One of best mob-films ever made

Rating: Null/10 (12 November 2000)

I do not think there is much I have to add to the film that other IMDB users have not already highlighted, but I will say that the Oscar Joe Pesci got for this film is one of the most deserved and completely justified Oscar's of the last 20 years (and definitely the last decade in a time when there have been many undeserving ones being handed out). Joe Pesci is hilarious and amazing in his performance as a lifelong gangster with two deadly & volatile traits: A short temper and a chip on his shoulder. While all of the performances in this movie are very strong, Pesci was clearly in his element here.
It's a shame that Martin Scorsese was once again cheated out of the Best Director Oscar he so rightfully deserves in favor of Kevin Costner's directing of "Dances With Wolves" in 1990. This movie would have never been even close to the film it was had it been without Scorsese's amazing filmmaking skill behind it. The Academy better be ready to hand Marty one hell of a lifetime achievement award one of these days because after close to 30 years of being one of the greatest directors of his time, he has yet to be rewarded with an Oscar. The fact that "Raging Bull" was ripped off for a Best Picture Oscar in 1980 was bad enough, not giving Marty the Oscar he deserves after all these years, especially in lieu of making two films in the last decade that he clearly deserved to win for (Casino being the other one) is just salt in the wound at this point. I give this film a 10/10, it's one of the best story telling movies ever made and it gave insight into the code of the mob better than any film had done before it (The Godfather included) and has done since.