"Listen to me very carefully. There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way, and the way that I do it. You understand?" -Sam Rothstein, Casino (1995)
I absolutely love Martin Scorsese's films. I don't think there's one I haven't seen. From Taxi Driver, The Departed, and Goodfellas, to The Aviator and The Wolf of Wall Street. Each film is unique in it's own way with characters so flawed and yet so human played with exceptional skill by a team of heavyweight actors. There will be time to discus many and more of his movies, but today's film I want to highlight is 1995's Casino.
Nothing says "The Mob" like golden age Las Vegas. Money was moving and flowing through more pockets then you could believe, and in 1973 Sam 'Ace' Rothstein was the man who knew how to grab every penny. Played by Robert De Niro, Sam is practically given the Tangiers Hotel and Casino by the Teamster's Union after proving his worth back home to them by making a fortune by being a professional gambler. Throw in a childhood friend from the mob (Joe Pesci), and a gorgeous call girl who has plans of her own (Sharon Stone), and things take a certain yet entertaining turn.
Without giving anything away, Casino at it's heart is a tragedy. A tragedy of business, friendship, marriage, and Vegas itself. It's a classic Scorsese film, and I loved every minute of it. Just like watching a car crash or train derail, you can't help but watch in awe as these characters take a good thing and destroy it. Definitely a roller coaster. The editing was top notch, and you can totally tell this was the Academy's pick from that year. The flashy 1970's costumes were just as dazzling at the Vegas lights, and the personalities portrayed onscreen.
The only thing I could criticize this movie for is it's length. With a runtime of 178 minutes (that's two hours and fifty-eight minutes) it can be a daunting challenge. Although it's not Scorsese's longest running feature, that type of runtime is nothing new to the veteran filmmaker or his fans. Some parts did seem a little slow, but when telling an epic tale of money, deceit, and crime; you have to tell the most complete story you can.
The human mind is capable of so much kindness and cruelty, and to test those limits there's no better backdrop than Viva Las Vegas.