In Casino, Martin Scorsese tells the fascinating story of a mob faction that controlled Vegas casinos. Based on a true story, the movie feels like a documentary at first as we hear the narration of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) and others recount how the mafia skimmed money from the gaming tables and other places. Eventually, the style of the movie evolves to make you feel less like eavesdropping and more like watching a drama play out.
The story is told over the course of three decades as Rothstein tries to maintain his integrity while keeping his relationship with loose-cannon partner Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) in check. He does so despite having an uncanny ability to win big. The story also highlights the gradual road to destruction that this group and their associates travel down.
Although Casino doesn’t have the pizzazz of Goodfellas, it’s still a thrilling film to watch. The pacing is fast and there’s a wealth of little details to enjoy — from the tacky 1970s decor to the way that Ace orders the cooks to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin.” And while some people will continue to defend Ray Liotta as the best actor of all time, Sharon Stone’s performance in this movie is also a major step up for female characters in Scorsese’s work. She’s a force to be reckoned with.