Lansky Movie Review 1999

Traces some 70 years in the life of Jewish mobster Meyer Lansky (Dreyfuss), which, surprisingly, doesn't make for exciting drama. Lansky grew up on New York's Lower East Side with Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel (Roberts) and Charlie "Lucky" Luciano (LaPaglia). Th trio would mastermind a crime syndicate, with Lansky basically serving as the Mob accountant. Story is told in flashbacks as the aged Lansky awaits federal trial in Miami.

Distribution

HBO, 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Phone: (212)512-7400, Fax: (212)512-7498, URL: http://www.hbo.com, Remarks: Online sales through www.store.hbo.com

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 120 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Organized Crime, Crime Drama, Biopics: Cops & Robbers, Buddies, Flashback, Period Piece: 20th Century, Judaism, Miami, Cuba

Screenplay

David Mamet

Cast

Richard Dreyfuss, Eric Roberts, Anthony LaPaglia, Illeana Douglas, Beverly D'Angelo, Ryan Merriman, Francis Guinan, Stanley DeSantis, Nick(y) Corello

Cinematography

John A. Alonzo

Director

John McNaughton

Music

George S. Clinton

Producer

Fred Caruso, Frederick Zollo, Nicholas Paleologos, David Mamet, HBO Pictures