After the success of Goodfellas, Martin Scorsese was in high demand to make a movie that would explore the world of organized crime. With a source book by Nicholas Pileggi, and stars like Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci (completing their collaboration that started with Raging Bull), Casino looked to be the film that would propel Scorsese back into the mainstream.
But, unlike other gangster movies that glorify the life of mafia members, Casino is more concerned with showing how that lifestyle can lead to disaster for everybody involved. This is why the final scene, when we see images of the Tangiers being dismantled and Ace muttering that “the town will never be the same,” feels so poignant.
Whether we are in the glitzy interior of the Casino or the smoky and seedy streets of Brooklyn, Scorsese has always been an expert at evoking atmosphere with his camera. In the opening sequence, which feels as much like a documentary as it does a drama, his use of fast cuts and stylized footage is masterful. Later, as the film evolves from its narrative to more of a documentary-style approach, his editing continues to be impeccable.
Casino is not Scorsese’s finest work—those titles would probably go to Taxi Driver or Raging Bull—but it’s still a superb film. Few others have explored the dark side of Sin City with such honesty, or managed to show the opulence and neon signs as well as the seedy underbelly.