Casino (Movie Review)

After the massive success of Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese wanted to make a movie that delved deeper into the world of mobster-run casinos. With Casino he succeeded, bringing us a fascinating piece of history that is surprisingly entertaining. It is based on a true story and stars the two leads from Goodfellas, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, completing their collaboration that started in Raging Bull. This is a harsh, violent film but it is also delicately balanced and speaks even to those who dislike the subject of organized crime.

While most movies about Las Vegas only scratch the surface, showing the opulence and neon signs, Casino dives deep and lays bare the origins of this gambling mecca. It shows how a city once run by the mob became overrun with greed and treachery. It is a great film that deserves to be more widely seen than it has been.

One of the interesting aspects of this film is that there are no good guys – all of the characters are mired in violence, betrayal, and avarice. It is a tragic story of men who are at the top of their game and then fall due to lust, hubris, and greed. Seeing these characters’ downfall is a fascinating experience, especially since they all get their comeuppance in the end. Casino is a masterful depiction of human tragedy and it is an excellent film that needs to be seen more often.