Casino (Movie Review)

In a world where virtual connection often replaces face-to-face interactions, casinos are one of the few public spaces where people from all walks of life can come together to share an experience. Whether they’re playing a table game, having drinks or celebrating a win, the social aspect of casino play amplifies the fun and builds connections with others. It’s also a place where people are constantly expected to be on alert, and a quick moment of unmindfulness can spell disaster for an entire night.

Casino is a complex, multilayered and beautifully directed film. It takes some of the basic formulas of Goodfellas and applies them to another type of story – this one tells the tale of the guys who controlled those blue collar gangsters – and how they all fell from the heights of power to the bottom of the barrel, due to lust, greed and hubris.

Robert De Niro is outstanding as Ace Rothstein, and his performance demonstrates that Method Acting can still be effective in the hands of a master. Thelma Schoonmaker’s editing is brilliant, and Nicholas Pileggi’s screenplay provides a rich tapestry of fascinating themes.

There are a number of captivating plotlines – the false bedrock of Ace’s marriage, his obsession with money and jewels, Nicky’s sheer scumbaggery (which, like everything else in this film, is so well-built that it’s impossible not to notice). But what really sets this apart from other mob movies is how it shows the gradual road to destruction for all these characters.