While many movies set in Sin City focus on the opulence and neon signs of the gambling capital, very few have managed to capture its real history like Casino. The 1995 film is a crime drama directed by Martin Scorsese and adapted by Nicholas Pileggi from his nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. It stars Robert De Niro and Sharon Stone. The movie was a breakthrough for both actors, demonstrating their abilities to convey complex emotions on-screen.
While the movie has some truly hellacious violence, including a popped eyeball and a baseball bat beating, it also manages to avoid becoming a cartoonish account of organized crime. It doesn’t take sides and is not a propaganda piece for the Mafia; it simply lays bare the corruption that was pervasive in Las Vegas, with tendrils reaching into politicians, Teamsters unions, Chicago mob bosses, and Midwest mob factions based out of Kansas City.
Casino also takes a look at how casinos benefit the economy of the communities that they’re built in. By bringing in large numbers of tourists, casinos provide jobs and money for local businesses. Additionally, casinos encourage people to spend more time in the area and increase demand for hotels and other services.
Finally, casino games are a great way to relieve stress and anxiety. They require a certain amount of mental concentration and strategy, which is good for brain health. In addition, they help the brain release feel-good hormones that reduce stress and improve concentration and cognitive function.