As with the great westerns of yesteryear, Casino is all about a grand tragedy. Martin Scorsese’s film is an epic of betrayal and destruction, set in a place where the characters can’t escape from their past mistakes. Rather than Goodfellas’ ground-level view of blue collar gangsters, this movie zooms out to examine how the mob controlled Vegas. It’s fascinating stuff, and Casino does it well.
But while the film smacks of classic gangster genres, it is also a morality tale. The film suggests that vice and inequity cannot be tolerated. Convinced that they are unwatched, the mobsters become increasingly brazen in flaunting their crimes. Sam hosts a talk show from the Tangiers; Remo holds meetings in a garage; and low-level hood Artie Piscano keeps track of his expenses. Eventually, this inevitability leads to their demise.
While many consider Goodfellas to be Scorsese’s finest film, Casino is not only a better picture but a more complex one. The cast is outstanding, with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci both delivering the best performances of their careers. But it is Sharon Stone who truly steals the show as Ginger McKenna, a femme fatale opportunist that most men would be glad to tame. Casino is a true gem of the cinema. A must-see for anyone who loves crime films. Just be prepared to sit through three hours of a brutal and sometimes tedious story of power, greed, and revenge. Despite its length, the film is still well worth the watch.