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Casino

EMAILPRINTUniversal Pictures

Casino reviews
73
9.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 17 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 33 votes
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Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Nicholas Pileggi (also book)
Martin Scorsese

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Release Date:
Theatrical: November 22, 1995
DVD: February 24, 1998

Running Time: 178 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for strong brutal violence, pervasive strong language, drug use and some sexuality

Starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles, and Alan King

A in-depth look at the operation of a Las Vegas casino in the 1970s, Scorsese's film chronicles the rise and fall of casino manager Ace Rothstein (Robert De Niro).

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

Scorsese tells his story with the energy and pacing he's famous for, and with a wealth of little details that feel just right.

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100

Chicago Tribune Michael Wilmington

You can't praise highly enough the contributions of the ensemble--De Niro and Pesci especially--but it's Scorsese's triumph. [22 November 1995, Tempo, p.1]

100

Variety Staff (Not credited)

Possesses a stylistic boldness and verisimilitude that is virtually matchless.

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90

Film.com Sean Means

Eye-popping, exhilarating and occasionally a bit stomach-churning.

90

Rolling Stone Peter Travers

Whether or not Casino meets your expectations, it delivers the rush you only get from an audacious gamble.

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88

USA Today Mike Clark

A 2-hour classic wrongfully stretched into three.

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88

ReelViews James Berardinelli

Several flaws, mostly minor, keep Casino on a plateau slightly below that of the director's best (Mean Streets, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas).

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80

Time Richard Schickel

So long as Casino stays focused on the excesses -- of language, of violence, of ambition -- in the life-styles of the rich and infamous, it remains a smart, knowing, if often repetitive, spectacle.

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75

The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Rick Groen

Visually impressive, splendidly performed, thematically significant, this is a movie in full possession of every key cinematic asset except one -- a solid script. Casino is a polished vehicle with an untuned engine.

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70

The New York Times Elvis Mitchell

Of all the bravura visual effects in Martin Scorsese's dazzingly stylish Casino, it's a glimpse of ordinary people that delivers the greatest jolt. [22 November 1995, p.C9]

70

Film.com John Hartl

This might have been a very good movie if it had lost about one of its three hours.

70

Chicago Reader Jonathan Rosenbaum

Simultaneously quite watchable and passionless.

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70

Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

One of the ironies of Casino is that even though Scorsese is interested in the story's wider implications, he focuses so much energy on that unsavory romantic triangle that he and the film lose sight of the larger issues.

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60

Newsweek David Ansen

As anthropology, it's fascinating, and everything about the production is first class. But the human drama at the heart of this movie is stillborn.

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60

TV Guide Staff(not credited)

An accomplished film that carries with it the unshakable feeling that we've seen it all before.

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50

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

It's an ambitious film -- but also a scattered, unfocused one.

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30

Washington Post Desson Thomson

Roll past this casino.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this movie is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 33 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Jake gave it a10:
On of the best gangster films ever made. Great cast.

David H. gave it a3:
Its merits are few and far between. Badly shot (it looks ugly) and scarce in compelling performances. De Niro is his usual self, but displaying far less depth than in any other Scorcese role he's played. To have to watch the trials and tribulations of these lowlife characters for a merciless three hours is a massive chore. Like in the highly overrated, but superior Goodfellas, these characters are as glib and one-dimensional as they are amoral and this time around, it not only appears as if he has recreated the very same formula, but has in the process of creating such an ambitious project has devoted far too little time to skillful writing or even a sense of plausibility. Thus while Goodfellas palpable sense of realism compensated for the lack of dimension in its story, Casino fails miserably in both departments. What it appears we're left with is 180 minutes of lowest common denominator sleaze and violence. With not a single compelling character or any trace of inventiveness or ingenuity, viewers are expected to appreciate it on that back of its abundant display of sadistic blood-drenched spectacle. Well not this one.

EconomistBR gave it a10:
A great movie, the plot was amazing. The dialogues unbelievable. The exchanges between Pesci and De Niro are classical.

Blake J. gave it a10:
The sheer greatness of this movie cannot be expressed in words. The acting and directing are impeccable, as with most Scorsese films. A perfect aftermath to "Goodfellas". Joe Pesci does it again, creating a character, both menacingly evil, and heartwarming. Robert De Niro does his usual method acting, falling into the role of "Ace", encompassing every aspect of the cold man. And Sharon Stone's performance will live on as one of the greatest performances to ever come from a woman on screen. To all of those critics who whine about it being "too long", the entire movie, every scene, is necessary, I cannot imagine what I would have thought about the movie without seeing the demise of Ginger and Nicky. I mean seriously, 3 hours for a spectacular movie. Quit whining.

Steven S gave it a10:
One of the best movies I've ever seen, better than goodfellas and f-ing HILARIOUS.

Josh C gave it an8:
Underrated upon it's initial release, this film is worth a second look. It;s not among Marty's best films, however, it's vastley more compelling than self important junk like Bringing out the Dead.

Eon gave it a10:
I love this one as much as Goodfellas. What else to say?

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