Review of Casino Jack (2010) by Alex C — 05 Feb 2011

Casino Jack is a fictionalized movie about an American Lobbyist Jack Abramoff (K.Spacey) who relentlessly pursued the All American Dream during the 80s and 90s leaving much colleteral damage in his wake.

The movie starts from the humble beginnings of Jack before he became The Super Lobbyist. Lobbying is much more flashy side of politics in American than here in the Old World. Considered as normal continuum of politics in the states, the whole lobbying - in which money is used to influence politics - feels much more parasitical and dishonest here in Europe. Or more likely, it is kept more behind the curtain over this side of the pond so to speak.

Politics aside, the movie is about the great rise of personal empire and the eventuall messy fall of it. Casino Jack has the potential of good movie, unfortunately it is dilluted down by excessive amounts of humour which weakens its resolve and credibility as a believable story. A movie can only have certain amount of laughs and bad humour in it and still maintain credibility, Casino Jack crosses that line way too many times.

Kevin Spacey gives a good role as the egotistical Casino Jack who has no tough time scamming already extensively abused native people of America for self gain. Taking the Indians money for empty promises and building his own casino empire with the cash can be considered the epiphany of gross business conduct. For this Jack Abramoff was convicted to prison in 2004 for ~6 years.

Casino Jack is watchable, but feels like a joke. With more serious attitude and respect towards the real events the movie could have been good drama, but as it is, it is just OK:ish entertainment.