Casino is a fascinating film that lays bare an intricate web of corruption. It centers in Las Vegas, but its tendrils reach into politicians, Teamsters unions, the Chicago mob, and even a Midwest mafia based out of Kansas City. It’s based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also wrote the screenplay for the movie with Scorsese.
It’s a rare film that can convey so much about the world of organized crime while being thoroughly entertaining. Casino does this, thanks to great performances by De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci, and the tight direction of Scorsese. It’s a three-hour-long film, but it never feels languid or boring. The editing and narration are sharp, and the film stays taut until its shocking opening scene with the car bomb.
Most movies that show the glitz and glamour of casinos focus on partying and weekend getaways. But Casino digs deeper, showing the origins of Vegas’ ties with organized crime while still showing all the opulence and neon signs. It also reveals the way casinos skim money, stealing profits from other games and gift shops as well as stealing from players who cheat at cards or slots.
The movie is full of little details that make it feel authentic. For instance, when Ace orders the cooks at his casino to put exactly the same amount of blueberries into every muffin, or when airborne feds circling a golf course accidentally run out of gas right on top of the course and have to land right there on the green. These kinds of details are what elevate Casino beyond a regular mafia film.