Casino (1995)
Most people would not believe that a review of this film is even necessary. Anyone who has any sort of familiarity with films will see the names Martin Scorsese, Robert De’Niro, and Joe Pesci and just know that they are about to be treated to a fantastic cinematic event.
Martin Scorsese shows the two faces of Vegas through the eyes of Ace Rothstein (Robert De’Niro), a meticulous odds maker who has made a fortune for the Italian mafia. As a reward for his work on their behalf, Ace is given a casino in Las Vegas to run. When he moves to the desert he is quickly followed by his murderous childhood friend, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci). Santoro has been sent by bosses back in NY to keep an eye on Ace as he runs the casino.
The film is narrated by each character as you see the casino scene of the 1970’s and 80’s through their eyes. Ace is the professional, meticulous side of the organization who runs the Tangiers casino as a mostly legitimate business. Nicky and his crew are the muscle who use brutal, strong arm tactics to keep Tangiers profitable for the bosses back home. Each character of fatally flawed as Ace falls for hustler and prostitute, and puts his complete trust in her dishonest, manipulative nature. Nicky falls into a deep pit of violence and drugs as he tries to make Vegas his own.
This is one of Scorsese’s best films and it is almost a crime to pass this one by.
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