Taken from the best-seller by EL Doctorow, and with a tightly written screenplay by playwright Tom Stoppard, this compelling exploration of the world of 1930s gangsters centres on the activities of murderous mobster Dutch Schultz (edgily played by Dustin Hoffman).

The story is told as seen through the eyes of young Billy Bathgate (Loren Dean), an opportunist street kid who, seduced by the glamour of power, money and the life of crime, works his way up to become one of Dutch's most trusted flunkies.

In an explosive opening, we get a glimpse of the unpredictable Dutch's raging insanity as he sets out to dispose of his once-trusted sidekick, Bo Weinberg (Bruce Willis).

Thereafter, events take a turn for the more romantic and less violent as Billy is entrusted with looking after the late Bo's lady friend, Drew (Nicole Kidman), who is now Dutch's lover - and before long daring Billy is both dallying with Drew and dicing with disaster.

A grim and glossy drama, Billy Bathgate captures well the seedy gangster underworld atmosphere but, while the eyes can feast on its lush period detail, there is ultimately not enough story to absorb the mind.