"The Italian Trilogy"

Rating: 10/10 (20 June 2008)

The third movie in what I call "The Italian Trilogy", 1)Raging Bull, 2)Goodfellas, 3)Casino. Every time it comes on Bravo or USA I find myself trapped in front of it (despite the bad dubbing). I used to think the movie was just Scorsese's manufactured form, but I believe now the movie is inspired from start to finish--from Deniro's silhouette floating in the fire during the opening credits and operatic music to him at the desk with the giant eyeglasses at the end saying "And that's that." Stone, Pesci and Deniro were all good enough to be nominated--too bad Sharon didn't win. Even James Woods was good as Sharon's old boyfriend. Its just one great scene after another for the whole three or four hours, peaking with their meeting in the desert ("...you're only out here because a ME!") The movie works on every level, the acting, screenplay, directing and everything else in between.