If you’re a fan of films by Martin Scorsese then you should definitely watch Casino. It is one of his best movies and while it’s not quite up there with his other masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, or Hugo, it is still a great film. It tells the story of a group of mobsters who run Las Vegas casinos and are destroyed due to their greed, lust, and hubris. It features a superb performance by Sharon Stone and is a masterful film in every aspect, particularly the editing.
The movie focuses on Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) who runs the Stardust casino in Las Vegas. The mob backs him but he has an issue with gambling charges and the resulting debt. He’s sent out to clear them in Vegas but ends up falling in love with call-girl Ginger McKenna (Stone). Meanwhile, mob muscle Nicky Santoro (Pesci) is trying to take over the town.
Casino is a brutal and violent movie, but it doesn’t resort to gore for shock value or style. The violence is actually very realistic and believable. It shows the way that people react and behave at a casino and how they follow certain routines. This makes them easy to spot and identify for security.
The film also covers the different issues surrounding casinos including the fact that they can be a magnet for problem gamblers and that they have a negative impact on communities, despite bringing in money. They drain resources from other local entertainment options and even have a negative effect on the economy. They also have the potential to increase crime in a community.