Few films have done as much to put a face on the city of Las Vegas as Casino. It may not have the pizzazz of Goodfellas or the lurid mob glamour of Scarface, but it does a superb job of laying bare its mafia origins and past ties with organized crime while also showing its opulence, neon signs, and gamblers having fun at cards and slots.
Casino has a lot to offer, including some of the best acting in a movie this year. Its story, based on true events, is epic and complicated, but Scorsese makes it accessible. He delivers it with the energy and pacing he’s known for, as well as a wealth of little details that feel just right. There’s the moment when Ace orders the kitchen staff to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin,” for example, or the scene where airborne feds snooping on low-level hoods are forced to make an emergency landing at the golf course they’re spying from.
When gambling, there’s no such thing as a sure bet. Even though a player might come ahead in the short term, over the long haul the house edge will grind them down into unprofitability. That’s why casinos use psychological tactics like dazzling lights and music to create a manufactured euphoria that keeps players playing. They also use strategies like introducing near wins to make players believe that they’re in with a chance at winning.