Casino – Budget of $40 – 50 million – 2 hours and 58 minutes

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Ace has always been affiliated with the mob, but since he isn’t Italian he can never be a “made guy”.  However, he has always been a good earner and he has cemented a spot in the mob.   So when he decides to change from low-level bookie to casino boss, he heads to LasVegas.  LasVegas is known as “a morality car wash”.  All your sins are washed away.  Ace hopes to stay off the radar, pay back his mob loan, and go legit with a casino.  After some time there, his old pal Nicky joins him.  Nicky is a made guy and trusted by the mob, but Ace knows he is a hot head who could ruin his plans.  So Ace pleads with Nicky to keep his cool and do things right.  While watching over the casino, Ace meets Ginger.  He is impressed with her ability to manipulate anyone.  However, he learns there is one person she can’t overcome, her boyfriend/pimp.  He promises Ginger a better life if she has a baby and marries him.  With a Ginger and Nicky by his side, Ace will learn that what a person says and what they do rarely fall in line, especially with people you think you can trust.

Based on Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas by Nicholas Pileggi, this movie isn’t a warning about mob life but more about trusting your inner circle (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer).  Ace spends so much time looking around for perceived threats, he doesn’t notice the people around him will cause him the most harm.  This movie is great not only because of it’s impeccable storyline but its changes on point of view.  Ace, Nicky, or Ginger can be telling the story which legitimizes what you see.  Be warned this movie pulls no punches with the gritty details of violence and murder.  In addition, there is no real good guy in the story.  And without good guys, there are no victims.  Just survivors.

I give it 5 out of 5 stars

It’s in the desert where a lot of the town’s problems are solved – Ace

Don’t look at me, pal. I gotta live with her – Nicky

If it doesn’t work out, what happens to me – Ginger

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