical or too unlikable, but Beatty manages to blend the two perfectly in a way that feels natural and like a real flawed person. Harvey Keitel and Ben Kingsley are both really good as Mickey Cohen and Meyer Lansky respectively, however, the real standout for me besides Beatty is Annette Bening. She was terrific in this film. She looked like she was from that period, and she gave a terrific performance as a feisty and strong and independent woman who doesn't take crap from Bugsy, and that's really nice to see. The fact that she wasn't nominated for an Academy Award is a crime!Then secondly, I want to talk about the period, a very important element to the film. What I think Levinson and James Toback, the writer, managed to do was to perfectly blend in the period into the plot, without it being a distraction. It feels so natural, because it isn't called out for attention.And thirdly, I want to talk about the filmmaking. This is a very well-directed and very well shot film, it was shot by Allen Daviau who was Oscar-nominated for his work on this film. But the really impressive part was the art direction and costumes, both of which won two very well-deserved Oscars. Like I talked about with the period, the costumes and locations feel and look like they are from that period and I think it works really well.Overall, a really good film with great performances, a great use of the period and terrific filmmaking. I get the feeling that I will like the film more even the second time around.My final score, 8/10

cheekyfilm I happened across this movie somehow and wondered why I had never heard of it. After watching I understand more than I want to.In the age of Martin Scorsese you have Warren Beatty hamming it up like it's still the 1930s and subject matter about as gritty as baby powder. They changed Bugsy from a monster (real life) to a weirdo with a temper (hollywood). It lacks most things you'd associate with a gangster film and instead focuses on Siegel's romantic life and his dreams of building a gangster's paradise in the Nevada desert. Ben Kingsley gives what has to be the worst performance in his career as Meyer Lansky. Most of the actors here seem puzzled about their character's motivations, so their performances come off as one-note (Annette Benning either being annoyed, happy or screaming in every scene) but Kingsley just puts on a goofy accent and phones it in.Overall it's very boring. By the end I was cheering when Bugsy was killed, not because he was a bad guy, but because something was finally happening on screen

stonecoldmark I originally saw "Bugsy" in the theater, and I think I might have watched it once or twice since then. Tonight I sat down, brushed the dust off the DVD and sat down to re-visit a personal favorite of mine.I was happy to see that even after almost 20 years the film still holds up. Everything about the movie still pleases me. The passion to see his project come to life is so exciting to watch. The hardest thing to understand that it's already been 20 years since this was released.I would like to see a 20th Anniversary Blu-Ray come out in 2011, but (at least) according to Amazon there is nothing of the sort listed on the site.Oh well, the standard DVD still looks pretty good, and the extended cut gives some more emotion in the character of Bugsy. Currently I am watching the extras which I seldom do, but I do like hearing more about how this modern classic came to be. The intimate setting of the writer, director and star talking about the film is a nice touch vs. that crap they do on-set while the movie is being made. At least this was done several years later when they had time to reflect. Very pleased I pick this out of my collection and watched it again.-Mark

edwagreen This film certainly was far better than the quirky "Silence of the Lambs," and should have won the coveted Oscar for best film of 1991.Warren Beatty was never better. It was as if he were further allowed to explode from his Clyde Barrow of "Bonnie and Clyde" fame. What marvelous chemistry between him and Annette Bening as Virginia Hill. The two play off each other so well in their love-hate relationship.Bening is an object throwing person whose greed ultimately caused Siegel's downfall. Beatty, as Benny Siegel, is in top form. In some of the scenes, I am reminded of James Cagney's performance in "Love Me or Leave Me." He can be a romantic lover, devoted father, and murderer with batting an eye, all at the same time.Both Harvey Keitel (Mickey Cohen) and Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky received best supporting actor nominations.