"Bugsy" by Barry Levinson: a review

Who would ever imagine that life will spring from a dessert like Las Vegas, Nevada? Ben “Bugsy” Siegel did. The movie Bugsy tells about the story of a notorious New York gangster named Ben “Bugsy” Siegel. He was a cold blooded killer who will not let anyone cross against his path. In a trip to Hollywood, Bugsy was so enticed by the glamour of the movies that he wanted to be a part of it too. He indefinitely left New York and found a mistress in the person of a Hollywood starlet named Virginia Hill. This actress was so strong willed and she was able to keep Bugsy by her side while his family waits for him in New York. During a short trip to a gambling joint in the dessert of Las Vegas, Bugsy came up with a huge plan. From the barren dessert of Nevada rose Flamigo Hotel which became the foundation of modern day Las Vegas. However, for Bugsy this hotel also meant his downfall.

Bugsy is a true story 1991 film based on the life of Ben “Bugsy” Siegel. This was starred by Warren Beatty playing the role of Bugsy and Anette Bening who plays the role of Virginia Hill. The film is considered as one of America’s most acclaimed and best made gangster movie. Both Warren Beatty and Anette Bening played compelling roles which made their portrayal one of the most memorable in the film industry. The chemistry of Warren Beatty and Anette Bening on an off the screen is clearly visible in this movie.

Bugsy offers a powerhouse casting which includes Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Bill Graham, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth, and Elliott Gould. This is a masterpiece by no less than the acclaimed director Barry Levinson and screen writer James Toback. Bugsy received an R rating for violence, sensuality, and language.

The Careers of Warren Beatty, Anette Bening, and the rest of the stars of Bugsy including the director and scriptwriter took the spotlight with this highly acclaimed movie. Bugsy received numerous awards from different award winning bodies. In 1991 Barry Levinson was nominated as Best Director by the Director’s Guild of America. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association had nominated both Warren Beatty and Anette Bening for Best Performance by an Actor and an Actress in a motion picture. Warren Beatty won the Best Actor award given by the National Board of Review in 1991. Bugsy won the Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay award given by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. To top it all Bugsy garnered 10 Academy Awards Nomination.

Bugsy was filmed in Las Vegas. Set in 1940’s, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was a true visionary who carved a glamorous and glittery place from the barren Nevada dessert. However, he was a criminal who was involved in drug smuggling and senseless killings. Bugsy exhibits different characters in one person. On the other hand he was also a reckless romantic, a flamboyant gangster, and a star struck pragmatist. He can be an idealist for a moment and turn into a brutal killer in a walk in freezer after a few minutes.

Ben Siegel was reckless and wasn’t able to control the amount of money which goes to the building of Flamingo with coke collectibles in hand. His vision of building the first hotel casino with the hope of enticing ordinary people to gamble and amass great returns was also the source of his downfall. Virginia saved a lot of money which was supposedly for the construction of the hotel. Bugsy was gunned down probably by the same people he worked for. It was estimated that about Las Vegas earned around $100 thousand dollars in revenue during the same year Bugsy, the movie was released. Indeed, Ben “Bugsy” Siegel was a true visionary who envisioned something beyond every ordinary man’s foresight.

Bugsy is an epic movie and an old fashion melodrama. Ben Siegel had a mad vision about Las Vegas. It was a huge vision which also caused his downfall. The actors and actresses of Bugsy on the other hand landed on spotlight. Bugsy made their careers shine. The perfect portrayal of everyone in the movie plus the able direction and script made this a well loved classic film every generation will love to see.