(1991)
3.5
Mike DiBella
Barry Levinson's biopic dazzles with glitter but lacks gold. The film deals primarily with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel's obsessive quest to turn a Nevada desert wasteland into the American gambling mecca of Las Vegas. While this is an engaging enough subject, no attention is paid to Bugsy's New York background and rise through the gangland ranks, making his character interesting but ultimately one-dimensional. Within the film's narrow scope, compelling plot lines are drawn, including Bugsy's torrid romance with femme-fatale Hollywood starlet Virginia Hill (Annette Bening). However, the film drags on for over two hours, making the resolution more welcome than scintillating. The grit and darkness of the Godfather-style gangster flick is absent, replaced by Hollywood gloss. However, the direction is fairly plush and the gangster American Dream theme is fleshed out poignantly. Moreover, Warren Beatty gives an inspired performance in the title role and Harvey Keitel as Mickey Cohen and Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky give solid supporting performances. The end result is an entertaining film that works, but unfortunately its epic length is not matched by epic quality.
awards for Bugsy on AllMovie
Bugsy (1991)
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
|
Nominated |
Best Actor
|
1991 |
|
Won |
Best Art Direction
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Cinematography
|
1991 |
|
Won |
Best Costume Design
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Director
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Original Screenplay
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Picture
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Score
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Supporting Actor
|
1991 |
American Society of Cinematographers
|
Won |
Best Cinematography
|
1991 |
Berlin International Film Festival
|
Nominated |
In Competition
|
1992 |
Directors Guild of America
|
Nominated |
Best Director
|
1991 |
Hollywood Foreign Press Association
|
Nominated |
Best Director
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
|
1991 |
|
Won |
Best Picture - Drama
|
1991 |
Los Angeles Film Critics Association
|
Won |
Best Director
|
1990 |
|
Won |
Best Picture
|
1990 |
|
Won |
Best Screenplay
|
1990 |
National Board of Review
|
Won |
Best Actor
|
1991 |
|
Nominated |
Best Picture
|
1991 |
