Bugsy

Original, interesting, and creative not only thanks to great directing but also the actors (Warren Beatty, Annette Bening) and the music, which is difficult to listen to on its own but works excellently and pleasantly enhances the film’s already outstanding atmosphere of the 1940s. The action scenes are skillfully executed, and overall, it lacks very little to be considered perfect. Perhaps only occasional dragging moments slightly spoil my overall very positive impression. (03.07.2005)

A classic in its genre that is bound to warm the heart of any die-hard fan of mafia films. Levinson, as in Rain Man, is almost flawless, plus a phenomenal Beatty (even Pacino would have had a hard job to play it that way), a sleek Keitel and a perfect femme fatale played by a young Annette Bening. The story, based on reality, is not bursting with plot twists, but the great actors and Morricone's music put so much emotion that you can't take your eyes off it. If it was 10 minutes shorter, it’d be a clear 5*. :-) (03.05.2013)

I do like organized crime, but Bugsy is not a typical example of this line of work. It's more of an excursion into the thoughts and desires of a cool and empathetic guy, Benjamin Siegel, an American who had a vision for which he was willing to sacrifice everything. Except for Virginia Hill. The film has a superb cast, Warren Beatty’s role fit him like a glove and the rest didn't fall behind, which is perhaps why I didn't give the film a five-star rating. I expected such a cast to do an even better job. (23.07.2017)