Casino (Movie Review)
Casino tells the story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper recruited by the Chicago Outfit to oversee day-to-day casino operations. The movie also stars Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro, a mobster and Ace’s friend, and Sharon Stone as streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna.
Casino is one of the most compelling thrillers ever made, and not just because it features a sexy blonde who knows how to hold and lead a man’s attention, or because it depicts the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas as it once was. The film has a layered narrative and is an intelligent exploration of crime, addiction, and the fact that no one stays at the top forever.
It also takes a look at the local community when a casino opens up in their town. It creates jobs for local people and brings in new customers to businesses that sell food, clothing, and other goods and services. Moreover, casinos bring in more money from tourists than they lose on gambling, and this income is spent by the local population as well.
Although it is a long movie, Casino never lags or runs out of steam. Scorsese’s masterful editing and taut narration help the movie stay a lean, mean, and thrilling experience till the end. A large part of this is due to the great performances by its cast, with Stone’s portrayal of a smart, hardened hustler being especially impressive.