Parents' Guide to

Lansky

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Routine but decent gangster movie has violence, language.

Movie R 2021 119 minutes
Lansky Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 18+

Based on 1 parent review

ahoffman3942
ahoffman3942 Adult
June 25, 2021
age 18+

Historically accurate and dark action thriller

I loved watching this with my girlfriend. Harvey is great and the camera work makes everything look accurate. The director did his research on Lansky’s history as this movie displays the notorious gangster in a scary-cool way. Definitely a must see for anybody looking to see some nazis gunned down too.
See all 1 parent review

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?

Our review:
Parents say: (1):
Kids say: Not yet rated

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

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