In the context of film history, Casino is a great example of a story with compelling themes that are delivered well. It has a lot of the gangster-and-his-moll drama we know and love, but it also focuses on how relationships can be toxic to everyone involved, which is what makes this film so fascinating. It’s the sort of movie that has little details that are really interesting, like when Sam orders his casino cooks to put “exactly the same amount of blueberries in every muffin.” It has a ton of character development, including Sam and Nicky’s relationship evolving from a pseudo-romance to full-on scumbaggery (which is one of the best scumbag plotlines ever).
Unlike other movies that have depicted organized crime in Las Vegas, this film reveals the inner workings of the corruption that ran rampant in the city in the early ’90s. It lays out the intricate web of criminal activity that encompassed Las Vegas, with tendrils reaching into the Teamsters unions, the Chicago mob, and Midwest mafia members based in Kansas City. The movie is a compelling look at human greed and treachery that is often unrelenting in its execution.
While many people may think of casinos as seedy backroom gambling parlors where violence and theft are commonplace, the truth is that these venues have a much more wholesome image than is sometimes realized. In fact, most legalized casinos are actually quite good for the communities in which they operate. These establishments bring in significant amounts of tax revenue that help local governments fund important projects, keep unemployment rates low, and avoid cuts to other municipal services.