Martin Scorsese is a master of films that focus on flawed characters who rise to the top before eventually falling due to their own poor decisions. Casino takes the formula of Goodfellas and applies it to a different type of story – one that looks at the mob’s relationship with Las Vegas. It’s a fascinating look at how a city that mints money in the billions is run by corrupt and greedy men.
It’s a three hour film and never feels sluggish or runs out of steam. The editing is taut and the narration is spot on. The cast is superb – with Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Sharon Stone all delivering outstanding performances.
The opening scenes are shot with a documentary-like style and feel entertaining from the get-go. The narrator’s voice-overs are also spot on, revealing a lot of exposition that helps the viewer quickly understand the world of Sam “Ace” Rothstein and his mob connections. Over time, the film evolves from this fast-cut, documentary approach and moves towards more of a traditional narrative.
The best performance of the film comes from Stone as Ginger McKenna, a smart hustler who loves to seduce her marks. She spikes the movie’s energy with her sexy presence and her ability to manipulate her men. It’s a great character to watch, and one that helped make her a superstar at the time. It’s a great example of how Scorsese can use his storytelling skills to elevate even the most ordinary genre films.
