My All Time Favorite Movie.

Rating: 10/10 (22 July 2017)

I don't know what it is about this movie, but it's one of those rare films where you can watch it a dozen times, and it's just as thrilling as it was the first time around.
Considering it preceded Martin's successful GoodFellas: a film regarded as a classic gangster film (and rightfully so), the format has a bit of the same style going, with a narrative to guide us through the story, and featuring powerhouse duo of Pesci & DiNero, but with this film, so as a result it gets overshadowed, but to me, it qualifies as a film on its own, MY favorite film mind you.
There's a certain feel that this movie carries and it's nothing short of perfect. 3 hours in length and not a single minute wasted, it's a masterpiece. Compared to GoodFellas, it's just felt more solid, more nuanced, detailed, technical shots better executed, sound, light, every actor giving 100 % to make you feel immersed in the story.
The violence is there too, and naturally it's a ruthless world, but instead the violence has more of a conscience. GoodFellas was hit after hit, sometimes leaving you feeling like you're watching a slasher, so it becomes ineffective. Throughout Casino, the violence is less common, but VERY real, sometimes comically shocking like Friedkin's Killer Joe, to bleak like what you see in American History X.
Sharon Stone who plays Ginger plays the alpha HBIC perfectly, and as we learn later on, downplays what chaos she is capable of.
DeNior, who plays Ace, is strictly business but he has a heart of gold. He's the narrator and the mediator, and more the more screen time he gets, the more you really like the guy. Comedia Kingpin Don Rickles is even in this movie! Just perfect! Capolavoro!