This was one of my favorite movies for a while when I was in high school... I decided to rewatch it and write about it because I think it's worth it (and also because I think it isn't so so bad as the ratings in its page at IMDb may indicate!)





Plot:

The movie tells the young years -until they reach the top of the organized crime- of four famous gangsters: Charlie 'Lucky' Luciano, Frankie Costello, Meyer Lansky and Benny 'Bugsy' Siegel. The story actually, focuses in Luciano's life and his friendship with the other three since they were kids in the same neigborhood where being Irish, Italian or Jewish wasn't the same... and all of them wanted the control.

Luciano and Costello are Italian and they meet Lansky and Siegel that are Jewish. The four of them try to start their way in the organized crime where there are Jewish bosses and also Italians. It's especially tricky the fight between the two Italian bosses: Masseria and Faranzano (this last one was the one that ruined Luciano's father's life).
We see the games of loyalties and treasons between members of one gang or the other... the price to pay for getting a more important role in the organization, etc.

Cast:

Christian Slater is Luciano, Patrick Dempsey is Lansky, Costas Mandylor is Costello and Richard Grieco is Siegel. The rest of the cast includes: F. Murray Abraham as Arnold Rothstein, Michael Gambon as Don Faranzano, Lara Flynn Boyle as Mara Motes, Chris Penn as Tommy Reina and Anthony Quinn as Don Masseria.

My opinion about the movie:

Personally I like the cast in general. I didn't give too much thought to the fact that Christian Slater looked or not like Luciano. I think that he did a good job as the other three main actors/characters. I especially like Patrick Dempsey that makes a very good Lansky, probably the smartest of the four (he is so young here!!)... But, I had and still have a weakness for Costas Mandylor (since I saw him in Picket Fences)... so probably I watched the movie for the first time because of him (don't really remember). He is good as Costello but he and Richard Grieco don't have a lot of material to work with. However he looks delicious, that's a fact ;)

I particularly like F. Murray Abraham's character. I think he is fantastic as Rothstein, the Jewish boss who teaches Luciano and Meyer more than one thing. Also Michael Gambon that is so evil and discusting that almost makes me forget about his cute Squire Hamley in Wives and Daughters. It's so incredible that he can be so nice and touching and so evil if the part requires it. I think that makes him the great actor he is!

I find Lara Flynn Boyle really beautiful in this movie... I have to confess that when I watched Twin Peaks, hers was one of my favorite characters. She was Laura Palmer's best friend. I have seen her in movies and series and I she is find... but the last thing I have seen her in, in the series Las Vegas, where she played Monica Mancuso, Montecito's new owner for some episodes, I saw her looking a bit worse... I think she made something to her lips that made her look a bit weird. A real pity because I really thought she was quite beautiful.

The movie may be a bit too violent for some people... in fact the are a couple of scenes quite bloody and both of them related to one character called Mad Dog Coll, a hired gun, that is very cruel in his methods...

I think the version I have just watched it has some scenes missing form the version that I watched the first time... and that they weren't the violent ones... I don't know who chose to cut them!

I also have a problem with the way Anthony Quinn looks in the movie. I mean I love him as an actor, I have always thought the was and is fantastic... but Masseria's look (too fat) I don't think all was his and I think everybody can see that, a bit of a pity because the thing is that we shouldn't notice that!

But also it has some lovely romantic scenes, all involving Luciano and his love interest (Mara). The way they met, she being a showgirl in a club... how later on they make love, in one of the most lovely scenes I have seen, over a poker table with the light above them swinging casting light and shadows... really sensual!

Some quotes:

Masseria (talking to Charlie about Faranzano): You won't marry him, that's beautiful. Still you don't go to bed with me and I'm so gorgeous...

--

Mara (to Charlie after making love): Do me a favor.
Charlie (still lying on the poker table): I would do anything for you.
Mara: Don't forget we're friends. Love is a very confusing thing that I personally I do not understand.
Charlie: Neither do I.



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