There have been plenty of movies set in Las Vegas, but few capture its true history like Casino. Martin Scorsese’s take on Sin City is a tale of greed, treachery, and corruption. With a cast led by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, the movie isn’t shy about using violence as a means of storytelling, but this is done sparingly and for its intended effect.
The film opens with a shocking scene of a car bombing. From there, the movie is a nonstop thrill ride. Despite being almost three hours long, the film doesn’t lag or run out of steam. This is thanks to the masterful editing and taut narration. The use of music is also a highlight, and it adds to the overall atmosphere of the film.
One of the most interesting aspects of Casino is how it portrays the mob. The movie depicts a vicious circle of violence and degradation. There’s no room for good guys in this story. Every key character is mired in avarice and treachery. And while most of these characters get their comeuppance at the end, it’s hard not to feel sorry for them in some way. This is especially true with Sharon Stone’s performance as Ginger.
Unlike other casino movies, which focus on the gambling aspect of casino life, Casino digs deeper into the machinations behind the scenes. It shows how a network of organized crime dominated the gaming industry in Vegas, with tendrils that reached into politics, unions, the Teamsters, and the Chicago mob. The movie also points out that casinos are built to bleed players of their money. They are designed without clocks and windows to make it difficult for players to track time, and they offer free drinks because they know that inebriated patrons have a higher chance of making poor decisions.
In addition to the various games of chance, casinos also offer traditional Far Eastern games such as sic bo, fan-tan, and pai gow. These games are generally played by older gamblers, and they often have lower house edges than other casino games. However, many of these games have high minimum bets and require a lot of skill to win.
As far as gambling is concerned, the best advice is to never play for more than you can afford to lose. And don’t drink too much of the free complementary alcohol. As we all know, being inebriated doesn’t improve judgment when it comes to gambling. And finally, never play with friends or family members who you can’t trust to keep you accountable.
While Casino isn’t the most tightly plotted of Scorsese’s films, it has a clarity that Goodfellas lacks. This is largely because the movie follows the cause-and-effect of events rather than simply listing out random incidents. This approach gives the film a sense of momentum, and it helps to explain why each character meets their downfall in such a tragic way. It’s also why James Woods was the perfect choice for the role of Lester.
