The opulence, neon lights and gambling crowds of Las Vegas have made the city synonymous with partying and weekend getaways. However, beneath the glitzy exterior is a complex system designed to slowly drain casino patrons of their money. While many movies barely scratch the surface, Martin Scorsese’s Casino is a film that exposes the dark side of the city’s history.
The movie follows Sam Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert hired by the Chicago Outfit to run their casinos in Las Vegas. His job is complicated by his Mafia ties, his relationships and the fact that Las Vegas is changing.
While the movie does have some violent scenes, including the torture of a man with a vice and the murder of Joe Pesci’s character, they are not gratuitous. They show that the characters’ lives are not insulated from their professional obligations and that there is always a price to pay for betrayal.
Casino is also a movie about family and friendships and the way that both are tested by the pressure of the mob world. Sharon Stone gave one of the most memorable performances of her career as the streetwise chip hustler Ginger McKenna, while Joe Pesci is utterly menacing as Nicky Santoro. It is a rich story that even appeals to those who do not like movies about organized crime. This is due in part to the fact that unlike Goodfellas, which focuses almost solely on Henry Hill’s professional life, Casino shows how a person’s entire personal life can be shaped by their work.