Lansky
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Routine but decent gangster movie has violence, language.

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Lansky
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Based on 1 parent review
Historically accurate and dark action thriller
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What's the Story?
In LANSKY, writer David Stone (Sam Worthington) is broke and estranged from his wife and family. So when he gets an offer to tell the life story of famous gangster Meyer Lansky (Harvey Keitel), he can't say no. They meet in a diner, and the story starts to unfold, beginning with Lansky's childhood -- and finding the angle behind a dice game. Soon the young Lansky (John Magaro) has developed a gambling empire, run by himself and the "muscle," Ben (don't call him "Bugsy") Siegel (David Cade). As the story grows more and more incredible -- including Lansky attacking Nazi rallies, aiding the U.S. government, starting a multicultural crime syndicate, and opening a casino in Cuba -- Stone realizes that the story isn't yet over. The FBI is still after Lansky, seeking a supposedly missing and hidden $300 million.
Is It Any Good?
Not much different from the plethora of gangster movies that populated theaters in the 1990s, this drama gets by on Keitel's impressive performance, as well as on a handful of surprising story twists. The entire setup and layout of Lansky is old hat (in fact, Lansky's story was previously told in the 1994 movie ... Lansky), and scenes of gangsters violently intimidating people, struggling with eroding personal relationships, and putting the hurt on double-crossers are wearily familiar. The 1981 wraparound/interview sequences are likewise a creaky old device, but they're still where the movie comes to life. Keitel -- who's a veteran of this world, having played Mickey Cohen alongside Ben Kingsley's Meyer Lansky in 1991's Bugsy -- is thoroughly commanding as the older Lansky, both intimidating and magnetic.
Additionally, by giving Stone his own strengths and weaknesses, the scenes doubly resonate. When he's not talking to Lansky, Stone guiltily flirts with Maureen (Minka Kelly), a woman he spots lounging by the hotel pool; he quickly, innocently breaks all of Lansky's rules, generating a certain amount of tension. Coupled with earlier scenes of Lansky standing up to Nazis or refusing to rig the slot machines in his casinos, this makes Lansky seem almost surprisingly benevolent. Earlier gangster movies may have been romanticized cautionary tales, but Lansky actually includes elements that are, ironically, admirable.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Lansky's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect?
Are alcohol, smoking, and/or drugs glamorized here? Does the opulent nightclub atmosphere make them seem cool? Are there consequences for substance use? Why does that matter?
What are Lansky's flaws and positive qualities? Is he admirable? Do you consider him a role model?
Why are we so often interested in stories about gangsters?
Does Lansky seem to have any regrets at the end of his life? Did he have any remorse for all the things he'd done? Do you have regrets or remorse for anything you've done?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 25, 2021
- On DVD or streaming: June 25, 2021
- Cast: Harvey Keitel, Sam Worthington, Minka Kelly
- Director: Eytan Rockaway
- Studio: Vertical Entertainment
- Genre: Drama
- Run time: 119 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: strong bloody violence, language and some sexual references
- Last updated: January 29, 2023
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