Casino/B,B+

Universal/1996/179m/ANA 2.35

      You've get to credit Martin Scorcese's audacity. He dives in full tilt to a project about low lives, creating their world and ignoring the fact that his films are difficult to find a sympathetic character. I mean, you might think Joe Pesci plays great psycho or that Robert DeNiro can convince you he's the real goods as gambler with the golden touch, but you can't like these guys in Casino. And what about Sharon Stone as Ginger. She's dynamite, but man, this beauty is a major league sleaze. Sick, sick,sick..

casino.jpg (9337 bytes)

Ginger plays the suckersİUniversal

       Scorcese is really fascinated by this world. The minutiae of the casino is zoomed in upon by the Scorcese lens. He uses repetitions to establish the rhythm and beat of the place. is no question. This director's captures the essence of the stench of Las Vegas, sliding into the core under close examination. How engaging is this world. That may be part of the problem in selling Casino to an audience. The people depicted by Scorcese aren't really that interesting.
     So what we have is an extremely well-crafted, beautifully filmed uninvolving movie. At least the performances and the filmmaking is at a level that an audience can be fascinated by the director doing what he does so well.
     The first scene in Casino is shot very grainy and the opening moments do not look good on DVD. Grain elements are too prominent. I thought I was in for a rough DVD ride, but that is not the case. The DVD is excellent in anamorphic widescreen 2.35. The gloss and gaudiness of Las Vegas in captured in sharp images and rich colors. The clink of coin, the sound of dice rebounding, are finely detailed in the excellent 5:1 mix. Casino is a well made movie and a bright, dynamic DVD.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Feature Archive has articles ranging from John Ford to Blonde Bimbos, Akira Kurosawa and Frank Darabont.

Click on the image above to access The Heistmasters, a view of the best directors of the heist. 
Check out the  Movie Poster   Archive for short bios and images of Susan Hayward, Kirk Douglas, Katharine Hepburn and many more. This month's featured star is  Clark Gable.

Imaging Science Foundation
The Imaging Science Foundation promotes proper standards in home theater viewing. ISF trained technicians offer monitor calibration services to consumers. The difference in a  properly calibrated monitor can be astounding. Click on the image to find an ISF member near you.

HOT LINKS
DVD Verdict
They may be judgmental, but that's the point, isn't it. Lots of DVD reviews plus news and more

Home Theater Reference Reviewing System

When you read a DVD review it's of utmost importance to know what equipment is being used to evaluate quality. Click on the projector to find out more.

The Home Theater Forum
Looking for lively and helpful exchanges on home theater, DVD, movies. Visit this friendly site and get a hardy welcome.