"Casino" is a 1995 crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese. The script was written by the director and author of the original book "Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas" by Nicholas Pileggi. Most of the film crew and cast members migrated from Scorsese’s previous movie Gangsters from the previous gangster.
History of creation
The idea of the book came to Nicholas Pileggi when he read in a newspaper about a high-profile quarrel between a prominent figure in the gaming business of Nevada Frank (Lefty) Rosenthal and his wife, a former dancer Jerry McGee. He decided to go deeper into the research of Las Vegas life of the previous decades and write a book about it.
Pileggi planned to write a book, and then start adapting it for the movie screen. However, Martin Scorsese convinced him to first work on the script, and then finish the manuscript of the book. Real names and some circumstances have been changed, however, all the main characters have prototypes.
For De Niro, "Casino" was already the eighth experience with Martin Scorsese. This is also the third collaboration for the acting duo of Pesci - De Niro. Also in the film was actor Frank Vincent, who had previously worked with Scorsese.
Plot of the film
The protagonist, performed by Robert De Niro in the Casino, is the master of betting and sports predictions Sam Rothstein, nicknamed Ace. He was so impressed with his work of mafia bosses that they decide to send him to Las Vegas to manage a casino. Together with him, his childhood friend, racketeer and killer Nikki Santoro, goes to protect and help.
Sam's main weakness is his love for the prostitute Ginger Macken. He decides to marry her, have a child together and give her the only key to the bank cell with all his personal savings of two million, despite the fact that Ginger is in love with his former pimp Lester.
Nikki also causes Sam problems. He is increasingly getting out of control and begins to engage in criminal cases openly. He is forbidden to appear in gambling establishments, which seriously complicates the conduct of business.
Characters
The prototype of the character De Niro in the "Casino" was Frank Rosenthal nicknamed Lefty. In Chicago, he worked for the mafia and helped them bet. In reward, he was appointed manager of several casinos in Nevada. He received his nickname when he refused to give evidence at the trial, including the question of whether he is left-handed or right-handed.
The prototype of Nikki Santoro was Anthony (Tony Ant) Spilotro, who was a racketeer and killer in the service of the Chicago Crime Syndicate. In 1986 he was killed. The role of Nikki was played by Joe Pesci.
Ginger Macken was played by actress Sharon Stone. This work is considered by many to be the best role in her career, which brought the actress many prestigious awards and nominations.
Reaction to the film
For Scorsese and De Niro, "Casino" was the last collaboration at the moment. A new joint picture of a creative duet is planned for 2019, and Joe Pesci, who moved away from the acting profession several years ago, should also join them.
The film was moderately positively received by critics. Many were unhappy that Scorsese was repeating after the “Good Guys”, and De Niro in “Casino” portrayed the character without the proper depth and psychological volume, playing his standard mafia role. However, the picture still has a solid eighty percent on the Rotten Tomatoes website.
The picture collected at the box office about 116 million dollars with a budget of 40-50 million, having paid off and went into plus. In the premium season, the picture went almost unnoticed. The acting work of Pesci and De Niro in "Casino" was left without nominations for the main awards. Sharon Stone won the Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Actress and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. Scorsese received a directorial nomination at the Golden Globe.
In subsequent years, the movie "Casino" with Robert De Niro in the title role became a classic of gangster cinema and a cult picture for several generations of viewers.