Casinos are often portrayed as seedy gambling parlors full of shady people and violent crime. While some of these stereotypes are true, the majority of casinos offer a safe place for people to gamble, watch live shows and enjoy food and drinks. Casinos also help local economies by providing jobs and bringing in tourists who spend money on food, entertainment, hotels and other services. The more people casinos attract the more money they make through a variety of means including a commission on player wins.
Martin Scorsese’s Casino combines the drama of organized crime with the history of Las Vegas to create an entertaining movie about the mob’s connection with the city and its fall from grace due to lust, greed and hubris. The story takes us back to the days when Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) ran Vegas.
The opening of the film feels like a documentary and is narrated by the real-life Rothstein, giving it a very authentic feel. Then the style changes to a more traditional movie, although the narration never completely leaves.
In the end, Casino is a fascinating look at how gambling has evolved and how modern casinos operate. It is interesting to see how the mob lost control of a city that once minting money in the billions. It’s a harsh, yet delicately balanced movie that should get the recognition it deserves in years to come. The cast is excellent with especially great performances by Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci.