Tag: Robert De Niro

video review : Casino

video review : Casino

This story takes place in Las Vegas back when most of the dirt wasn’t confined to its surrounding deserts. The Tangiers (Casino) is run by The Mafia, a secret organization of criminals working together for one common goal; to make money, illegally and abundantly. The figurehead boss is a guy named Ace Rothstein. It’s his “love” life, with a woman named Ginger, that stretches thin your suspension of disbelief. As wise as he is when it comes to making money, you’re supposed to believe he’d be stupid enough to fall for (trust/marry) such a leech.

The most interesting character though is his best friend Nicky Santoro, or Joe Pesci playing (basically) the same mobster he played in Goodfellas. With Robert De Niro by his side and Martin Scorsese at the helm, this feels like a sequel; a great one that does an even better job of watching relationships deteriorate over time. Non-diegetic monologues set the tone right from the beginning. Ace Rothstein is, at one point, on top of the world. By the end, it’s the two closest people in his life, and their selfish traits, that set the inevitable downfall into motion.

my rating : 5 of 5

1995

video review : Goodfellas

video review : Goodfellas

These “good” fellas are ruthless mobsters. When they need money, they take it and dare whoever it is they’re taking it from to go to the cops. If you cross them, they’ll whack you, bury your body and go out for drinks. They’re organized criminals, wiseguys, above the law in more than enough ways to keep things running smoothly for themselves. As a kid, Henry Hill always wanted to be one of them.

Goodfellas focuses on him doing just that. The first third is mainly backstory and the plot doesn’t really shoot-up until the final third. That’s when the Lufthansa heist goes down and things begin to fall apart. The movie is too long and some of the acting seems caricatural; Karen is particularly annoying; but it’s an interesting glimpse into the (real) life of the Lucchese crime family.

my rating : 4 of 5

1990

video review : The Family

video review : The Family

Michelle Pfeiffer is looking old, but her daughter makes up for it. Belle is alluring. In a Robert De Niro movie about Goodfellas-style mob crime, the most captivating moment is a sex scene in which she’s getting fucked by her teacher. That’s because, while the concept; a Family trying to adjust to a new life via The Witness Protection Program; has potential, the plot is full of bullet holes.

my rating : 3 of 5

2013

video review : The Score

video review : The Score

Perhaps it should be The Heist. It’s a score, but only for the men involved. It’s a big one too, worth 30 million dollars. All lead thief Nick Wells has to do is make it to the basement of the Montréal Customs House, break into the safe and get away with a valuable French scepter while partner and House janitor Jack Teller manipulates surveillance cameras from the inside.

It’s not quite as easy as it seems. It never really is. That’s where layers of criminal-siding tension begin to build. Some of the characterization is overplayed; a computer hacker named Steven is particularly silly; and the romantic side story is unnecessary, but the plot, which mostly consists of compelling planning until the final third, provides a nice pay-off at the end.

my rating : 4 of 5

2001