’When you love someone, you’ve gotta trust them. There’s no other way. You’ve got to give them the key to everything that’s yours. Otherwise, what’s the point? And, for a while, I believed that’s the kind of love I had. ’ - Sam "Ace" Rothstein( De Niro), before his car gets blown into pieces by a bomb.
The most explosive opening, I’ve seen, in any Scorsese movie. Robert De Niro getting blown to the clouds. Begins, almost, like a James Bond movie(influenced by Casino Royale? kidding).
Wiseguys who built Vegas*
Sam "Ace" Rothstein(Robert De Niro) is a Jewish hustler from NY, trusted by the Italian mob(the wiseguys) to run a Casino in Vegas. Reason being Sam loves gambling business, infact lives and breathes it. And also has a keen business acumen. He takes over the rundown’Tangiers’(casino) and turns it into a hip place for gambling attracting gambling-sharks from all over the World. Though the mob isn’t interested in Sam’s obsession with turning his venture into an object of love, they aren’t worried as they get suitcases full of cash on a regular basis. As Sam rightly notes, Casinos always win.
Sam’s dream of creating a’gambling paradise’ is shaken by the entry of Nicky Santoro(Joe Pesci), a gangster( a made up guy) trying to make it big in the virgin deserts of Vegas, intent on creating his own rules and fiefdom. Rothstein’s forced to accept his as his presence has been blessed by the bosses, who want an assurance that the honeypot remains undisturbed. But Nicky is the one looking for trouble. Be it his contempt for local laws and politics or his short-tempered violent nature.
Matter’s further comfounded by Sams’, admitted, mistake of marrying Ginger McKenna(Sharon Stone), a gorgeous casino es*ort, whom Sam cultivated to allure and bankrupt rich and unsuspecting gamblers. Ginger admits to not loving Sam but, nevertheless, marries him for money and the gold that he begins to heap on her. As they say money can’t buy love, and Ginger continues maintaining relationship, in secret, with ex-flame Lester Diamond a low-life conman.
When Sams’ crefully built reputation and gaming licence is at stake, things go from worse to bad. Feds fall behind Nicky for his violent crimes. Ginger becomes a junkie, disillusioned by her failed marriage, and longing for her love(Lester). It becomes a habit for her to runaway from Sam, only to return for money and jewellry. To make matters bad, she begins sleeping with Nicky to get Sam bumped. Bosses appoint a third man a money-pincher who maintains a careful log of illegal transactions so as not to lose money on his TA(travel allowances), thereby making the cookie crumble.
Casnio Royale
Casino is a lavish and extravagant magnum opus by director Martin Scorsese, surpassed perhaps only by his recent’Aviator’. Marty leaves no stone unturned in recreating Vegas of the 70s. The on location shoot in a casino, real Casino performers. Since the story is based on the real-life casino boss Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal( Sam) and chicago ganster Tony "The Ant" Spilotro( Nicky); Scorsese used real-life parolees and FBI agents(who caught them) as consultants to get the touch of authenticity. The script by Nicholas Pillegi , full of punchlines, makes for a pleasureful viewing. In fact you feel sad for the wiseguys as the old Casinos get are pulled down to makeway for current’Disney land’ ones run by Mega-corporations.
Robert De Niro is smashing in the role of a low-key casino boss who likes to keep things quiet and as respectable as feasible. Joe Pesci as the irascible mobster is the perfect foil to De Niros. Be it stabbing a guy with a ball-point pen, or crushing the head of a rival in a vise(after using an ice-pick on his private parts), Pesci is at his ultraviolent best. Sharon Stone fits the role of a gold-digger bimbette to the tee. However the more emotional scenes could have used an actress of more substance. Nevertheless, she adds to the glamor of the Casino.
Another great mob drama from the maestro of mob films. Only drawbacks(NOT TO ME) are the length - putting off viewers with a short attention span; and the overuse of "Voice Overs" - for a feature film most of the story is narrated by the characters of Sam and Nicky. Nevertheless a must watch for Scorsese-De Niro fans.