Casino is a harsh, brilliant movie that makes no concessions for the good guys. All the characters are mired in violence, treachery and avarice. This is what makes it so effective and speaks even to those who don’t like the subject of organized crime.

Casino shows us the hidden face of Las Vegas – a city built on blood and sleaze. It also shows us the roots of this city, its past ties to organized crime and the origins of the city as we know it today, filled with opulence and neon signs.

The film’s story is about the relationships between two mobster-types, Ace and Nicky. De Niro and Stone give outstanding performances. The two actors have a great on-screen chemistry and the script does an admirable job of exploring their psyches without resorting to the pseudo-romantic cliché. The problem is that the movie tries to do too much and becomes too long.

Casino is a very violent movie, but it’s based on true stories and events. It’s not as graphic as Raging Bull and Good Fellas, but it still shows some disturbing scenes involving torture, the attempted murder of a man with a vice, and the rape and death of Joe Pesci’s character. The movie is very interesting and entertaining, but it’s definitely not for everyone. However, it’s one of the best movies by Martin Scorsese. If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. It’s a must-see for any fan of the director or of mafia movies in general.