Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci

Casino reunites actors Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci with director Martin Scorsese in America’s playground—Las Vegas.  Nicholas Pileggi, who co-wrote the screenplay of Goodfellas with Scorsese, also returns for this film.  Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro) and Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) move from the Midwest to Las Vegas where Rothstein takes control of the Tangiers Casino with the backing of his crime bosses from the Midwest.  Santoro accompanies Rothstein to Vegas as his muscle.  In this story of money, murder, and deceit, Martin Scorsese delivers another timeless classic that shows us that Vegas can be equally glamorous and gritty. 

Since the film reunited several key players from Goodfellas—Scorsese, De Niro, Pesci, and Pileggi—Casino was inevitably compared to it.  Back in 1995, Scorsese was criticized heavily for this not being as good as Goodfellas.  Don’t worry about that when you watch this movie.  This doesn’t mean that Casino is not a great film.  For its grand story of mobsters, their rise to power and wealth, and their inevitable fall, this film gets a sober rating.  It’s an epic worth seeing, and I do mean that literally.  Casino is a three hour mob flick.  Make sure you have bathroom breaks when you watch this!