Casino (1995)

Director:

Martin Scorsese

Writers (WGA):

Nicholas Pileggi (book)
Nicholas Pileggi (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

You don't stay at the top forever

Plot:

Greed, deception, money, power, and murder occur between two mobster best friends and a trophy wife over a gambling empire.

Plot Keywords:

Casino | Las Vegas | Mafia | Murder | Gambling

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Sam 'Ace' Rothstein
Sharon Stone	...	Ginger McKenna
Joe Pesci	...	Nicky Santoro
James Woods	...	Lester Diamond
Frank Vincent	...	Frank Marino
Pasquale Cajano	...	Remo Gaggi
Kevin Pollak	...	Phillip Green
Don Rickles	...	Billy Sherbert
Vinny Vella	...	Artie Piscano
Alan King	...	Andy Stone
L.Q. Jones	...	Pat Webb
Dick Smothers	...	Senator
Joseph Rigano	...	Vincent Borelli
John Bloom	...	Don Ward
Melissa Prophet	...	Jennifer Santoro

Also Known As:

Casino (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong brutal violence, pervasive strong language, drug use and some sexuality.

Runtime:

178 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS-Stereo | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Brazil:18 | Australia:R | Italy:VM14 | Philippines:R-18 | Israel:18 | India:A | Poland:15 | Argentina:18 | Canada:16+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Chile:18 | Denmark:16 | France:-12 | Germany:16 (w) | Hong Kong:III | Ireland:18 | Japan:R-15 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Norway:18 | Peru:18 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:R (certificate #34125) | Finland:K-18 | Finland:K-16 (cut) | Singapore:R(A) | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Baker, Mojave Desert, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

To avoid the continuity problems that accompany a chain-smoking movie character, Robert De Niro always held his cigarettes the same distance from the lit end so that their lengths never appear to change.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: A close-up shot of silver dollars in the beginning of the film reveals a bicentennial silver dollar, released during the years 1975-1976. The film's beginning takes place in 1973.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ace Rothstein: [voice-over] When you love someone, you've gotta trust them. There's no other way. You've got to give them the key to everything that's yours. Otherwise, what's the point? And for a while, I believed, that's the kind of love I had.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Say Goodnight to the Bad Guys (2008) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Virginia

An underrated and undervalued Scorsese Classic

If you haven't seen Casino yet, stop whatever it is you're doing, rush to the nearest video store, rent it, and watch it. Along with Mean Streets Casino is probably Scorsese's most underrated and unheralded picture. I would also venture to say that this is probably his most ambitious film. The film deals with a particular time period and a particular atmosphere and accomplishes an overwhelming achievement by creating and accurately portraying both. The art direction is splendid, most likely the best of any film Scorsese has ever done. The acting is superb. I never thought Pesci would be able to top his dynamic performance in Raging Bull until I saw Casino. Every time I watch this picture I fall in love with it all over again. This is the most honest depiction of Las Vegas, especially of the time period it was portrayed in. Scorsese's direction is flawless. Perhaps it is because I watch alot of Scorsese and Kubrick films, but I am becoming less satisfied with plot driven films and more enamored by films that possess the freedom that typical stories just don't seem to hold. Sharon Stone gives the best performance of her career, and as far as the editing is concerned, well if you believe like Kubrick and Pudovkin that a film is not shot, but built who better to have on your team than long time cohort, collaborator, and editor Thelma Schoonmaker. Ultimately, the genius of Scorsese is not just in the mastery of the medium, but in the understanding and appreciation for the necessity of great collaborators on all levels that Scorsese has consistently utilized throughout his career. Casino exemplifies not only the best of a Scorsese film, but transcends it. This film is truly a gem.