Bugsy is a 1991 film directed by Barry Levinson. This is a biopic that tells the life story of Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, a notable American gangster of the 20th century. 

Plot

The film is set in the 1940s and is based on the true story of Bugsy Siegel (played by Warren Beatty), a New York criminal who becomes known for his illegal activities and his involvement in creating the Flamingo, a luxurious casino in Las Vegas.

Bugsy is a charming but impulsive man, known for his ambition and his love for luxury. During a trip to Los Angeles, he falls head over heels for Virginia Hill (played by Annette Bening), a beautiful but dangerous woman with ties to the criminal world. Bugsy decides to fulfill his dream of building a casino in the Las Vegas desert, despite opposition from many.

The film follows Bugsy on his mission to realize the Flamingo, a vision that turns into a struggle against political, financial, and personal obstacles. Over time, his obsession with the project jeopardizes his life and the people he loves.

"Bugsy" is a dramatic portrayal of the life of a charismatic and controversial gangster. 

Complete Cast

• Warren Beatty as Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel
• Annette Bening as Virginia Hill
• Harvey Keitel as Mickey Cohen
• Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky
• Elliott Gould as Harry Greenberg
• Joe Mantegna as George Raft
• Bebe Neuwirth as Countess di Frasso
• Bill Graham as Charlie Luciano

Director: Barry Levinson

Producer: Warren Beatty, Mark Johnson

Writer: James Toback

Music by: Ennio Morricone

Cinematographer: Allen Daviau

Production Cost: Approximately $30 million.

Box Office: Approximately $49.1 million worldwide at the box office.

Awards: The film received 10 Oscar nominations, winning two for Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design. It also received other accolades and nominations.

Critics' Reception: "Bugsy" was widely praised for its performances, particularly that of Warren Beatty, and Barry Levinson's direction. The film was appreciated for its accurate and stylized portrayal of gangster Benjamin Siegel and its soundtrack by Ennio Morricone. However, some critics noted that the film may have overly idealized Siegel's character.

My opinion.

Very interesting film that keeps one's attention from beginning to end even if one notices non-logical and non-sequential interruptions in some scenes. The direction beautifully brought back the ambience, especially the costumes and atmosphere of the 1940s in great detail.

The actors very good, both leads and supporting actors.

Excellent screenplay with clever and funny choice of dialogue.

Set design rightly awarded an Oscar.

Intriguing music by Ennio Morricone, a fox of cinema.

The cinematography would have deserved an award.

Overall, it is a well-flowing film, scene jumps aside, for review, perhaps overly violent in some frames for the time. Today cinema can give exaggerated violence as we have seen and, I would say, with no more limits. The atmosphere of this film is the quality I most appreciated.