Rating of
2.5/4
Has its ups and downs
The M.O.W. - wrote on 08/03/08
Infamous 1940's gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (Warren Beatty) has been in and out of trouble with cops and his family over the years. Now, he has left them for a woman named Virginia Hill (Annette Benning).
"Hill" slowly warms up to the mobster, who decides to move to California to pursue her and dreams of becoming an actor. Even though he is trying to improve his life, he is still an ill-tempered mobster who wants to use his new connections to assassinate Mousilini. However, when the dictator is killed, he eventually sets his eyes on a piece of Nevada desert to build a casino.
The movie focuses mainly on the fairly rocky relationship between Seigel and Hill. However, sprinkled through the movie are scenes which remind us of Seigel's criminal nature. We see Seigel go from a romantic trying to woo a beautiful woman to a guy who will kick a man when he is down. Beatty does a pretty good job changing between these personality traits with fairly good easy.
The chemistry between Beatty and Benning is not perfect. The script is a bit weak at times, and I noticed that I was paying more attention to my computer many times. I also felt that the supporting cast did nothing for the movie except move the story along -- usually slowly.
Of course there is some blood in a movie about a mobster. However, there isn't that much as you would expect. Seigel, who frequently states his dislike for the "Bugsy" nickname, is shown shooting a guy once, and beating up people. One murder he does is off camera, between scene transitions and we never get to see exactly how he did the crime, which he is arrested for later on in the movie.
The wardrobes, cars, buildings and everything else seen in this movie appear to be pretty authentic. However, the wardrobes are too perfect and too fresh as if they were being worn for the first time ever. The clothing, if you ask me appears to be too new. No clothing looks as if they have been worn a few times.
The music is pretty nice. You get instrumentals mixed with well known tunes sung on camera in night club scenes. The songs from the 1940's helped make you believe that you were actually in that time period.
I don't know what it was about the script, but I noticed that I was looking more at my computer numerous times. I felt that there were many scenes that were fairly weak and lagged. Many of the performances, especially the supporting cast, were not good at times while pretty good at other times. I feel that the supporting cast was barely developed, and were there to try to help move the film along. I also felt that those in supporting roles
I can't say that this should be added to your "Must See" List. I can't even say that this movie should be on the Top 10 of your "To See" List.
