Casino arguably features the best performance of Sharon Stone in her entire career. It is also a masterwork from director Martin Scorsese. He is an absolute master at pacing, editing and framing. He has the kind of implacable film sense that is shared by great directors like Kubrick and Spielberg. He knows what shot should follow which, he knows exactly how many cuts are needed in a scene and how much time is left before the next action takes place.

Casino offers a different perspective on Las Vegas culture. Rather than highlight the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, it focuses on the way people live in a city that is so much more than just a tourist destination. Casino gives viewers a peek at the day to day lives of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro), a mobster who runs a series of casinos in Vegas for the Chicago Outfit. He is aided in his endeavors by his partners Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) and Ginger McKenna (Stone).

The movie shows how casinos operate. They don’t just cater to patrons who want to gamble and see a show, they help the local economy. Casinos create jobs and bring in business for restaurants and hotels. They also provide a safe place for those who may be worried about crime that might occur in other areas of town.

Unlike Goodfellas, which is all about the rise of criminals to their ultimate downfall, Casino shows the way that a life of crime can ultimately destroy all relationships and careers. It is a more active story that attributes more tragedy to the characters because their actions lead to their own downfall and doesn’t just happen by chance.