Review of Casino (1995) by Paul Z — 30 Dec 2012

Though it never feels self-contained, it sometimes resembles a 3-hour montage. But when it does slow down for a set piece or a dialogue scene, that set piece or dialogue is just as riveting as the machine-gun editing and swooping camera.

When two characters talk, it always sounds like His Girl Friday in the rapid-fire naturalistic earnestness of the delivery. Pesci is classic and Stone is a revelation here, but let's not overlook a very underappreciated De Niro performance.