MoeFOH's Movie of the Week... Week #44

[MoeFOH]

MoeFOH's Movie of the Week 🎥

Each week we're going to spotlight a movie... be it a classic, new release, hidden gem, or outright turd... and open it for discussion: i.e. post up your favourite quotes, clips, memories... or dive deeper and give us a critique on why you think it's great, overrated, or a complete train wreck... And finally score it for us...  

All contributors go into a monthly prize draw for a 3-cigar sampler! 

PM me with suggestions if there's a movie you want to nominate for next week's discussion. 

 

Week #44: Casino

Moe says: I had a request to go back-to-back Scorsese from @westg, and well, I think that's a fine idea!

Casino ranks right up there in this mob flick genre and in Scorsese's oeuvre. A lot of similarities with the dynamic between De Niro and Pecsi from Goodfellas, and their characters in general - when you're on a good thing!...  Sharon Stone also puts in what must surely have been her career-best performance. It's a long film, just shy of 3 hours, so another 30mins on top of Goodfellas' duration, therefore it's a little more inaccessible in that you have to be in for the long long haul, but I find that fantastic if the film holds up... and Casino definitely does! 8.5/10 for me!

Casino is a 1995 American epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, produced by Barbara De Fina and distributed by Universal Pictures. It is based on the 1995 nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay along with Scorsese. It stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, and James Woods. The film was the eighth collaboration between director Scorsese and De Niro.

Casino follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is asked by the Chicago Outfit to oversee the day-to-day casino and hotel operations at the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas. Other major characters include Nicky Santoro (Pesci), a "made man" and friend of Sam, and Ginger McKenna (Stone), a streetwise chip hustler who Sam marries and has a daughter with. The film details Sam's operation of the casino, the difficulties he confronts in his job, the Mafia's involvement with the casino, and the gradual breakdown of his relationships and standing, as Las Vegas changes over the years.

The primary characters are based on real people: Sam is inspired by the life of Frank Rosenthal, also known as "Lefty," who ran the Stardust, Fremont, Marina, and Hacienda casinos in Las Vegas for the Chicago Outfit from 1968 until 1981. Nicky and Ginger are based on mob enforcer Anthony Spilotro and former dancer and socialite Geri McGee, respectively.

Casino was released on November 22, 1995, by Universal Pictures, to a mostly positive critical reception, and was a worldwide box office success. Stone's performance was singled out for acclaim, earning her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

Over to you!

How do you rate it out of 10? 

Post up favourite clips, quotes, etc... 

[MoeFOH]

 

[KCCubano]

For me a notch below GoodFellas but still 10/10

[TroutBum]

25 minutes ago, KCCubano said:

For me a notch below GoodFellas but still 10/10

[Ford2112]

Different vibe than Goodfellas. I love James Woods role ,he nails that skeezy down and out character perfectly. I love the film. 10/10

 

[JohnS]

The way Joe Pesci's character meets his end is unforgettable. Agreed...this isn't as good as Goodfellas but then again, most movies aren't. 9 out of 10.

[shokao]

I miss movies like Casino and Goodfellas. Even though Scorsese delivered "The Irishman" recently, I don't think it matches the quality of the story in those other two...

They don't make mafia movies like before and that is sad. 

[joeypots]

It’s an incredible movie. 10 of 10. Corrupt, insane, psychopathic characters are fascinating. Dion Rickles? Perfect casting.