Review of Billy Bathgate (1991) by Ryan C — 06 Oct 2010
The problem with [i]Billy Bathgate[/i] is its script, which fails to establish a satisfying connection among its three principal characters. [i]Warning! Spoilers Ahead!:[/i] We know that Drew Preston (Nicole Kidman) becomes Dutch Schultz's girl after Schultz (Dustin Hoffman) kills Bo Weinberg, Drew's previous squeeze and Schultz's previous partner.
There is no chemistry between Hoffman and Kidman, making me wonder why this relationship is so important in the first place. The same can be said for Dutch's relationship with Billy Bathgate (Loren Dean.
) Billy is hired by Dutch and becomes a mob protege, but we are given only a few scenes in which the two characters interact on a student/teacher level. For no apparent reason, Schultz gives Bathgate the responsibility of looking after his moll.
When Drew and Billy predictably become intimate, we aren't given any believable excuses as to why she needs Billy or why Bathgate would take the boneheaded chance of getting on Dutch's bad side, nor are we given the requisite sympathy to care what happens next.
Hoffman's performance is the only saving grace, and there just isn't enough Hoffman to keep the film from mediocrity.
This review of Billy Bathgate (1991) was written by Ryan C on 06 Oct 2010.
Billy Bathgate has generally received mixed reviews.
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