Casino marks the eighth collaboration between director Martin Scorsese and star Robert De Niro. Following Mean Streets and Goodfellas, which delved into lower level mobsters, this film is about a mobster at the top of his game. Casino’s characters are mired in violence, treachery and avarice.
Yet the movie is still a compelling watch, and De Niro once again gives a stellar performance as casino owner Sam “Ace” Rothstein. The character is a complex one that doesn’t fit into the traditional mold of a mobster, but he rises to prominence in Las Vegas because of his connections with the Chicago Outfit and his ability to manipulate money and people.
Many movies set in casinos focus on the glitz and glamour of the gambling world, but Casino is more interested in its seedier underbelly. Its depiction of a corrupt gambling culture is augmented by the history of organized crime in Vegas, which swirls through all aspects of the story.
Beneath the flashing lights and complimentary alcohol, casinos are designed to bleed gamblers of their hard-earned cash. They use a variety of tricks to make losing feel less like a big loss. In addition to changing your cash into chips that don’t sting as much, they often have lighting schemes that are deliberately confusing, and can even be covered in window tint that makes the casino look daytime inside. Casinos are also constantly scanning for cheaters and will immediately alert law enforcement if they suspect that anyone is trying to circumvent the rules of the games.
