A casino is a building for various types of gambling. Today, the word “casino” is associated with slot machines, black jack, roulette, craps and other games of chance that provide billions in annual profit for casinos in the United States. The word originally pointed to a villa or summer house, but over the years has come to mean “a place where people go to play games of chance and skill.” Some casinos even offer free drinks and food to their patrons while they gamble.
One of the things that makes Martin Scorsese’s Casino so successful is that it doesn’t take any shortcuts in its depiction of mob violence and corruption. The movie isn’t afraid to show the brutality of mobsters and their families and it doesn’t shy away from showing the victims of that violence either. In addition, the film doesn’t give us any good guys to root for. Every character in the movie is mired in treachery and avarice. This doesn’t make the movie any less compelling though, and it helps that the cast of players is so excellent.
Robert De Niro gives a tour de force performance as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, the brash owner of a Las Vegas casino. He knows how to say just the right thing and when to be silent, delivering a performance that is utterly convincing. He’s joined by a marvelous Sharon Stone who delivers a stunning performance as blonde hustler Ginger McKenna.
Joe Pesci rounds out the great ensemble cast as the vicious hood Nicky Santoro. He’s not quite as ruthless as Ace, but he’s still a dangerous man and he lets his anger dictate most of the decisions he makes.
The movie’s production is also impressive. The cinematography is crisp and detailed, aided by the fact that most of the scenes were filmed on location in a real casino. The sets are also well designed and crafted, giving the movie an authentic 1970s feel. The costume designs by John Dunn and Rita Ryack are also excellent. From the vibrant mustard yellows and electric blues of Ace’s suits to Ginger’s mix of glamorous cocktail dresses and slightly tackier white leather miniskirts, the costumes are spot-on.
The soundtrack is also excellent. The score is written by James Horner, who won an Oscar for it, and the songs are catchy and memorable. All of the actors give outstanding performances and the script is tightly woven together with an excellent narrative style. It’s one of the best mafia movies ever made and it’s a must-see for anyone interested in seeing how the mob can ruin lives in just a few short moments. The only thing that could have made the film better would have been if it had a little more levity and humor to balance out some of the brutal violence. However, it’s a minor quibble. Casino is a must-see for any fan of mafia films or any film lover in general. The only way to experience the full impact of this film is to see it for yourself.