Saturday 11 November 2023

Bugsy (1991 Barry Levinson)

This is really how Las Vegas came about? The Flamingo is the opening shot of Kiss Me Stupid, isn't it?* I wonder what Wilder was alluding to. Anyway, that's quite extraordinary.

Bugsy - excuse me, Benjamin - Siegel was a nutter, that much is clear, from James Toback's screenplay based on Dean Jennings' non-fiction book. Beatty is good, whether planning to assassinate Mussolini or attempting to act or losing it with girlfriend.

But what does this add up to?

Absolutely loved the moment Annette Bening hears of Bugsy's death, and she's just speechless.

Ennio Morricone's score is another major asset.

With a good Harvey Keitel and Ben Kingsley. Plus Elliott Gould, Joe Mantegna, Richard Sarafian (yes, the director of Vanishing Point), Bebe Neuwirth.

Photographed by Allen Daviau. Production designer Dennis Gassner, edited by Christoper Holmes & Stu Linder. Richard Beggs is the sound designer / re-recording mixer.

So there was lots good about it, but somehow it doesn't leave much of an impression.



* No. It's The Sands.

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