Why mobster movies will always resonate with moviegoers
Image: TriStar Pictures
Mobster movies or mafia films have a certain appeal that attracts viewers of appropriate ages. These films, whether fictional or based on real people and events, are primarily made for entertainment, or so it seems. Many times, these kinds of entertainment target a certain demographic, mostly male guys like us, and you know what, it works and has worked for decades because filmmakers realize that mobster movies are always going to be a hit and connect to moviegoers for many reasons, some of which I will explore below.
These films often do more than just sell tickets or win awards; they inform audiences that the mafia existed and, though more hidden, still exists today. The enduring appeal of these movies lies in the fascination with the mobster lifestyle. Instead of Hollywood glamour, these films offer a raw, sometimes sophisticated way of life, presenting mobsters as a contradiction to the common perception of them as violent and lawless. In reality, they can be the opposite of that image. Many of these celebrated films have become staples in movie collections and have been preserved in movie libraries worldwide because they are culturally significant and worthy of future generations’ viewing.
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When you think of mobster movies, what films immediately come to mind? Naturally, “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” and “Casino” are usually the top three picks. But then you also have movies like “Scarface,” Al Pacino’s most infamous and iconic film in the mobster movie genre. These beloved films often go in different directions in storytelling, whether based loosely on historical facts or greatly exaggerated. And, of course, there’s the violence. A lot of it. It’s not a mobster movie without shootouts, guns, and assassinations. It’s simply incomplete without them.
One mobster movie that recently caught my attention is “Bugsy,” starring Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. I first watched it decades ago but recently rediscovered it. The film centers on Jewish-American mobster Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, a familiar name to anyone who has studied the beginnings of gambling and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was in the early 1930s, decades before it became the “Sin City” we know today, filled with casinos, hotels, strip malls, and all sorts of entertainment. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel was a visionary and brave individual who laid the groundwork and made the gamble that would pay off for him decades later.
Perhaps these historically proven accurate facts about Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, who was magnificently portrayed by the great Warren Beatty, are what made me want to re-watch this film again because there are a lot of interesting factoids here that reveal the business side of the mob or mafia or whatever name they go by that would put even the most established business people to shame. Why so? There is an aggressiveness about them to get the deal done that is worthy of praise, and that ruthlessness is oftentimes what is missing nowadays in business circles, but these guys, these men and mobsters, had it.
Indeed, many facets of the mafia have always been attempted to be shed light upon by some of the most celebrated directors and filmmakers in Hollywood history, which is why many times only the very best directors and filmmakers with the right qualifications, such as legendary director Martin Scorsese, would make these in-demand films because, beyond being knowledgeable, they a deep respect for these men, and it shows in all the films they has been in charge of. Which reminds me, if Martin Scorsese had directed “Bugsy,” it would have made it an even better film than it already is. Proof of that—this exceptional docu-style film won a Golden Globe and has been hailed as one of the best films that Warren Beatty has starred in because it is that impactful to the moviegoer and eye-opening to one of the most famous figures of the mob lifestyle, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel.
Truth be told, there are so many famous and infamous figures of the mafia throughout its inception in America, and not only in Sicily, Italy, where it originated from before making its way overseas and establishing itself as the foremost criminal organization that it is. But the reality is that whether most people want to admit it or not, they are part of the annals of history because no matter how notorious, violent, and dangerous the key members, leaders, and founders are of the five families, the fact that movies, documentaries, and specials are still being made about them, which is a laundry list of names from A to Z, is the most telling sign that the mafia is deeply ingrained into the psyche of people.
There could have been any mobster movie that I highlighted the most, but “Bugsy” perhaps appealed to me the most because it showed a much more sophisticated side of them. Of course, it also portrayed the resourcefulness, ingenuity, and foresight that someone like Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel possessed; he recognized a golden opportunity to make something out of nothing. Who would have thought that in the Nevada desert, there would begin what would become the gambling capital of the world in Las Vegas City? He knew it was more than possible to become a reality if the stars aligned and fate fell in his favor.
Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel saw greatness lying in wait there. However, one thing he had going against him—based not only on the movie starring Warren Beatty but also on all the documentaries and books I’ve read about him—was that he had to use mob money. His primary investors were people from the mafia, and you know what happens when you can’t pay them back or if the investment fails: you lose your life, just as Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel did. But look at what he started! From an investment worth only 6 million dollars, Las Vegas City is worth hundreds of billions of dollars decades later. So, naturally, “Bugsy” is a trailblazing story as it is a cautionary tale. It reflects the extreme highs and lows one man can experience in life, whether lucky or unfortunate to be in Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s position—a position where he was on the brink of greatness and ensured his name would last forever, long after he was gone. Which he accomplished.
Upon reflection, honestly, from one man to the next, to anyone reading this who is part of the male race, who does not want power? Who does not want to be surrounded by beautiful women? And who does not want to be feared or respected by everyone? The mafia had all of these things going for them, but there is no excuse for any crime being committed. Wrong is wrong anyway you look at it, but, man, that allure, that fascination, and that intrigue will forever be there about these men, because they are what they are without any explanation, and they lived by their code, the mafia code, and that is praiseworthy for what it is because to live by a code in life means you are disciplined. Now, on which side of the law do you apply that to? It is an entirely different matter, but the only way to get a glimpse of how the mafia works is only through watching them in their portrayals in movies. That is the closest most of us will ever get.
In closing, I do believe the reason for the long-lasting fascination will always continue to exist because the further away you are from that lifestyle, way of living, and handling things in everyday situations, whether the street-level side of it or business, the more you want to be exposed to it. To learn about it and understand how the mob or mafia works, and that for me will always be the main attraction to watching these types of films, unless, of course, you are already a part of that lifestyle, then you already know what you have to know about it. No further watching of mobster films is required. Hehe…. /ra
