In Casino, Scorsese once again delivers a film that’s a notch below his best (Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Hugo) but still a notch above most anything else out there. He tells the story with a pulsing energy, and he’s a master of detail, from the tacky 70s period decor to little moments like Ace ordering the casino cooks to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin.”
Based on Frank Rosenthal, the man who ran casinos for the mob until his arrest in 1978, Casino follows the rise and fall of a gambler-turned-mobster, and shows how easy it is for even the most talented and hardworking gangster to lose it all. As usual, the movie is anchored by a strong performance from De Niro, and he’s matched by Joe Pesci as his mobbed-up son-in-law.
The other star of the film is Sharon Stone, who spikes the movie with her feisty performances as Ginger McKenna, the high-priced call girl who seduces and then hounds Ace. She’s a powerhouse, and like Basic Instinct’s Catherine Tramell, she exults in her ability to keep men up and at the tables.
The movie also includes a biting look at the way that casinos manipulate their players. For example, they strategically place essential facilities like toilets and restaurants deep within the gaming area to force patrons to pass by numerous slot machines, table games, and other temptations on their way to cash out or grab a bite to eat. This strategy is supposed to increase the likelihood of spur-of-the-moment decisions to spend more money, and it’s often paired with loyalty programs that reward players with free meals, drinks, hotel rooms, or even luxurious entertainment experiences.