By skyforbes I don’t know why Casino in particular but I guess it’s because I never really heard of it and was truly flabbergasted by how solid a film it was. I don’t need to tell you how good this movie is. I really don’t. It’s got one of the most legendary directors directing one of the coolest and most badass actors in the lead role and then Joe Pesci who’s always hilarious. I feel bad he got typecast as the bungling villain from Home Alone because he truly is a dangerous yet funny little munchkin in these gangster movies. He was great in Goodfellas but Pesci’s schtick in Casino was top notch hilarious.
I could describe the plot to you but if you’re at all aware of Martin Scorsese’s style you’ll know what it’s like. It’s a black comedy full of crime of terrible, immoral people slowly getting their comeupance as their criminal empires slip from their grip with things going both hilarious and dangerously wrong. It’s an expertly directed trainwreck of selfish, grimy people making one selfish, grimy decision on top of another until the whole thing implodes and you’re sitting there both laughing and feeling sorry for the cast.
Robert De Niro, though, deserves extra accommodation. I love this man. Whether it’s Goodfellas, Godfather Part 2, Heat or Casino I’m just staring up in ah at how manly, charismatic and cool he is. De Niro is basically the embodiment of every cool trait a guy needs to appear suave and in control on screen and he always brings this otherworldly, near mystic charm with him when he’s on screen. Even though his character, Ace, is kind of immoral, I can’t help but fall in love with him, laughing and fawning over his every move. De Niro is just THAT good at playing a Chad character. I don’t even think the dude needs a script for that. Just put a camera in front of him and he could do near literal magic. He could be on an episode of Barney and it’d be 10/10 cinema.
To give a bit of criticism to Casino though it IS kind of a retread of Goodfellas and Wolf of Wall Street’s subject material but I’m not in the least bit put off by the familiarity. Scorsese’s got the art of the criminal empire downfall epic down and he nails it SO GOOD in this one. The main trio of Ace, Nicky and Ginger perfectly balance likability with flawed and morally absent people whose personal problems aren’t just fun to watch but almost, almost, just a little, heartwarming? It’s a weird style. These guys are the bad guys, they do wrong things, but they’re almost kind of cute in their little ensemble way, like school children always pilfering candy from the store until they get caught and their parents come into spank them. Odd metaphor, I know, but Casino isn’t just another mob or crime movie.
It’s a film that has this almost magical, otherworldly feel, like, this isn’t Las Vegas, this is the city of dreams and drama. It’s got this upbeat, fun feel that only Scorsese can really weave into a story of criminals. You wouldn’t think you could make a story like this something nostalgic and almost sentimental but it IS. It feels like a fairy tail, like your watching the kings and queens of old showing off their lavish palaces and interpersonal drama but in a way that feels inviting, warm and free rather than pretentious or excessive. The movie does advertise itself as a dark drama, and it is, but it’s got that vibe that these are ”the good old days” for this team of gangsters and high rollers and they‘re living it up. I’m not saying it romanticizes crime but it’s got this level of class, sophistication and lovely cinematic language that combined with excellent pacing make it such a delight to watch. It’s like you’re watching a “best hits of” from a band you loved when you were young and wild and free without going overboard with the kitsch.
And I’ll never forget Ace’s monologue at the end. Talking about how the Wild West days of Las Vegas are over and Nicky and Ginger are long gone with only him making it out okay. Normally I don’t get misty eyed over a criminal losing their fiefdom but it feels so melancholic and sad hearing Ace say Las Vegas is now like Disneyworld. The film almost jarringly shifts from slightly comedic, high paced dark drama to somber and regretful so quickly. This isn’t a bad thing though, it’s just that that monologue FEELS so different from the rest of the film and yet feels so right, hitting in a place in your mind where you won’t soon forget. If you’ve seen the film recently enough to remember that monologue RoberT De Niro or are convinced to go watch it, tell me what Ace’s last words in the film mean, because there’s a moral here, a lesson, maybe? Something I can quite articulate was said at the end of Casino that really struck a cord with me. Maybe it’s because I’m a person who has a lot of nostalgia and am really triggered by it but it may be the best closing out to any film I’ve ever seen.
And yeah, it’s one of those films that are so good everything else seems kind of “blaaah” in retrospect. Not saying I’ll never love another movie again but everything is gonna feel pretty weak in comparison to Casino for a while. And for a 3 hour flick, it does NOT feel its length. Good job, Scorsese, good job De Niro. You guys earned your weight in gold with your directing and performance. They’re not long for this world and when they finally go, I’m really go to miss them. Artists THIS GOOD don’t deserve to be forgotten.