CASINO
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The 1995 film "Casino" is a crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese, starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, and Joe Pesci. Based on the non-fiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Scorsese, the movie provides a gritty, insider's look into the world of organized crime's influence over Las Vegas casinos during the 1970s and early 1980s. The film is renowned for its portrayal of the mafia’s control of the casino industry and the greed, betrayal, and violence that came with it.
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The story follows Sam "Ace" Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a Jewish-American gambling expert who is handpicked by the Midwest Mafia to run the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas.
Ace is based on the real-life figure Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, who managed several casinos for the mob during the 1970s. Ace transforms the Tangiers into a highly profitable casino, using his meticulous skills in gaming and managing the complex ecosystem of casino operations.
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Ace’s childhood friend, Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), who is based on mob enforcer Anthony "Tony the Ant" Spilotro, arrives in Las Vegas to ensure the mob’s control over the casinos is protected. Nicky, however, is uncontrollable, violent, and power-hungry, ultimately causing chaos and drawing unwanted attention from law enforcement.
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As the FBI begins investigating the Tangiers and the mob’s skimming operation (where money is taken from the casino without being reported), tensions mount between Ace, Nicky, and Ginger. The complex relationships between these characters lead to betrayals, personal destruction, and violent confrontations.
