A casino is a place where people come to gamble and play games of chance. Whether it’s your grandmother who takes weekend bus trips to the closest casino with her friends or you’re someone who likes to play poker in your spare time, casinos are a great place to relax and let your worries go for a little bit. Casinos are filled with a variety of games, great customer service, and lots of lights and noises. But what makes a good casino? Casinos should have plenty of games, be easy to get to and offer excellent customer service. Having these qualities will make customers happy and encourage them to return again and again.
While many movies have shown the glitzy and glamorous side of Las Vegas, few have gone as far as Casino in revealing its dark underbelly. It lays bare the tangled web of corruption that centered in Las Vegas and had tendrils reaching into politicians, unions, the Teamsters, mob bosses, and even Midwest mafia-based Chicago gangsters. The movie also features some truly hellacious violence, including a torture-by-vice scene that includes a popped eyeball and an intensely edited baseball bat beating.
Scorsese brings out the best in his actors, with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci turning in some of their most memorable performances. The film is also one of the most tightly edited that he has ever made and stays lean and mean until the very end, which is impressive for such a long movie.
Despite showing the darker side of gambling, Casino still manages to entertain and inform its audience. It is not without its faults, of course; it can be a bit slow at times and some scenes will drag. However, it is still a great movie to watch and is well worth your time.
Casino is also one of the few movies that have actually been based on true events. The book on which it is based was written by Nicholas Pileggi, who worked as a crime reporter for The New York Post and the author of a number of nonfiction books, including Mafia: Love and Honor in Las Vegas.
Casino is not for everyone, but it does deliver an interesting story that will keep you hooked until the very end. The movie is a must-watch for any fan of mafia and crime fiction. It is a step up from its cousin, Goodfellas, and is definitely worth your time.