Saturday, January 07, 2006

Casino

In effect a sequel to Goodfellas, this Scorsese-Pileggi collaboration starring DeNiro and Pesci tells a broader story, of the mob in 70s Vegas, with documentary brio and eye-dazzling design, and is almost as good as its precursor. Sharon Stone brings her own thunder to the cast, but there is no sympathetic character to provide our entry into this alien world of shabby glitz and violence. DeNiro’s bookmaker turned casino manager is an interesting but chilly presence. True to form, Pesci is maniacal and chilling. You learn more than you feel, except for revulsion, but this is a revealing glimpse of one aspect of American ways of business and entertainment. (1995, dvd, r.) *8* (MC-73, RT-85.)

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