There have been a lot of movies set in Las Vegas but few have captured its true history like Casino. Written by Nicholas Pileggi and directed by Martin Scorsese, the movie is a mafia thriller that’s filled with bravura set pieces and plenty of little details that make it feel real.
The film follows a faction of the mob that ran Vegas casinos. Starring Robert De Niro as bookie Ace Rothstein, the film spans three decades and chronicles his rise and fall in the gambling world. Along the way, he marries a con-artist trophy wife (Sharon Stone) and struggles with his friendship with loose-cannon Nicky Santoro.
The story is driven by characters who are forced to make terrible decisions that will ultimately lead to their downfalls. It’s an effective approach that elevates the film beyond its genre and makes it accessible even to those who don’t typically like mafia films.
Casino’s opening is a frenzy of fast cuts and stylized documentary footage that feels as much like a behind-the-scenes look at the casino business as it does a fictional film about gangsters. As the movie progresses, however, Scorsese slowly begins to drop the narration in favor of more traditional filmmaking techniques.
Ultimately, the movie is a great example of how good acting and cinematography can lift even the most tired story. It’s also an excellent showcase for De Niro and Pesci who give some of their finest performances in the film. While critics will probably continue to debate whether Ray Liotta or Sharon Stone deserved an Oscar, no one can argue that they didn’t give strong performances.