Lansky

Lansky is a biographical crime drama film released in 1999. The film stars the talented actor Richard Dreyfuss in the title role, supported by a number of accomplished performers including Yosef Carmon, Mosko Alkalai, Ryan Merriman, Beverly D'Angelo, Illeana Douglas, Anthony LaPaglia, Eric Roberts among others. The film is directed by John McNaughton, while the script was penned by renowned playwright David Mamet.

Lansky is based on the life of Meyer Lansky, a notorious American mobster and gambling supremo, reputed to be one of the driving forces behind the development of modern organized crime in the United States. A key figure in the "Jewish Mob," Lansky was instrumental in the creation of the National Crime Syndicate, alongside notorious counterparts like Lucky Luciano and Frank Costello.

Richard Dreyfuss masterfully portrays the complexity of Meyer Lansky. He offers audiences nuanced images of Lansky's life, marked by the uncharitable conditions of his upbringing and the social structure that shepherded him into a life of crime. The character's world is shaped by his early experiences as a young immigrant boy, played by Ryan Merriman, faced with an insurmountable hustle for survival in the bustling heart of New York’s Lower East Side in the early 20th century.

The film draws attention to several key issues, such as the immigrant experience, prevalent anti-Semitism, the economics of survival, and the realities of organized crime. It provides a fascinating narrative on the birth and rise of organized crime, and an insightful depiction of the individuals involved. Tracing Lansky’s life journey from his childhood through to his twilight years, the film reveals the underbelly of America during the prohibition era and beyond.

The film also portrays Lansky’s controversial involvement in the American government's World War II efforts, underscoring the dichotomy of his societal image. On one hand, he was a hard-working patriot, on the other, a ruthless criminal. The depiction of Lansky's eventual exile in Israel, as played by Yosef Carmon, introduces more depth to his character. He is represented as a senior man entangled in reminiscences of his life, paradoxically framed between his Jewish roots and his indelible criminal associations.

Dreyfuss delivers a compelling performance, honing in on Lansky’s internal conflicts while striking a finely-tuned balance of reserved humanity and icy command. The portrayals by the rest of the cast, including Beverly D'Angelo as Lansky's wife, Anna Lansky, and Eric Roberts as the infamous "Bugsy" Siegel, offer unique perspectives on the characters that made Lansky’s world.

David Mamet’s script conveys an elegantly structured narrative, punctuated by sharp dialogue and character-driven moments of potent drama. The director, John McNaughton, frames the course of this epic tale against the backdrop of major political and socio-economic shifts in American history complemented by parallel cultural evolutions.

Visually, the film does an effective job of placing the viewer in various historical periods, down to the last seam of costumes and architectural details of streets and buildings. This creates a high level of credibility and brings the film's history to life. The cinematography effectively conveys the tenor of the times, from the dangerous tension of prohibition-era America to the reflective ambience of an exiled Lansky in Israel.

Overall, Lansky is a riveting exploration of a complex character from the annals of American history. The film skillfully transcends superficial crime-drama narratives by laying bare the subjective life of a man who was equally regarded as a ruthless criminal and, in some periods, an indispensable asset to national interests. It's a film that grips viewers with portrayals of notorious figures of crime, their motivations and contributions, unwitting or not, to the fabric of American society and history.