Martin Scorcese’s Casino is an intense, gripping look at organized crime and its relationship with Las Vegas. Based on a true story, the film makes you feel like eavesdroppers in a secret world. It follows the life of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish American gambling expert handicapper who is assigned by the mob to oversee casino and hotel operations in Las Vegas. He can’t make a bet without all of the facts, and he doesn’t run a casino with anything less than total control, down to the number of blueberries in the muffins.

This obsession with control is what gives the film its edge, as it shows how mob-controlled casinos operated in real life. It also helps to show how much more predatory the Mafia was compared to other criminal organizations at the time. The movie has several captivating themes, such as the way Ace pays attention to every detail in his job, his false bedrock of marriage with Ginger, and the scumbaggery of Nicky. It’s also a very interesting look at the mob, especially how they treated each other.

The best thing about the film is the performances, especially from Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone. Both actors are at the top of their game and have the right balance of intensity and flair to bring their characters to life. This is the kind of movie where you want to savour every moment, and its three hour runtime feels like an hour and a half. The cinematography is also great, a style that is trademark of Scorcese’s work.

As far as gangster films go, this is one of the best. Unlike Goodfellas, which has many fans who take it as an endorsement of the mob lifestyle, Casino isn’t about the glory days of organized crime. It’s about how fucked up it was, and how those who were involved ended up.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a good mob movie with friends, but don’t be afraid to debate it. It’s healthier for the brain to be challenged than just having everyone sing Kumbaya together all the time. That’s what makes conversations about film so interesting. Next time you’re gathered with your buddies, try making them think twice about their unwavering love for Goodfellas and instead, challenge them to see how awesome Casino really is. You might even change some minds. Just don’t be rude about it.