Matrixston Wow! Such a good movie.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Leoni Haney Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

sme_no_densetsu "Bugsy" was a major player at the Academy Awards in 1992, with 10 nominations in a variety of categories, including Best Picture. The biopic of noted gangster Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel featured recent Oscar winner Barry Levinson in the director's chair and certified star Warren Beatty in the title role. Focusing mainly on Siegel's relationship with Virginia Hill (Annette Bening) and his role in Las Vegas's rise to prominence, the movie was a success at the box office.The cast is impressive, with Beatty being joined by Ben Kingsley, Harvey Keitel & Elliott Gould in key roles. Annette Bening had just earned her first Oscar nomination and she proved quite capable of holding her own with Beatty. Their chemistry obviously extended beyond the set, since they were married a couple of months after the film's release. Beatty, Kingsley & Keitel all earned Oscar nominations but, to be honest, I didn't find any of their performances particularly outstanding, especially in comparison to their most memorable roles.The film's two Oscar wins were for art direction-set decoration and costume design, which serves to illustrate the movie's attention to period-specific detail. The direction, cinematography & score (by Ennio Morricone) were also nominated, showing the movie to be well crafted in all technical areas.James Toback's screenplay was also recognized with an Oscar nomination. It contains many elements common to gangster movies but takes a different approach by focusing on Siegel's relationship with Hill and his vision of Las Vegas as a mecca for gambling. There may not be enough emphasis on organized crime to satisfy fans of the gangster movie genre but the movie does paint an interesting portrait of Siegel as both a man of action and a dreamer.Ultimately, "Bugsy" has some good points but I think that hindsight has shown that maybe it wasn't quite as commendable as its star power suggested at the time. Chiefly, I find the acting and story to be a bit bland, though your mileage may vary. (Note that I haven't seen the extended edition but I doubt that making the movie longer would improve my opinion of it.)

ma-cortes This is an exciting tale of how Bugsy Siegel started Las Vegas . As New York gangster Ben 'Bugsy' Siegel takes a brief business trip to Los Angeles. A violent and tough Siegel (Warren Beatty) doesn't hesitate to kill or maim anyone crossing him . Bugsy meets George Raft (Joe Mantegna) while is making a film (it is ¨Manpower¨ which co-starred Edward G. Robinson) and the scene being shot where George gets into a bar fight and hands a broken chair to an actress really does appear in the actual movie . In L.A. the life , the motion pictures , and most of all a second-range actress named Virginia Hill (Annette Bening) detain him while his wife (Wendy Phillips) wait back home . Then a journey to a run-down gambling joint at a spot in the desert gives him his big idea , the Hotel Flamingo construction .Enjoyable film based on the famous mobster that contains drama , real events , thrills and lots of violence . The picture relies heavily on the relationship between Bugsy and his lover Virginia Hill , and about the luxurious Hotel Flamingo building in Las Vegas . Nice acting from protagonist duo as Warren Beatty playing the sharp-dressing womaniser with a foul temper and Annete Bening as the strong-willed actress . After working on this film, Warren Beatty and Annette Bening were married . They'd met several years before when she auditioned for another Beatty production ; they met again when she was seriously considered for the role of Tess Trueheart in Dick Tracy . This is one of three movies released in 1991 that featured Bugsy Siegel as a character , the other two were ¨The Marrying Man¨ and ¨Mobsters¨ . Good production design by Dennis Gassner , most of the Las Vegas scenes of the Flamingo construction were filmed near Palm Desert and La Quinta, California, where a full-sized replica of the Flamingo was built . Emotive and sensitive musical score by the great Ennio Morricone . Colorful and evocative cinematography by Allen Daviau . The picture was professionally directed by Barry Levinson .The flick was well based on real deeds , these are the followings : During adolescence, Siegel befriended Meyer Lansky (Ben Kingsley) , who was forming a small crew whose criminal activities expanded to include gambling and car theft . In 1930, Lansky and Siegel built close ties to Charles "Lucky" Luciano and Frank Costello (Caridi), both future bosses of the Genovese (Carrara) crime family. Bootlegger Siegel was also associated with Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia. Siegel was also heavily involved in bootlegging operations in various cities . During the so-called Castellammarese War in 1930-1931, they fought the gang of Sal Maranzano ; Siegel reputedly had a hand in Maranzano's murder and later in the formation of Murder , Inc . Lansky and Siegel assisted with Luciano's (Bill Graham) brief alliance with Dutch Schultz and killed rival loan sharks Amberg . In 1937, the East Coast mob sent Siegel to California to develop syndicate gambling rackets with Los Angeles mobster Jack Dragna (Richard C Sarafian) . Once in L.A. , Siegel recruited gang boss Mickey Cohen (Harvey Keitel) as his lieutenant. Siegel used syndicate money to set up a national wire service to help the East Coast mob quicken their returns . With the aid of actor friend George Raft (Joe Mantegna) , Siegel gained entry into Hollywood's inner circle . Siegel soon started an affair with Virginia Hill . The Alabama-born Hill lived in a mansion in Beverly Hills that she rented from Metropolitan Opera baritone Lawrence Tibbett . Siegel, Whitey Krakow, and two other gang members killed Harry "Big Greenie" Greenberg (Elliot Gould) . Greenberg had become a police informant, and Louis "Lepke" Buchalter, boss of Murder, Inc., ordered his killing. Siegel was arrested and tried for the Greenberg murder. Whitey Krakower was killed before he could face trial. Siegel was acquitted on the Greenberg murder, but his reputation was in ruins.

namashi_1 Barry Levinson's 'Bugsy' is an ambitious, gripping & violent tale on late mobster Bugsy Siegel. Levinson's terrific direction, is complimented by Warren Beatty's fantastic Performance as the late mobster, along-with a Water-Tight screenplay & Striking Cinematography.Warren Beatty stars as 'Bugsy', the late mobster, who quite frankly gave birth to Casino's. This Crime-Drama also explores his love-life, along-with Hollywood Starlet Virginia Hill.James Toback researched Screenplay is Water-Tight and packs in several memorable sequences. Even the dialogue, at times, are wonderful. Levinson's direction like always, is Awe-Inspiring Terrific. Allen Daviau's Cinematography is Striking. Art Direction & Costume Design, are pitch-perfect and worthy Oscar-Winners.Performance-Wise: As mentioned before, Warren Beatty's Performance as Bugsy, is fantastic. The Legendary star becomes Bugsy and talks like him from the very first scene. Annette Bening as Virginia Hill, is convincing, as always. Sir Ben Kingsley plays his part with restrain, while Harvey Keitel is bombastic. Joe Mantegna is effective. Bill Graham does well.On the whole, A Must See Crime-Drama!

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.