As a film, Casino is one of the most shocking of Scorsese\u2019s career. The torture of a man with a vice, the attempted murder of De Niro by car bomb, and the eventual suicide of Joe Pesci\u2019s character are all disturbing in their own ways. But they are also true to reality \u2013 and that\u2019s what makes them so effective. The movie doesn\u2019t glorify the violence; it simply portrays it as it really was.<\/p>\n
The opening scene is especially striking. The fast-cut style of the shots is meant to resemble documentary footage, giving viewers the impression that they are watching a behind-the-scenes look at how casinos operate. But as the movie progresses, Scorsese\u2019s editing evolves to almost completely remove narration and let the camera work on its own, focusing on the characters\u2019 decisions and the consequences of those choices.<\/p>\n
Casino also reveals how casinos manipulate people into spending more money. Every aspect of a casino is designed to draw players into betting more: lights, sounds, and physical design all play their parts. For example, a casino might have curving paths and strategically placed gaming sections to encourage players to try out a new game or a new table even when they\u2019re on their way to the restroom or an exit. Casinos also offer free drinks and meals to high-rollers, as well as discounted or complimentary hotel rooms.<\/p>\n
While we\u2019ve seen mob movies before, including Scorsese\u2019s own Goodfellas, the story in Casino is truly epic. The mafia\u2019s struggle to hold onto Vegas is portrayed as nothing short of a Greek tragedy. Despite its epic nature, the movie never lags or feels boring. Several of the actors, most notably Sharon Stone\u2019s Ginger, deliver some of the best performances of their careers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a film, Casino is one of the most shocking of Scorsese\u2019s career. The torture of a man with a…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n