Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 25, 1995 TAG: 9511260010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
As his new movie, ``Casino,'' demonstrates, Scorsese is obviously more interested in the mechanics of mutilation and murder than in making a good movie.
But perhaps we should define our terms. Good, in this case, would mean having socially redeeming value and/or being funny and original enough to get away with anything - a la ``Pulp Fiction,'' or even Scorsese's own ``Goodfellas.''
``Casino'' does not meet any of these tests. It is overlong, flabby, flawed, a ``Goodfellas Do Vegas'' story of excessive violence and insufficient interest.
It's about two guys played by Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci. DeNiro is Sam "Ace" Rothstein, an infallible gambler and bookie; Pesci is Nicky Santoro, a loan shark and hit man. Both work for the mob.
Rothstein is rewarded for his successes with a gift of enormous value - the Tangiers Casino in Las Vegas, which the bosses back home hope Rothstein will turn into a highly profitable enterprise. Which he does.
Unfortunately, things have gotten too hot back home for Nicky, so he decides to move to Vegas, too, and set up shop in this uncharted territory.
Things go smoothly for a while. DeNiro meets and falls in love with a woman who works the casinos - Ginger (Sharon Stone). Ginger is a hustler. She attaches herself to high-rollers, keeps 'em awake and betting big and gets a piece of the action. She's a toughy with one weak spot - her old pimp, Lester, a bona fide scumbag played by James Woods.
The movie is not bad in its first half. Scorsese does a great job of revealing the inner-workings of a casino, especially how cheaters cheat and how casinos catch them. It's very interesting, and DeNiro stands amid the intense action with his head cocking at subtle angles like a bird looking for prey.
The movie falls apart when things fall apart. Greed, ambition, drugs and pride contribute to the bloody, bitter end of Sam and Ginger and Nicky, but Scorsese - who wrote the screenplay with Nicholas Pileggi - just doesn't have a fine enough fix on what he thinks the point of this sad story is to guide us deftly through the chaos. So we're treated to: a man having his head squeezed in a vise until one of his eyeballs pops out of his head; a graphic finger-smashing; and numerous, bloody beatings.
Then he has the audacity to moralize in the end, in Sam's voice, about how everything was so much better back in those years in the '70s before the casinos got taken over by big corporations.
The only revelation here is Sharon Stone. She hits the mark as Ginger, who just can't numb her pain no matter how hard she tries. The role would tempt some to overact; the opportunities abound. But Stone resists, and Ginger is by far her best performance ever.
Still, ``Casino'' is one of those movie experiences that leaves you wondering, ``Why am I watching this?''
And the answer is: You shouldn't be. It's enough to know that this side of life exists. For Martin Scorsese to expend so much energy, talent and money on bringing it to light once again seems like a terrible waste.
Maybe he's over it now.
But don't bet on it.
Casino **
A Universal Pictures release showing at Salem Valley 8 and Valley View Mall 6. Rated R for excessive violence, profanity and adult situations, 180 minutes.
by CNB