Casino (Movie Review)

There have been a lot of movies set in Vegas, but few have captured the essence of Sin City quite like Casino. It is a fascinating study on how vice, greed, and corruption can bring down even the most well-meaning and seemingly stable family man. It is a film that is incredibly entertaining to watch and a testament to the power of the director Martin Scorsese.

The film is based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese. It follows Sam Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is asked to run the day-to-day operations of Tangiers casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Sam and his mob associates face many difficulties in their business and in their relationships with each other and eventually they suffer from the consequences of their actions.

One of the most important things that Casino does differently from other mafia movies is that it focuses on the decisions of the characters rather than just letting chance take them where they will. It is this approach that makes the movie so compelling and interesting to watch. This style of storytelling also allows for a clearer narrative, something that is a rare thing to find in gangster films. Often times, when a film is focusing on the life of mobster it has to jump around a bit to keep up with the action and the story can become confusing for the audience. Casino, however, focuses on how decisions can lead to tragedy and keeps the narrative clear by showing how each event is a pay off for an earlier decision.

It is also a very realistic depiction of the world that the characters live in. While the film doesn’t shy away from violence and treachery, it shows how it is not always a black and white situation as there are shades of grey everywhere. The use of sound, lighting, and physical design in the casino is also very evocative and helps to make the viewer feel part of the scene rather than an outsider looking in.

The cast is excellent, but it’s the performance of Sharon Stone that stands out. She is fantastic as the streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna and it is hard to imagine anyone else playing the role. It is one of the best performances in her career and it is the perfect showcase for her talents.

While it does lack the pizzazz of Goodfellas, Casino is a great film and is a must-see for all fans of gangster cinema. It is a masterful drama about destruction and betrayal that will leave you talking long after the credits roll. This is a film that will speak to people of all walks of life and that is what makes it so timeless. A masterpiece from a true master of the craft.