The word casino has a long history, and its original meaning is simply “a place for certain games.” Casinos now feature a wide variety of gambling products, from slot machines to blackjack, roulette, craps and more. These products provide the billions of dollars in profit that casinos rake in each year.

Casino focuses on the mafia’s relationship with Las Vegas and is based on the true story of Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro). Nicholas Pileggi wrote the screenplay, gaining full access to the man who ran four Vegas casinos for the mob. Scorsese’s film echoes The Godfather in many ways, making us feel like we are eavesdropping on a secret world.

While the movie does deal with mafia activity, it is much more than a mob movie. Sharon Stone delivers the best performance of her career as a Vegas hustler named Ginger McKenna, and Joe Pesci is great as well. This cast and the film’s use of music make it a very special movie.

The film is also one of the most violent that Scorsese has ever made, but the violence was not for style or shock value. The torture-by-vice of a man, a baseball bat beating and the murder of De Niro’s character were all real-life events that occurred to these characters’ real-life counterparts. This is what makes the film so compelling and authentic, even for those who dislike mafia movies. This is a must-see for any cinephile.