A couple of years ago, we saw Martin Scorsese use cutting-edge CGI techniques to allow for his aging actors to play much younger versions of themselves in the crime drama, “The Irishman.” It’s a neat trick, without a doubt, but in the new crime drama “Lansky,” the film decided to go the old-school way and just cast two great actors for the title role.
As seen in the trailer for “Lansky,” the film tells the true story of Meyer Lansky (Harvey Keitel), an aging gangster that is working with a writer to tell his life story for a book. And through the telling of the decades-old story, the film flashes back to a younger Lansky (John Magaro) and his ruthless ways. Obviously, Keitel is a living legend, but Magaro is one of the best young actors, having broken out in a big way in “First Cow” last year.
The film has a great cast that includes Magaro and Keitel alongside Sam Worthington, AnnaSophia Robb, Minka Kelly, David James Elliot, David Cade, and Danny A. Abeckaser. “Lansky” is written and directed by Eytan Rockaway. The filmmaker previously released his debut film, “The Confined,” in 2015.
“Lansky” debuts in select theaters and on VOD on June 25. You can watch the new trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
David Stone (Sam Worthington), a renowned but down-on-his-luck writer, has the opportunity of a lifetime when he receives a surprise call from Meyer Lansky (Academy Award nominee Harvey Keitel). For decades, authorities have been trying to locate Lansky’s alleged nine-figure fortune and this is their last chance to capture the aging gangster before he dies. With the FBI close behind, the Godfather of organized crime reveals the untold truth about his life as the notorious boss of Murder Inc. and the National Crime Syndicate.