Casinos are designed to make you feel like you have stepped into an opulent and captivating environment. They often have lavish decor and top-tier dining options to create a mesmerizing experience for their patrons. They also provide a variety of entertainment and gambling options for their visitors. However, casinos are not without their drawbacks and can cause a lot of problems for those who are not careful.
The film is centered on Sam “Ace” Rothstein (De Niro), who is hired by the Chicago Outfit to run the Tangiers hotel and casino in Sin City. He quickly becomes involved with mobster henchmen Ginger McKenna (Stone) and her pimp Lester Diamond (Woods) as well as mafia strongman Nicky Santoro (Pesci). Casino details the relationship and political troubles that this group faces, and how it all comes crashing down for them. Scorsese tells the story with his usual energy and pacing, along with an attention to detail that he’s famous for. There are many little moments that capture your attention, from the tacky 1970s period decor to Ace ordering the casino cooks to put exactly one blueberry in every muffin.
Unlike Goodfellas, which has a tendency to jump around in time, Casino is more focused and keeps its narrative clear. Events in the film are directly correlated to the characters’ decisions, which makes everything easier for the audience to understand. It also makes the character’s downfall much more tragic than if it just happened to them because of something random.