In a sense Robert De Niro reprises Harvey Keitel's role in Mean Streets, while Pesci's role is similiar to De Niro's in that movie. The story though has shades of Mean Streets a lot, two friends in crime, and one having to face problems due to his hot headed friend's criminal activities. Often overshadowed by other Marty gangster classics like Goodfellas, Mean Streets, personally would rate this among my favorites. There is also the gold digger Ginger McKenna(Sharon Stone), a former hustler, who marries him for the money, while cheating on the side with her long time boyfriend Lester Diamond(James Woods). While he successfully manages to get the Casino into profits, he has to deal with his hot headed friend Nicky Santoro(Joe Pesci), whose own parallel criminal activites, get the attention of the law. This film is truly a gem.Casino based on the book by Nicholas Pileggi, revolves around Sam Rothstein(Robert De Niro), an expert handicapper, asked to look after the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas by the Chicago Outfit. Casino exemplifies not only the best of a Scorsese film, but transcends it.

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. 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. 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. This is the most honest depiction of Las Vegas, especially of the time period it was portrayed in. Every time I watch this picture I fall in love with it all over again. I never thought Pesci would be able to top his dynamic performance in Raging Bull until I saw Casino. The art direction is splendid, most likely the best of any film Scorsese has ever done. The film deals with a particular time period and a particular atmosphere and accomplishes an overwhelming achievement by creating and accurately portraying both. I would also venture to say that this is probably his most ambitious film.

Along with Mean Streets Casino is probably Scorsese's most underrated and unheralded picture.

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.

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