Casino has long been lauded as a masterpiece of American cinema, and with good reason — whether you approach it as a historical documentary, a crime thriller, or a character-driven tragedy, Casino delivers it in spades. Don't let the nearly-three-hours-long run time throw you; Martin Scorsese is at the top of his game here, and the time flies by quickly without any bloat or waste.
In a nutshell, the movie covers odds-making prodigy Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) as he arrives in Las Vegas and tries to ascend into being a respected leader of the town's gaming industry, but runs into complications with the arrival of his Axe-Crazy friend Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and falls for the Predatory Prostitute Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone). Yet even when you know it will all inevitably end in tears, the taut storytelling, captivating performances, and escalating tensions keep you captivated throughout. There aren't any silly gimmicks here, but simply a well-written story told through quality old-fashioned filmmaking. I also appreciate that Scorsese doesn't glamorize the mob lifestyle here, and is unafraid to show how miserable one can be miserable even with the money and power of Vegas at your fingertips.
Casino is not a movie for everyone, but it was never meant to be. This is a master-class movie for serious moviegoers looking for an unforgettable journey into a seedy part of gambling history.
A riveting drama from start to finish
Casino has long been lauded as a masterpiece of American cinema, and with good reason — whether you approach it as a historical documentary, a crime thriller, or a character-driven tragedy, Casino delivers it in spades. Don't let the nearly-three-hours-long run time throw you; Martin Scorsese is at the top of his game here, and the time flies by quickly without any bloat or waste.
In a nutshell, the movie covers odds-making prodigy Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro) as he arrives in Las Vegas and tries to ascend into being a respected leader of the town's gaming industry, but runs into complications with the arrival of his Axe-Crazy friend Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and falls for the Predatory Prostitute Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone). Yet even when you know it will all inevitably end in tears, the taut storytelling, captivating performances, and escalating tensions keep you captivated throughout. There aren't any silly gimmicks here, but simply a well-written story told through quality old-fashioned filmmaking. I also appreciate that Scorsese doesn't glamorize the mob lifestyle here, and is unafraid to show how miserable one can be miserable even with the money and power of Vegas at your fingertips.
Casino is not a movie for everyone, but it was never meant to be. This is a master-class movie for serious moviegoers looking for an unforgettable journey into a seedy part of gambling history.