Billy Bathgate [Blu-ray]

but pretty standard for a gangster type movie. B- RP

A movie from 1991 with good acting, an interesting story line and adaptation of the whole Dutch Schultz era. Nicole Kidmam plays a rich socialite with a taste for slumming which she does with gusto. The film is more along the lines of Miller's Crossing than Casino, but it's still a solid mobster movie, even managing to convince that Hoffman pulled off the maniac Schultz to a great degree. Roth from Hoodlums did a better job, but Hoffman did a great job here as well.

This is the Dutch Schultz story as seen by Billy Bathgate a wanna be gangster. A surprisingly good tale lifted up by its cast & written screen play. Look for Bruce Willis in a great supporting role at the start of the movie.Dustin Hoffman turns in another stellar performance as Dutch Schultz. He is approaching his unforeseen fall from grace & it's this Dutch that Billie Bathgate's illusions of gang life are measured by & eventually shattered by. Loren Dean as Billy plays his part perfectly sometimes naive, sometimes streetwise. Dutch's girl friend is played by the ever beautiful Nicole Kidman who is married but tells Billy in relation to her being with Dutch "No, I'm not his gal. He's my gangster." She plays it that way too & gets a 5 star & you know why for.When the law comes after Dutch with "Tax" charges he is momentarily able to defend himself but as other charges are filed he decides to remove the attorney's causing all the problems right up to the U. S. attorney that started it all. Dutch's superiors which he don't recognize as his superior's no more have to reign in their mad dog & do so.This movie is always told through the eyes of Billie & his gangland tutor played by Steven Hill of Law & Order fame, just one fine acting job. Some claim Hoffman is so powerful here he overshadows the rest of the cast but I think that's shallow-sighted. Dutch Schultz was a overpowering man & only those that were able to subjugate themselves in his presence survived for long. That makes the other portrayals dead accurate & earns those actors & actresses their own deserved praise for this show.I see 4 1/2 stars for this movie.

This is a smart movie that never gets boring. It revolves around the dynamics between the characters, each powerfully played. No special effects and loud music to fill-in for poor dialog, as is so common in more modern movies, Billy Bathgate is simply a well done movie.

Product arrived quickly and in great shape. Movie was entertaining, with Dustin Hoffman and the beautiful Nicole Kidman leading the way. Very well done. Not necessarily historically accurate.

I love gangster movies. This isn't quite up to the level of The Godfather or Goodfellas, but it's a solid movie.

based on a true story

All movies with Dustin Hoffman rank as some of the best movies I've seen. The story is unusual in its presentation but because of that aspect I found it very compelling. Most mob stories during that "high racket time" in this country are just amazing in the scope of their reign of terror with each other.

Personally I prefer this movie to several of the more well known gangster films out there . Hoffman , though playing a part totally out of his usual genre is brilliant at being quietly sinister and dangerous . Should be better known .

When it comes to gangster movies this one usually drops through the net, but it's a very fine movie and different from the rest of the genre.

I love gangster movies and this one is a gem.I never thought to see Dustin Hoffman in such a role. He does it well.

Dustin Hoffman gives a wonderful performance as the dastardly Dutch Schultz. Top performance from Bruce Willis too.

a true classic gangster film dustin hoffman is excellent as the infamous gangster dutch schultz who ruled the mob world with an iron fist