Casino

release year: 1995
genre: drama
viewing setting: home DVD, 11/16/09 and 3/28/07 and 6/29/03

synopsis: This is the story of the rise and fall of a Las Vegas casino boss.

impressions: This was a great crime/violence drama, with everything you'd expect: beatings, gunplay, gambling, an insider's take on everything, crooked cops, lots of profanity, gangsters, payoffs, big money, pimps and whores, and multiple narratives to tie it all together from different characters' points of view. I was really impressed. There were some insights into casino workings, cheating, skimming, how to deal with high rollers, etc. Vegas is broken down into its most basic component: money. It's a money-making machine, and when the people who run that machine start to argue and have problems, the machine isn't as efficient, which has repercussions.

things to watch for: There are so many, but near the end, certain people get what's coming to them, and it's brutal but yet good.

something this movie has that no other movie has: Murder by pen, via several dozen stabs.

acting: Robert DeNiro is the financial/betting genius who can make money for the bit bosses. Joe Pesci is the fiery-tempered friend with more ambition than sense. Sharon Stone is a hustler with major weaknesses. James Woods is her sleazy ex-pimp who still has a hold over her. There were several dozen supporting roles, too many to name here, but they all did good jobs.

final word: Must-see.

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