Bugsy Movie Review

Bugsy (1991)

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Written by: James Toback, Dean Jennings (book)
Directed by: Barry Levinson
Starring: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Elliott Gould, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth
Rated: R
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Plot
Bugsy Siegel brought a gambling mecca to the middle of the Nevada desert, but his affair with actress Virginia Hill was his undoing.

Verdict
Part history, part mobster movie, we see how Vegas became what it is today and learn about the man that had the vision and drive. He had more than a few faults, but even the thought of Vegas swindled him out of money, just like the casinos of today.
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Review
This jumps right into it without a lot of context, but it hits a groove a few minutes in. I was concerned with the first few scenes this would be a mess, but it's far from it.

 

Bugsy is a mobster. He can be violent and ruthless, but he likes opulence. He dreams big, not always ensuring the foundation is sound. Early in the movie, he sees a nice house and wants it. His reputation and a considerable bag of cash allow him to obtain it from a less than willing and terrified seller. He wanted it, he made it happen. His belief is that it's only money and he'll get more of it easily.

Beatty is great in the role. He has the screen presence. You believe him when he's able to talk people into his plan and you're surprised when he snaps and succumbs to a violent streak.

Bugsy has a vision of turning the Nevada deserts into a gambler's paradise. Money is no object, but when he's spending other people's money, that only goes on for so long. It's the glitz and glamour before it was a part of Vegas. Plenty of movies present an unformed plan to rip off a casino, but Bugsy had an incomplete plan to start Vegas. While it worked out in the end, and plenty of others copied his bright lights style, Bugsy didn't get to reap all of the rewards.

His big visions and overspending can't coverup the shortcomings in the product on opening night. He gambled big and didn't win. That's a precarious position with his set of contacts and friends. The age old Vegas tale is the very inception of Vegas.

This is a solid movie, but it doesn't have the energy of Casino of the presence of The Godfather, but just mentioning those films lets you know this is worth checking out. It's a solid, though not great film.