Unlike other gangster movies that take their audience for a ride in a world they wish they could be a part of, Casino is a true story that lays bare how organized crime lost control of a city that mints billions every year. Based on the book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who had full access to the man who ran mob-controlled casinos in Vegas, the movie makes us feel like eavesdroppers on a secret world.
While Goodfellas is known for its quotable dialogue, Casino takes it to a whole other level. This is partly due to the great acting by Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci, but also because it’s a film that has a real emotional depth. The relationship between Sam “Ace” Rothstein and his best friend from back home, Nicky Santoro, is complex and changes throughout the movie, as opposed to stagnating like it did in Goodfellas.
The film also explains how casinos use a combination of methods to manipulate their patrons into gambling. For instance, they lack clocks to make players unaware of the passage of time. Casinos also offer free drinks to keep players occupied, even though they know that being inebriated can often lead to bad decisions when it comes to gambling.
Most of all, Casino shows how even the most successful criminals can ultimately be brought down to their own weaknesses. It’s a film that warns us about the dangers of greed, addiction and power.
