Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein (Robert De Niro) knew everything there was to know about gambling. He never lost and made sure it stayed that way, soon becoming the owner of the one of the biggest casinos in Las Vegas. Along with his partner, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), their establishment was tightly run and woe betide anybody who tried to cheat the house.
Money was everything and being able to do whatever they wanted brought about a lust for power and even a rivalry between the two. Especially when Sam met Ginger Mckenna (Sharon Stone) who would be the love of his life, whether she liked it or not.
Casino is arguably Martin Scorsese’s biggest hit of the Nineties and is finally available on digital for the first time. Giving audiences exactly what they came for, the renowned director whose biggest hits have been gangster infused crime dramas knows what to give them. Thanks mostly to Nicholas Pileggi who co-wrote the script, adapted from his own book.
Some may say that Scorsese had been trying to reignite interest in his biggest hits as with Goodfellas almost a decade prior, but adding a real-life element may show his audience that truth can be stranger than fiction. However, there are some issues with Casino and for a casual audience of Scorsese’s work, they may know how it goes.
A director known for stylish and snappy gangster movies where the crime and the violence looks all too glamorous may turn away those who don’t know any better from the director. However, for those die-hard fans who want to be reminded of how well De Niro and Pesci have worked together before, then it’s a feast for the eyes.
Taking a look at a man who’s probably the most despicable kind of criminal anybody could imagine, his greed and need to control everything is almost shown in a favourable light. After all, the movie starts with him being the victim of a car bomb and then goes back to how it all started. This lets audiences know that Sam Rothstein is the kind of man that you want to stay on your side. So, whether the audience likes it or not, they have to stay by his side and decide how they feel about him.
Casino may be one of Scorsese’s most underappreciated movies, but if you’re a fan of his work and want to see some great performances from some of his best-known collaborators, then it may warrant revisiting.
Crime, Drama | USA, 1995 | 15 | Digital Download | 27th February 2023 (UK) | Vertigo Releasing | Dir.Martin Scorsese | Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Joes Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles
