Grim and depressing

Rating: 6/10 (23 September 2005)

While I realize this is based (inspired?) (adapted?) from a true story, nonetheless the main characters are truly disgusting people. I find absolutely nothing redeeming in any of them. This makes the film itself quite difficult to endure.
I think a documentary on the history of the Las Vegas casinos would be far more interesting than watching these people commit unspeakable acts of cruelty in the name of greed. I know there's suppose to be a social message in here somewhere, but its somehow lost in all the screaming and horrible beatings we have to witness along the way. The plot line of the unhealthy relationship between Sharon Stone's character and DeNiro's grows tiresome very quickly and I found myself wanting this film to be over with much much sooner. The one good thing I can say about it is that it makes me want to never visit Las Vegas again.