After the soaring success of Goodfellas, Universal Pictures signed up Martin Scorsese to direct Casino. This was a different sort of mob film, focusing less on over-the-top characters and more on the process of criminals coming to grips with their inevitable downfall. Featuring the same cast of players (including the excellent Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro, completing their collaboration that started with Raging Bull), this was a hard-hitting film for its time.
The pacing of the film is unmatched. The story is told with a sense of urgency, and it’s punctuated by moments of little detail that feel right, like Ace ordering the casino cooks to put exactly the same amount of blueberries in each muffin. Scorsese captures the essence of 1970s gangster culture in a way that few other filmmakers could.
Unlike the more nebulous Goodfellas, Casino makes its point with clarity and force. It is a harsh but delicately balanced work that speaks to even those who dislike the subject matter. Sharon Stone gave one of her best performances as Ginger, and her character represents a step forward for female characters in Scorsese’s work.
It is important to find a casino with a wide variety of games. You also want to make sure that the casino offers a good selection of payment methods. It’s a good idea to look for a site that offers well-known software providers, and you should look for a casino that offers 24/7 customer support. This is important for those who are more comfortable using live chat or telephone rather than email.