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Billy Bathgate
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by Touchstone / Disney
Sales Rank: 5908
Price: $9.99
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The oily allure of underground power is compelling. During the heyday of New York's mob scene, it was more than a mysterious, dynamic draw, it was a ticket out of poverty and stepping stone to notoriety. Based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow, <i>Billy Bathgate</i> is the story of a street-smart boy (Loren Dean) who, after a chance encounter with racketeering kingpin Dutch Schultz (Dustin Hoffman), sets out to apprentice himself to the Mafia and ride the roller-coaster life of a gangster. <p>Central to the story development is the idea of fate and circumstance. Except for Billy, who is merely a criminal voyeur, all the characters play out the hand they were dealt, good or bad, live or die. Moving from misunderstood businessman, struggling to legitimize his line of work, to a steely, vengeful egomaniac, Dustin Hoffman gives a powerful performance. The role of Schultz is so strong, however, that Hoffman overpowers the cast, leaving some characters underdeveloped. Despite being the movie's namesake, Billy always seems a bit vacuous and leaves the audience wondering if he appreciates and values his luck. Bo Widerberg, played by Bruce Willis, is a slick gangster with a weasely demeanor and Drew Preston (Nicole Kidman), the girl to be fought over. Although Kidman's performance isn't her most memorable, she does a good job in balancing and evolving her character amid all the gunslinging and testosterone of the mob. If you're a Hoffman fan, and like gangster flicks, this movie's for you. <I>--Jeff Leinaweaver</I>
Viewer Reviews
BILLY BATHGATE (1991) revisits the events of a Post-Prohibition America, from a
nostalgia, romantic, glossy intentional perspective, taking the actual events that
happened, reversing them 180 degrees, especially the overwhelming brutality, violence, ruthless
gangwars, and street rubouts, preferring mostly a fantasy of a boy who is a morale booster
and apprentice of an aging, lead gangster, played magnificently by Dustin Hoffman. The audience
relives the experience of that impoverished working class boy of Irish descent, who evolves into
a grown man, from both his career experience in that underground organization and his
intimate relationship with the character played by Nicole Kidman.
This movie has the feel of a museum of sorts, such is its glossy psychological presentation, obviously
chosen to as to underline its entertainment value, at the same time as the story doesn't shy away (in
the rarer moments), from revealing the insidious personality of Dutch Schultz, and the underbelly
of his organization, (encompassing gambling, booze, night club, protection rackets, etc)
The music and filming is okay, the recreation of the time and space of the 1930's, is
excellent, while the full frontal nudity of Kidman on 3 occasions, doesn't seem to add much
to the movie or story, perhaps quite the opposite; the first, occurring in front of a mirror, the
next when she's diving into a water fall, and the last, when she's exiting the water. Perhaps
the Director insisted on the scenes, to underline Loren Dean growing into adulthood and its profound
significance.
The social values of the time, and imperfection of the legal system is plain, as a significant
number of judges, peace officers are keen in accepting envelopes filled with cash and gifts, in
exchange for special favors protecting the Schultz organization. The strategy of asking for
a court hearing to be done in a rural town vs. NYC, is explained, as the education level of out of
city citizens is a lot lower, their neglected poverty simple to alleviate through cash gifts, in return for later
favors as jurors, and the mass media being very local in each town, as citizens aren't
offered news articles from out of state very much, limiting their worldly perspective. In the
words of Hoffman: "Those in Upstate NY (Onandaga) are decent people, unlike those in city."
The script spends time reliving Schultz's last years, the decline of that
organization, as his original methods in maintaining power become a lot less effective in face of
a changing world, as new, equally lethal rivals appear on the scene, in the form of the
Sicilians keen in overtaking the Schultz territory and accompanying underground activities.
As with Capone, the IRS has very strong Federal powers against those evading taxes, and ultimately,
this leads to the demise of that gang leader. despite following his Consiglieri's advise to the letter.
Bruce Willis is given a short role, but important one nonetheless, eventually paying
the price for a double cross, through cement boots, swimming with the fishes.
Paradoxically, Schultz runs out of money, as a result of rubbing out one of his caporegimes who
boasted exorting $2 million per year from NYC restaurant owners on reputation only,
because he admitted skimming $50 k as commissions. "He tried to take what was mine!" was Hoffman's
explanation.
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