Review of Casino (1995) by Karl F — 22 Jan 2012

Martin Scorsese's impressive gangster epic about the mob infiltration of Las Vegas in the early 1970s. Sam 'Ace' Rothstein an obsessive master bookmaking genius who lives and breaths gambling is played superbly by Robert De Niro in a bravura performance.

The Mob bosses have hand-picked Ace to front and run one of the major casinos in Las Vegas, in no time at all Ace with his meticulous skills has double the mob's take of cash. But soon trouble appears when Ace falls hard for a beautifully sexy, gold-digging ex-prostitute Ginger McKenna, played by Sharon Stone in a passionate and dynamic Oscar nominated performance, then their is Nicky Santoro, played by Joe Pesci in a striking performance a deadly mob enforcer who is Ace's longtime best friend, soon they run the perfect operation with Ace in charge and Nicky as the muscle and Ace's protector.

But the lying, excessive stealing and prue greed and drug use between Ginger and Nicky start to take its toll with Ace and the Mob bosses, leading to the FBI and a government probe that will forever change Las Vegas and keep it out of the control of organized crime.

Expert direction by Martin Scorsese with outstanding supporting performances by James Woods, Alan King, Kevin Pollack, L.Q Jones, Dick Smothers with standout performance by comic great Don Rickles as De Niro's loyal friend and casino manager Billy Sherbert.

Expert direction by Martin Scorsese with exquisite cinematography by Robert Richardson and brilliant editing by Thelma Schoonmaker, Marvelous production design by Dante Frerretti. A top drawer crime drama that ratchets up the tension, visually stunning and entertaining.

Highly Recommended.