I`m considering writing my own movie. It would go something like this: An inner-city Irish kid dreams about being in the Mob. He impresses the neighborhood gangster, secures a place in the organization and works his way up, and a lot of people die at the end.
Nah, that`s been done-again.
The above is a summary of ”Billy Bathgate,” a movie so derivative of one of last year`s films that it could be called ”NotThatBadFellas.” But while it tries to be everything ”GoodFellas” was, it doesn`t do any of it as well.
”Billy Bathgate” is a pretty good watch, but it`s by no means a great film. Dustin Hoffman is refreshingly sadistic as gravelly voiced gangster Dutch Schultz, while Bruce Willis, Loren Dean and Nicole Kidman are all fairly irritating, in their own special ways.
I wouldn`t say run out and see this film. But if you`re in the mood for your basic violent, no-brainer Mob movie, ”Billy Bathgate” might be worth your while. (STAR)(STAR) 1/2
