The neon lights of Las Vegas have always inspired film directors to create new movies. Since the very beginning of cinematography era, there were casino-themed movies and their fans. Now we have the new movie stars and the new special effects options but the only thing that stays the same is that everyone loves this kind of movies. Today we’ve chosen for you 5 all time favorite casino movies to watch on Saturday night.
Ocean’s Eleven (2001)
Being the first one in the popular movie series by Steven Soderbergh, Ocean’s Eleven is a must-see for those who like casinos, guns, and action. Just look at the movie cast: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and a dozen more of your favorite actors. The plot sounds simple but you will never guess how it all ends. Daniel Ocean decides to rob 3 of the most successful casinos in Las Vegas and asks for help from his former criminal “colleagues”. Watch the movie and you’ll know whether the pickpocket, the land-based casino worker, two mechanics, the explosives expert and some other bad guys succeeded in their dangerous undertaking.
Casino (1995)
This one is for old school movies fans. Directed by Martin Scorsese, Casino movie will bring you to the times when criminals wore suits and looked like Robert De Niro (actually the real Robert De Niro plays the main role). While watching the Casino movie, you will immerse into the world of casino mafia from the 90th, where money, murders, true love, and friendship were joined together. The story centers around the sports handicapper Sam “Ace” Rothstein, his friend and partner Nicholas “Nicky” Santoro and Sam’s wife Ginger performed by Sharon Stone. The guys were ruling the criminal underworld of Las Vegas until something went wrong. The movie is based on the book “Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas” written by Nicholas Pileggi and all the characters have their real-life prototypes.
21 (2008)
Here we’ve got one more movie based on the real facts or at least inspired by the real story. The group of gifted MIT students guided by their teacher Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) professionally plays blackjack because they know how to count cards. On weekdays, they are just the regular students going to classes and doing homework in their old T-shirts. But on weekends they put on their best suits and dresses and go to Vegas with only one goal — take everything they can from the casinos. They will soon know what is the real friendship, real wins, and real betrayal. 21 movie is full of cool card tricks, luxurious casinos and hotel suits and the festive Vegas atmosphere. It is a nice way to distract even from your favorite online casino to watch how it could be in the real ones!
Casino Royale (2006)
Casino Royale is the 21st Bond-movie and the first one starring Daniel Craig. It is based on the very first book about the Agent 007 and tells about the beginning of his career in MI6. To complete his first mission Bond has to take part in the big poker tournament at Casino Royale in Montenegro but it appears to be a little bit harder than he thought. Here you will see everything you can expect from the Bond movie: ultra modern cars, beautiful women (Eva Green is the one and the only among them), guns, casinos, self-reanimation with a defibrillator and the end that leaves more questions than the answers. This is the decent beginning of the new Bond era and it is absolutely worth watching whether you are a fan or not.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
This is where Hunter S. Thompson meets Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro and they all meet drugs. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas movie is based on the novel by Hunter S. Thompson and basically tells us about the trip of the journalist Raoul Duke (Depp) and his attorney Dr. Gonzo (del Toro) through the whole Nevada state to Las Vegas and their attempts to write their review on the Mint 400 motorcycle race while being constantly on different drugs. Even though it is pretty much of the casino movie (Duke plays roulette and spends a lot of time in a casino), most of it is a sheer phantasmagoria, the drug trip, and the complete madness. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a box office failure but it still remains one of the classic movies and one of the best Depp’s roles. Strictly recommended to watch for those who like avant-garde black comedies, casinos and a little bit of bad trips.