Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4306 in DVD
• Released on: 2002-07-15
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, PAL, Widescreen
• Subtitled in: English, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 171 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Director Martin Scorsese reunites with members of his GoodFellas gang (writer Nicholas Pileggi; actors Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci and Frank Vincent) for a three-hour epic about the rise and fall of mobster Sam "Ace" Rothstein (De Niro), a character based on real-life gangster Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal. (It's modelled on Wiseguy and GoodFellas and Pileggi's true crime book Casino: Love and Honour in Las Vegas.) Through Rothstein, the picture tells the story of how the Mafia seized, and finally lost control of, Las Vegas gambling. The first hour plays like a fascinating documentary, intricately detailing the inner workings of Vegas casinos. Sharon Stone is the stand out among the actors; she nabbed an Oscar nomination for her role as the voracious Ginger, the glitzy call girl who becomes Rothstein's wife. The film is not as fast-paced or gripping as Scorsese's earlier gangster pictures (Mean Streets and Good Fellas) but it's still absorbing. And, hey--it's Scorsese! --Jim Emerson

Special Features
2.33 Wide Screen
DVD 5
Czech\French\German\Italian\Polish\Spanish
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English German
Dolby Digital Surround Czech Italian Spanish
Mono Polish
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital Surround
Mono
Production Notes
Filmography
Theatrical Trailer
Danish\Dutch\English\Norwegian\Portuguese

Synopsis
Martin Scorsese, one of America's most influential filmmakers, returns to the world of mobsters, greed, and excess that he explored so compellingly in 1990's GOODFELLAS. Set in the 1970s and revelling in the minute details of how Las Vegas casinos operate, the film chronicles the rise and fall of casino manager Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro). As the king of his domain, Ace efficiently runs the business and regularly sends lots of cold cash to his bosses. Helping him keep the casino's employees and customers honest is his best friend, Nicky (Joe Pesci), a violent sociopath. Although Ace aims to run a relatively respectable casino, the volatile Nicky wants to take over the entire gambling mecca, and when Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone), a seasoned Vegas hustler, enters the picture, Ace and Nicky's friendship is complicated even further. As drugs and alcohol become a bigger part of Ginger's life, all three are eventually brought down by their own greed and blind ambition. CASINO shares many similarities with GOODFELLAS, beginning with a script that was cowritten by Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi. Regulars De Niro and Pesci are first rate once again as the dissimilar companions, but it is Stone who steals the show with her gruelling, intense performance.

Customer Reviews

RECOMMENDED
This movie has often I think unfairly been accused of merely being a Goodfellas remake set in Las Vegas. Sure it shares the same cast, crew and subject matter as Goodfellas but to dismiss this movie as a remake I think is totally unfair. Goodfellas is a very popular critically acclaimed movie and considered by many to be Scorcese's finest work but I have to honestly say that I enjoyed this movie almost every bit as much. Maybe it's because De Niro is the star as opposed to a supporting actor. He is after all the finest actor of his generation and he like the rest of the cast (including, surprisingly, Sharon Stone) are on top form here.

Casino is what can only be described as hard hitting and brutal in it's realistic portrayal of the mob, how they controlled Las Vegas, lost control of Vegas and there violent way of life (and death). If you don't like violence, don't watch this movie or at least keep your hands ready to cover your eyes at the first sight of a pen, a woodwork vice or a baseball bat. Trust me, these scenes will make any sane person whince. De Niro is fantastic in this movie as Sam "Ace" Rothstein and he is ably supported by Joe Pesci in what is admittedly basically a reprisal (but none the less a very good reprisal) of his psychopath role in Goodfellas. It's gritty and realistic and it's a long movie (approx. 3 hours) but it was three hours of quality that kept me and my friends glued and captivated in front of the television. This is definitely not for everybody but it is essential viewing for people who, like me, enjoy 'gangster' movies that are long, gritty and realistic. Unmissable for fans of Scorcese, De Niro, Pesci and Sharon Stone in a career best (Oscar nominated) screen performance.

A Scorsese Masterpiece
'Casino' is a dominant film which is based on the true story of how Las Vegas was transformed from a simple gambling mecca into a place that has as much personality and colour as Disney World. Robert De Niro stars as a casino owner who is on the ground-level of the city's change. He is a high-class crook who's able to turn profits with the help of the mafia and crooked gaming practices (a norm for all casinos). Joe Pesci is on hand as the mob assassin with the short fuse who is De Niro's right-hand man. However, no one stays on top forever and De Niro's demise is partly due to his ex-prostitute wife (Sharon Stone, in her Oscar-nominated role). Bad decision-making, shady dealings, and questionable alliances will also be key factors in his ultimate downfall. Once again Martin Scorsese has created a film that is so multi-layered and smart that the viewer is completely engrossed for the entire 182 minutes.

'Casino' is a crime epic, in close contrast with 'The Godfather' series of films. Scorsese accomplishes what he did with 'Raging Bull' and 'GoodFellas'. Once again De Niro and Pesci shine with his direction and the unrelenting screenplay. Sharon Stone does the best work of her career. She does not necessarily shine brighter than De Niro and Pesci, but she holds her own and never lets either of them steal her thunder and lightning. Another great thing about 'Casino' is the supporting cast: Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, James Woods, and Joe Bob Briggs all add great elements of both comedy and drama to this outstanding winner which has been overlooked on Scorsese's list of credits.

One of the De Niro Greats!
To me, this movie has everything that a gangster orientated picture should have, right from De Niro's chain smoking no nonsense Casino manager Sam "Ace" Rothstein, to Joe Pesci's all out nasty miniature viscious wideboy "Nicky", with too much to prove.
At the beginning of Casino, attention is drawn as to the mechanism of the workings of the business, with De Niro and Pesci narrating, giving a good build up towards the action and quick witted nature of the main feature.
The movie has the ability to draw you in and keep you viewed right through the scene's and when the violence comes into play after Nicky joins "Ace" in Vegas, you just know that all hell is going to break loose! A shame our friend comes to a sticky end!
Joe Pesci played a similar role in the movie Goodfellas, but to me, this film shows his acting capability to the full, (as I think that Ray Liotta was overrated and took a lot of the glory in that film), thus giving him a stronger character in this particular picture - the scene with Anthony Dawgs and his 'head in a vice' is superbly executed.
Sharon Stone was also fantastic in Casino, playing "Ginger", Sam Rothstein's wife, what a nasty little waster she turns out to be!
The movie is also a good length, being nearly three hours long and I couldn't think of a better three hour movie of this nature, starring De Niro.
All I can say is, if you enjoyed Goodfellas, then you'll enjoy this just as much, if not more, as I did. A must for any DVD collector.