A casino is a gambling establishment, where players can gamble and place bets on various games of chance. These games can include card games such as poker, blackjack and roulette, as well as slot machines and video lottery machines. Many casinos also feature live entertainment such as shows by famous musical artists and comedians. The thrill of these shows and the opportunity to win big money adds value to a casino visit.
A true Sin City epic, Casino lays bare the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas’s past ties to organized crime while at the same time depicting its opulence and neon signs. The film features a strong central performance from Robert De Niro as casino boss Sam “Ace” Rothstein, who espouses a worldview that would seem to be at odds with his position as the city’s kingpin of crooked gaming.
But it is Sharon Stone who steals the show as the irrepressible hustler Ginger McKenna. Her perpetual motion is both awe-inspiring and mesmerizing, and she exhibits an effortless ability to hold and guide the camera’s attention. It’s a stunning performance, and one that both builds on and inverts her star-making turn in Basic Instinct.
Director Martin Scorcese proves to be a master of camera movement, angle and framing. His use of music also deserves special mention. Although the movie is a notch below his best (Taxi Driver and Raging Bull), it’s still an important contribution to modern cinema.