Bugsy (Extended Cut)

Reviewed by:
Gene Newman

This is one of those completely forgotten and underrated gangster films and is not far behind other modern mob classics like Casino, Donnie Brasco and, yep, Goodfellas. It's a highly stylized account of Ben "Bugsy" Siegel, a tough bastard from NYC who founded Vegas and loved banging Hollywood starlets. Not unlike its star Warren Beatty, who's in top form as the suave playboy. Same goes for Annette Benning as his moll Virginia Hill. The second disc has an hour-and-a-half documentary "The Road to Damascus: The Reinvention of Bugsy Siegel," which is worth the cost of the DVD alone. Advance warning: It's a long movie, and they added 15 minutes back in (running time: two hours and 40 minutes!), but you won't feel a thing. Especially in your legs, cause they'll be numb.