We go back to the beginning, and the voice over narration kicks in again. Now we have to figure out how Sam got himself blown up. The title sequence is by Saul and Elaine Bass, and it’s excellent as always. He’s falling through flames and the title sequence begins. The actual opening of the film reminds me a lot of Sunset Boulevard we have some ironic voice-over narration telling us how the main character died (or came pretty close anyway). He is put in charge of a casino in Vegas called the Tangiers, and makes sure the mob “back home” gets their share of the profits.

Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) is a man who knows how to place bets. One of the reasons Casino gets compared to Goodfellas so much is that they both give you an inside look at the mob that’s based on a true story, only this time, it’s about how the mob has infiltrated Las Vegas. I’m sure I’ll be changing my tune soon enough.

I’d have to watch Goodfellas again to see if I remember it correctly, but as of my experience right now with Casino and Raging Bull for that matter, putting De Niro and Pesci center stage helps a lot.

I need to see it again, and after watching Casino and loving it, I’m sure I’ll love Goodfellas too, right? (Everybody else is saying, well duh, everyone loves Goodfellas.) But from what I remember, the main character in Goodfellas wasn’t even half as likable as the main character here. Why? I don’t even know, because everyone seems to like that film so I don’t know what my problem is.

I don’t feel qualified enough to comment on that since the only viewing I’ve given Goodfellas so far was about two years ago now and I didn’t like it. Where have those good old mafia days gone?Ī lot of people knock this film for being so close to Goodfellas. It tells the story of two friends who have a rift in their relationship, and of course the classic Scorsese theme of falling from power. As much as I love, and have been going on and on about, Scorsese stepping out of his comfort zone, I love it when he can nail the type of story he’s known for just as much. Scorsese’s back! No more The Age of Innocence or New York, New York getting out of character stuff Casino is a Scorsese film through and through.

Casino 1995 explained