Casino
Casino might not only be my favourite Scorsese film, but maybe even my favourite film of all time.
On rewatch, Casino holds up remarkably well, and I’d even say I prefer it now more than I did the first time. I find the runtime flies by, which is impressive given its length, and that’s largely thanks to how gripping and layered the story is. It probably has my favourite narrative in all of Scorsese’s work.
Performance wise, Sharon Stone is probably my standout. I feel that she deserves huge credit for her role, her character’s demise from beginning to end is devastating and almost reminiscent of Tony Montana’s fall in Scarface. It’s honestly a big surprise to me that she didn’t win Best Actress at the Oscars for her performance. Aside from her De Niro is as usual excellent and Joe Pesci is amazing delivering arguably one of his career best performances that's up there with goodfellas.
The cinematography is phenomenal and easily some of my favourite in any film. The tilt shots stand out as strikingly distinctive compared to Scorsese’s usual visual style, while the glow of the casino lights creates an atmosphere that feels both glamorous and hazy, perfectly reflecting the film’s themes. As a setting, it’s easily my favourite in any of his films, with After Hours coming in a close second.
The score is another standout, and it’s probably my favourite in any Scorsese film I’ve seen. It mirrors the energy and tone perfectly, amplifying the highs and deepening the darker turns, all while feeling like the ultimate Scorsese soundtrack.
The last act is relentless and devastating, with the ending serving as the cherry on top. It ties everything together and wraps up loose ends in one of the most shocking and satisfying conclusions I’ve seen in any Scorsese film.
Casino is gripping, stylish, and endlessly rewatchable. For me, it’s Scorsese at his absolute best.