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Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Elliott Gould ... see more see more... , Joe Mantegna , Bebe Neuwirth , Wendy Phillips , Richard C. Sarafian , Lewis Van Bergen , Bill Graham , Andy Romano , Robert Beltran , Gian-Carlo Scandiuzzi , Stefanie Mason , Kimberly McCullough , James Toback , Jamie Angell , Lloyd Baskin , Albina Boccicchio , Don Calfa , Carmine Caridi , Don Carrara , Eric Christmas , Cathleen Crone , Kal David , Debrah Farentino , Peter Giuliano , Robert Glaudini , David H. Hebble , Paul Austin Kelly , Michael Kenner , Fred Lehto , Traci Lind , Steven D. Maines , Wendie Malick , DeVera Marcus , Gary McGurk , Gerard Joseph McKenna , Ray McKinnon , Hal Melia , Bruce Morrow , John Moskoff , Ksenia Prohaska , Paul Roache , Joseph Spallina Roman , Clive Rosengren , Susan Rumor , Anthony Russell , Bryan Travis Smith , Michael Sollenberger , Ralph Tabakin , Tommy Townsend , James Zahnd , Julie Christensen , Ellen Chenoweth , Joe Baker

Bugsy is a character study of mobster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel wrapped up in a gangster movie. Siegel (Warren Beatty in a flashy performance) arrives in California in the Forties, assigned to oversee t... read more read more...he L.A. rackets. He is quickly seduced by both the glamour of Hollywood and actress Virginia Hill (Annette Bening), whom he romances despite being unable to leave his wife and children. Siegel soon has a vision to transform a barren stretch of Nevada desert into an oasis of gambling and entertainment -- the seeds from which Las Vegas was sown. Funded by his gangster bosses, including Meyer Lansky (Ben Kingsley), the flamboyant Siegel sees his budget soar past its original $6 million, a problem compounded by the fact that Virginia has embezzled $2 million of it. In trouble with his superiors, Siegel flies back to L.A. to face the music, telling Virginia to keep the money. He would not live to see his dream of Las Vegas come true. The film is fast-paced and well-directed by Barry Levinson, with an intelligent script by James Toback and excellent support from Kingsley and Harvey Keitel as gangster Mickey Cohen. ~ Don Kaye, Rovi

Flixster Users

63% liked it

9,319 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

34 critics

R, 2 hr. 16 min.

Directed by: Barry Levinson

Release Date: December 13, 1991

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DVD Release Date: December 15, 1998

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Stats: 386 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (386)

  • allan913
    December 19, 2011
    allan913
    A true American classic. A masterpiece, plain and simple. One of the most entertaining and exhilerating gangster films ever made. A bold, stylish and remarkable portrait of a criminal. Director, Barry Levinson crafts an astonshing piece of work that will be remembered for years. ... read moreIt`s slick, thrilling, funny and wildly entertaining. A spectacular movie. A tremendouse all-star cast. Warren Betty is absolutely incrediable, he gives one of the greatest performances of his career, he gives a harsh, violent, charming and senational prtrayel. Annette Bening is wonderful. Bening and Betty set the screen ablaze with their thrilling chemistry. Ben Kingsley is brilliant. Harvey Keitel is excellent. Joe Mantegna is terrific.
  • jjnxn
    June 24, 2010
    jjnxn
    Stylistically impressive but overlong portrait of the famous gangster. The supporting roles are filled with great actors doing fine work but the film rests on Beatty's performance and for the most part he delivers. As most biopics do this one plays with the facts but still tells ... read morean interesting story that's well directed it just could have used a little pruning.
  • flixsterman
    January 13, 2009
    flixsterman
    Warren Beatty as a vain egotistical, self-centered, womanizer? Hmmmm...
  • DrZeek
    January 11, 2008
    DrZeek
    Cab Driver: That's Bugsy Siegel's house.
    Harry Greenberg: He doesn't like that name.
    Cab Driver: Everybody calls him that.
    Harry Greenberg: Not to his face, they don't.

    A great mob story about the Gangster who created Vegas, made in a style that romanticizes this cold-blooded k... read moreiller.

    Warren Beatty is very good as this charismatic gangster. Although Siegel was a murderer with a short temper, he is also shown to be a dreamer and a generally nice person, who falls in love with west coast living.

    The movie involves this mob boss coming to California, where he immediately loves the life there, moves into a big mansion, and tries to make it into show business. Siegel eventually gets involves with the two loves of his life, a movie starlet, Virginia Hill played by Annette Bening, and the idea of building a giant, legitimate casino resort setting in the desert city Las Vegas.

    Siegel eventually trade's in his marriage for Hill and uses more money than the mob would have possibly wanted on his big casino plan.

    During this time we learn of Siegel's ways, I say Siegel and not Bugsy because he would kill anyone who called him that name. We learn of Siegel's desire for great vanity, which includes fixing his hair, his strive for good grammar, and the fixation he has on why the newspapers portray him so harshly.

    The film also boasts an impressive supporting cast including Ben Kingsley as fellow mob boss Meyer Lansky, Harvey Keitel, Joe Mantegna, and Elliot Gould in one of his best and saddest roles.

