Review of Casino Jack (2010) by Rohit P — 27 Nov 2010

Kevin Spacey (Se7en, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty) delivers a fine and compelling performance in Casino Jack, as disgraced-disgraced-disgraced (times two hundred) Washington lobbyist, Jack Abramoff.

The film is based on actual events and I think it would definitely help knowing something about Abramoff and his situation before seeing the film as alot of it could easily go above peoples' heads.

The beginning of the film is frenzied and fast and there isn't much set-up of the key players. We aren't given much background or motivation and so if one doesn't know the key players I believe he or she could quickly find himself/herself lost in the shuffle as there is a lot going on.

There are a lot of character introductions right off the bat and we also have a very quick showing of some of the lobbying deals Abramoff and his right-hand man, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper - Saving Private Ryan, Seven Pounds, The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada), conspire to make.

The film does seem to question which crook was more crooked but it doesn't let anybody off of the hook -- as these men were fully aware that they were ripping people off for millions and millions of dollars.

Abramoff dupes Native American tribes out of millions of dollars from their casinos (by "representing" them), he posts fraudulant returns from his very own floating casino etc. The man is a professional criminal but he was celebrated amongst many members in the upper echelons of the republican party because what he was doing -- "making money" -- was legal.

The film's shocking depiction of prestige and entitlement will leave a viewer cold as these men embody all that is wrong with the corporate/political world. Abramoff was probably the most successful lobbyist around who wined and dined members of both houses in Washington DC "buying" their votes -- he even flew delegations of elected officals to the South Pacific and Europe to win their vote -- yes, our elected officals SOLD their votes for a nice meal and a round of golf on St.

Andrew's in Scotland! Absolutely no tactic was too much or went too far in securing what he wanted/needed. Unfortunately Abramoff was playing in a house made out of cards ... because once one toppled over, the entire structure came crashing down upon him.

Casino Jack is eye-opening and common sense tells us that bribery is still going on in Washington DC even without Abramoff present. As long as lobbyists RULE (yes, RULE) Washington and continue playing their games of chance, the everyday people of the country don't stand a chance.