Casino (Movie Review)
When gamblers enter casinos they are entering a place where the odds are against them. The house has an edge for almost every game that is played, which means even if a player has a winning streak it won’t last. Eventually, the house edge will grind down that player to unprofitability. Casinos do everything they can to keep the players gambling as long as possible. Often they do this by creating intimate, windowless spaces that are designed to be cozy and familiar. They also offer free drinks to make the players less aware of the passage of time. These tactics work, but for the average player the odds are against them.
Casino tells the story of the rise and fall of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro). He is a mobster in waiting who funnels money out the back door of the Tangiers hotel that he all but runs for his mob elders in the East. This is a world of greed, betrayal, and destruction that is beautifully brought to life on screen by the great Martin Scorsese.
Like Goodfellas before it, Casino is a gangster movie with a strong sense of morality. It isn’t as over-the-top as some might expect, but it does have a certain brutality to it. Ultimately, this is a film about how people who live in a world of corruption and crime aren’t necessarily good or evil; they just are what they are.
Scorsese brings a sense of style to Casino that few other directors can match. He is aided by the superb performances from the cast, especially that of the legendary Sharon Stone who turns in the best performance of her career. She can convey a multitude of emotions with just a look or silence and her character is truly believable.
One of the other great things about this movie is its ability to capture the era that it is set in. The music, the sets, and the costumes all help to create this unique atmosphere. The movie is full of interesting characters and the plot is very well developed. It is one of the better mob movies out there.
Casino is an excellent example of how a modern film can take a classic topic and still manage to make it fresh. It is a complex, multilayered, and beautifully directed movie that is well worth the watch. If you haven’t seen this movie, you are missing out on one of the best movies ever made.