You wouldn't count me as a big mob movie fan, and yet I've now seen three of them in six weeks with this project. I'd never seen this movie before and really could have gone on without seeing it. It stars Warren Beatty as the gangster Ben 'don't call me Bugsy!' Seigel. He heads out to California to see if his gang can get a piece of the action only to run into Annette Bening and fall in love. She looks spectacular when he first sees her on a movie set and then never as good again. Another good piece of this movie is Ben Kingsley. The man can flat out act. His piercing earnestness makes him the place to watch in every scene he's in.
Bugsy gets to display his madness by humiliating someone who doublecrosses him. Madness is a tricky concept to act out. The traditional method of 'loud and violent' is pretty standard as a film staple. Beatty doesn't convince me for a second that he's not just reading from a script. Maybe he could have asked Kingsley for tips.
The movie becomes interesting when Bugsy gets an epiphany in the Nevada desert. Gambling is legal there and they could build their own casinos and hotels without competition and have it all be legitimate. If they get in on the ground floor, they could control the whole state. Step one is to build a luxury hotel and he sets out to build 'The Flamingo'. The interesting part of this is to watch this gangster become overwhelmed by the idea of the most beautiful hotel possible. He pours insane amounts of money into getting it just right. He risks everything, including his life for the place.
This movie is Ok but not great. Time is drifitng over it and someday it'll be completely forgotten.
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