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1995
171 mins
Director
Martin Scorsese
Starring - Robert De Niro - Sam "Ace" Rothstein
Sharon Stone - Ginger McKenna-Rothstein
Joe Pesci - Nicky Santoro
Don Rickles - Billy Sherbert
James Woods - Lester Diamond
Frank Vincent - Frank Marino
I
read sometime ago that Casino is regarded by some people as
one of Scorsese and De Niro's weakest films of the nineties
and because I haven't seen it for a year or two this got me
thinking that maybe I had overestimated it the first couple
of times I watched and so I was looking to hopefully prove
this wrong. I think the reason that some people don't rate
this film as highly as they should is because it is similar
in some respects (ie. Joe Pesci) to Goodfellas which it could
never hope to better. The character of Nicky Santoro that
Pesci plays in Casino is pretty much the same as Tommy De
Vito in Goodfellas, the difference being that although with
Tommy you kind of like him despite his tendencies toward violence,
you never feel this way about Nicky Santoro.
Casino
shows us the darker side of Las Vegas life and the coruption
that lies behind the money. The story is told mainly from
the point of view of Ace and Nicky who narrate a large part
of what happened with the action from the present (the present
being the 70's and 80's when the film is set) played as they
tell us their version of events. It revolves around the three
main charcters of Sam Rothstein, Ginger and Nicky and shows
how what should have been a perfect life for them and those
involved with them gradually falls apart due to Rothstein's
involvement with the mob and in particular Nicky Santoro and
his failing marriage to Ginger. It is an intriguing story
to watch and it doesn't drag for a single moment and so the
three hours that the film lasts are more than justified. The
movie is perfectly cast and the acting is first class from
everyone concerned especially from Sharon Stone who undoubtably
gives the best performance of her career.
But
for me, as well as the great story and acting, it is the little
things that make this film particularly enjoyable to watch
ie. the Blueberry muffin incident, the feds landing on the
golfcourse, De Niro when he comes out from behind his desk
to get ready to see Pat Webb (turquoise shoes rule!), the
stupid looking card dealer that gets abused by Nick etc etc.
there are more but I think I'll leave it at that.
Casino
is not Scorsese and De Niro's best collaboration but it still
shows that when they get together you are guaranteed to be
given one heck of a movie. A fantastic film.
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