    Director Barry Levinson does a great job handling this film, keeping the tone mostly light-hearted, despite some of Siegel's violent rages. It also looks great thanks to the art direction and costume design. And there's a very good score by Ennio Morricone, which is very fitting.

    While the story ends in a tragic way from a certain point of view, it still has many humorous moments, and is very entertaining throughout.

    The movie has a great supporting cast as well, providing what is needed. It is very stylish and gives a good perspective of how things were/could have been.

    Virginia: Do you always talk this much before you do it?
    "Bugsy" Siegel: I only talk this much before I kill someone.
    [they kiss]
  • YLOWBSTARDreturns
    March 4, 2007
    YLOWBSTARDreturns
    One of the most underrated gangster films. Warren Beatty is superb in the film's title role.
  • mjgildea
    November 20, 2006
    mjgildea
    A great mobster movie/biopic.
  • Dannyrovira
    November 11, 2010
    Dannyrovira
    Warren Beatty gives the finest and most forceful performance of his career as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, the legendary psychotic playboy gangster who help build Las Vegas. He was a brilliant visionary who carved Las Vegas out of the dry Nevada desert, and built the fabled Flamingo ... read morehotel, and later the gambling mecca. Bugsy is the quintessential homicidal sociopath, a man who as charming, manipulative and successful as he is delusional and very dangerous. It will be his over-powering narcissism that ultimately will bring him down, and seal his fate. He has a tempestuous love-hate relationship with Hollywood actress Virginia Hill, who been around the block more than once, she is beautifully played by Beatty's real-life wife Annette Benning. Their scenes together have a real sizzling chemistry. Magnificent direction by Barry Levinson with stunning supporting performances by Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley, Elliott Gould, Joe Mantegna, Bebe Neuwirth and Wendy Phillips. Amazing cinematography by Allen Daviau and a solid score by Ennio Morricone. Brilliant production design by Dennis Gassner. A gangster epic that is absorbing, gritty and totally engrossing. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor. Highly Recommended.
  • fb20312798
    July 30, 2009
    fb20312798
    While the film is certainly well made with lots of good supporting performances, I think I enjoyed it for a different reason than intended. I've never been a big fan of Warren Beatty as an actor or as a person (he just comes off as a huge dick), but this role is perfect for him. ... read moreIt is almost as if we are watching a biography of Beatty if he were a gangster. He's a selfish crazy womanizer in the film, not much of a stretch but there was this odd enjoyment I go out of it for that reason. The film is also interesting because it serves to basically bridge the gap between the epic Godfather films and the more modern and gritty Goodfellas that was made after this film and it fits nicely between the two approaches to the genre.
  • broadwaymo
    June 15, 2008
    broadwaymo
    I recently ran across Barry Levinson's, Bugsy, and thought I'd check it out due to my curiosity regarding the history behind the origins of the Las Vegas Strip. I can not attest to the authenticity of the story, but I will say that the costumes, sets and props seemed correct for ... read morethe post-WWII 1940's era. Both Warren Beatty, in the title role, and Annette Bening as Bugsy's mistress, Virginia Hill, played their parts well, even though I did find their constant bickering to be a bit tedious. Harvey Keitel, Ben Kingsley and Joe Mantegna provide solid support.
  • cacutshaw
    April 8, 2008
    cacutshaw
    Great biopic on Bugsy Siegel. When I saw this in the theater I was afraid it was going to be a whitewash and romantasizing of a gangster (look at the poster and I'm sure you can see where that thought came from), but to my surprise this was a real gritty and fact based movie. G... read moreood performances all around as well.

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Critic Reviews

Rob Humanick
January 15, 2012
Rob Humanick, Projection Booth

Exhausting in all the wrong ways. Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
February 12, 2007
Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com

A first-rate production from top to bottom...Beatty has never been more electrifying on screen. Full Review

Pablo Villaca
January 22, 2007
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

Levinson não consegue retratar a violência da Máfia; Morricone exagera na auto-referência à trilha de Os Intocáveis; e o filme insiste em tratar Siegel, um psicopata, como um empreendedor sonhador. Ai...

Cole Smithey
December 4, 2006
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Beatty and Bening are winning.

Emanuel Levy
May 8, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

The disclosure at that Bugsy's $6 million investment in the young city generated over $100 billion might encourage different interpretations: Is Vegas the capital of the American Dream, or the embodim... Full Review

Chris Cabin
January 13, 2006
Chris Cabin, Filmcritic.com

In seeing the distracting, destructive nature of vanity, the film fascinates itself, and the audience, with a simply stated, terribly complex question: why can't we look away? Full Review

Clint Morris
May 6, 2005
Clint Morris, Moviehole

One of Beatty's finest achievements

Jay Antani
January 5, 2005
Jay Antani, Los Angeles Alternative

Gloss, but well put-together gloss

S. James Wegg
November 12, 2004
S. James Wegg, JWR

Savvy crooks are engaging

Rich Cline
November 8, 2004
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

classy and fascinating

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