MovieChat Forums > Bugsy (1991) Discussion > Did Bugsy Deserve Best Picture

Did Bugsy Deserve Best Picture

posted 18 years ago by ijly
46 replies | jump to latest

I think a lot of people forget that Bugsy was a bit of a favourite coming up to the Oscars in 1992. Many people thought it would take home the goods, but it was beaten by the slightly suprising sweep by Silence of the Lambs. Now, I find, that most people would place it last among the 5 movies of that year (Silence, Beauty and the Beast, JFK, and Prince of Tides). Has this film aged badly, or is there some reason it hasn't held up as being considered a classic (especially compared to Silence and Band theB, and then JFK). Is there a reason?

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] LauraRoslin 17 years ago

SotL is the greatest mystery of all time IN YOUR OPINION. in my opinion, it sucked. Bugsy is my masterpiece, the film which no other i have ever seen could hold a candle to. why hasn't it become a classic? i have no idea. its a classic to me, of course.

[–] Gus-69 18 years ago

BUGSY won the Golden Globe for Best Drama. Maybe it was indeed the favorite to win the Oscar but... Which is odd, because I cannot see how it can be better than JFK, SOTL, etc...

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] monsterman865 17 years ago

No way was it the best film that year. Silence of the Lambs rocked.

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[–] osminbet 17 years ago

THELMA AND LOUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[–] citizenchris 17 years ago

Bugsy is a competent film, that ultimately serves as little more than a wonderfull vehicle for Beatty and Bening. Just about all other aspects of the film fall short of being what i would consider “great” except for the wonderful performances of the two leads. Now granted a sub-par film with Beatty is better than most...but as great as he is (is it obvious im a fan?) it cant make up for what is lacking in the rest of the picture.
As far as this film compared to the other nominees that year.....Silence is over rated...period....and J.F.K. Is decidedly underrated. My pick would of the oscar best pic. Nominees from that year would have to be Oliver Stones masterpiece J.F.K. It is an often misunderstood film as it seems to divide viewers amongst those who believe the conspiracy theories and those that dont (and even those that do believe argue whether they believe Oliver's proposed scenario) But if one can look past these things they will find a film that excels on all levels. But this is neither here nor there. Bugsy is a likable film, but certainly not the greatest of '91 or any other year.

[–] hotfriend1 17 years ago

No, the problem with J.F.K. is that it's based on Jim Garrison who, according to the book "Crossfire," has the least credibility of all the top, early conspiracy theorists. Other sources cite him as having been in the pocket of Carlos Marcello, the head of the New Orleans Mafia for many, many years. Marcello was deported by Bobby Kennedy and had an arduous, ignominious time negotiating his way back through Mexico and into the States. In an FBI wiretap, he was heard saying to an associate, in his native tongue, an old Sicilian saying: "Take this stone from my shoe!" Meaning, he wanted the Kennedys dead.

But you won't hear that from Oliver Stone or Jim Garrison, who wish to hang the blame on the U.S. military because it allegedly knew that JFK was going to pull us out of Vietnam and scale back defense spending. The former is arguable and cannot be substantiated. The latter is absurd. It was the Cold War and Jack Kennedy was a Cold Warrior.

It's so funny, you guys calling each other "stupid" because someone doesn't agree with your exalted opinions and none of you sounds as though you're even well-read.

Also, Silence of the Lambs is a horror film, not a mystery. As for it being the greatest, I think most informed opinion would give that nod to Psycho and a director named Hitchcock.

[–] sockscats 15 years ago

Yeah i think that even though JFK was a fine film the ultimate flaw is that it paints a kook as some sort of hero. Over time the movie losses credibility with each passing year.

JFK is filled with lies and misinformation.

Hurricane is a film with a similar problem that while trying to make a lame political point it is filled with all kinds of lies and falsehoods and paints rueben carter as something he is not.

[–] SoTyred 12 years ago

JFK is filled with lies and misinformation.

And the Government story ISN'T? Please....Magic Bullet anyone?

JFK is designed to make you THINK and RESEARCH. All of it.

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[–] Renderking_Fisk 17 years ago

I've only seen "Silence Of The Lambs" once - I won a copy of Bugsy and it's one of my favorate films. Granted... I'm biased towards movies about that era.

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] twentythird 17 years ago

No disrespect for Busgy, but nothing can beat Silence of the lambs that year, period.
I feel for bugsy however, didnt win a darn thing. I thought Annette's acting was terrific than Jodie foster. After watching this though, im shocked to see why the brilliant Ben Kingsley was even nominated for this, he was an outcast.
As for Warren, taking nothing away from his brilliant performances, Anthony just cant be beaten that year as hannibal lecter.
Im a fan of Kevin Costner, but id never think JFK can be the best pict, tis a great movie but the Academy only looks at what inspired the human soul, JFK shows no greatness but total failure since that history itself was a failure.
Prince of tides...gimme a break Beauty & the Beast, i could just see the end of Hollywood empire if that have won.

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[–] Kinematico 17 years ago

Agree with most people here. Bugsy is a fine gangsters film but it's not in the same league than JFK not to mention The Silence of the Lambs, being the latter a true masterpiece!

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[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Doom 16 years ago

J.F.K. should have won for Best Picture.

Just my $0.02.

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[–] Noir-It-All 15 years ago

I thought Ben Kingsley was great in this film. I looked forward to his scenes.
He deserved his nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

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[–] marvelass 9 years ago

I feel for bugsy however, didnt win a darn thing.

Bugsy did win two Oscars, for Art Direction-Set Decoration and Costume Design.

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[–] pbl1 16 years ago

bugsy was a biopic (of a gangster), not a gangster film. it was OK, but inconsistent and draggy at times...definitely not oscar-worthy.

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[–] boxofficeblogger 16 years ago

In my opinion Bugsy did deserve the best picture Oscar that year. It just goes to show how great the early to mid 90's was for movies. So many of my top 100 movies were made in that time period.

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