#150 - Casino (1995)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112641/

A looong film cram packed full of testosterone filled, gun toting, cigar smoking gangster shit. This film is filled to the brim of cool, rich, white men with guns and people who use guns. De Niro plays Sam 'Ace' Rothstein, the owner of a casino, who up to now has been associated with gangsters and gang politics, trying to go straight and run a 'legit' gambling business in Las Vagas. Following him is Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci) who is adement that the ruling fist is the only way to keep things cool with Rothstein. Santrino covers Rothstein's back through the ordeal until Sam starts to resent Nicky's specialist way of doing things and tries to push him away, and so Nicky only pushes harder. In the middle of all this is Ginger (Sharon Stone) who fucks things up every which way, trying to play Sam for all of his money that she was promised when they got married so that she can run away with her pimp.
This movie made me want to go and rob steal and shoot everyone and then go and marry a prostitute. It makes the characters, though very specialist, seem quite real and I found myself wanting to be friends with the mob, just so that I could walk around with a huge chip on my shoulder that they would support, either that or get myself murdered.
Some lovely violence moments, such as a pen to the neck, or a hammer to the hand, gave me a little macho hard on and the gunplay was fun.
The aftermath of the story and what happens after all is said and done is shoved on at the end to try and wrap things up but it just seems a bit rushed and pointless, and brings it back to the beginning of the film where you see Ace blown up in a car, but it's just a bit pointless and shit. Not the best ending to a really gripping, thrilling film. Although the real ending (before the epilogue) is pretty good.

My blog about watching the top 250 films on IMDB

I have decided, as I watch very few films, that I am going to watch what is considered to be the top 250 movies of all time as voted for by the lovely people at imdb.com. These ratings are pretty comprehensive as they are averaged over thousands of votes. What I think is another matter, and within this blog I am going to watch each movie in this top 250 in reverse order (giving some leeway around availability and so on) and give a review and rating for each movie. This will take place from the 16 July 2007, when I will take the list from IMDB and that will be the list that I use for the remainder of the project, and fluctuations in listings will not be taken into account after this date. I will aim to watch one a day, but this is not a rule, just an aim.
When it comes to trilogies, e.g. The Godfather trilogy, I will watch them all at the time of the highest ranking movie.

I am going to be quite harsh, as most of these films will be good, they are after all, the top 250 films. It would be quite boring to just say "this movie is good" for all of them, and so I will be focusing on the negitive for the most part.

Rank Rating Title Votes 1. 9.1 The Godfather (1972) 224,877 2. 9.1 The Shawshank Redemption (1994) 266,985 3. 8.9 The Godfather: Part II (1974) 128,031 4. 8.8 Buono, il brutto, il cattivo, Il (1966) 68,716 5. 8.8 Pulp Fiction (1994) 229,292 6. 8.8 Schindler's List (1993) 156,806 7. 8.8 Casablanca (1942) 104,376 8. 8.8 Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) 167,217 9. 8.8 The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) 206,057 10. 8.8 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) 114,755 11. 8.8 Shichinin no samurai (1954) 57,570 12. 8.7 Star Wars (1977) 205,560 13. 8.7 Rear Window (1954) 67,407 14. 8.7 12 Angry Men (1957) 52,372 15. 8.7 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) 243,158 16. 8.7 Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 143,188 17. 8.7 Cidade de Deus (2002) 71,955 18. 8.7 Goodfellas (1990) 121,864 19. 8.6 The Usual Suspects (1995) 162,669 20. 8.6 C'era una volta il West (1968) 35,523 21. 8.6 Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 98,831 22. 8.6 Psycho (1960) 83,629 23. 8.6 Citizen Kane (1941) 90,631 24. 8.6 North by Northwest (1959) 55,943 25. 8.6 The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) 196,934 26. 8.6 The Silence of the Lambs (1991) 143,216 27. 8.6 Memento (2000) 152,151 28. 8.5 Fight Club (1999) 201,238 29. 8.5 Lawrence of Arabia (1962) 49,056 30. 8.5 Sunset Blvd. (1950) 28,994 31. 8.5 It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 62,682 32. 8.5 The Matrix (1999) 225,018 33. 8.5 Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le (2001) 104,352 34. 8.5 American Beauty (1999) 173,623 35. 8.5 The Departed (2006) 110,240 36. 8.5 Taxi Driver (1976) 82,971 37. 8.5 Apocalypse Now (1979) 104,107 38. 8.5 Vertigo (1958) 53,541 39. 8.5 Se7en (1995) 150,822 40. 8.5 Léon (1994) 99,404 41. 8.4 American History X (1998) 112,980 42. 8.4 Paths of Glory (1957) 24,493 43. 8.4 Laberinto del fauno, El (2006) 58,373 44. 8.4 Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) 112,756 45. 8.4 To Kill a Mockingbird (1962) 49,422 46. 8.4 Chinatown (1974) 43,297 47. 8.4 M (1931) 21,706 48. 8.4 The Third Man (1949) 30,097 49. 8.4 Ratatouille (2007) 16,203 50. 8.4 The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) 17,710 51. 8.4 A Clockwork Orange (1971) 108,681 52. 8.4 The Pianist (2002) 63,888 53. 8.4 Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) 97,790 54. 8.4 Alien (1979) 101,490 55. 8.4 Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi (2001) 51,712 56. 8.4 Untergang, Der (2004) 37,537 57. 8.4 The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) 35,231 58. 8.4 L.A. Confidential (1997) 104,534 59. 8.4 The Shining (1980) 91,021 60. 8.4 Boot, Das (1981) 44,603 61. 8.4 Double Indemnity (1944) 19,832 62. 8.3 The Maltese Falcon (1941) 31,114 63. 8.3 Requiem for a Dream (2000) 94,911 64. 8.3 Reservoir Dogs (1992) 118,546 65. 8.3 Saving Private Ryan (1998) 159,340 66. 8.3 Hotel Rwanda (2004) 42,531 67. 8.3 Metropolis (1927) 21,297 68. 8.3 Raging Bull (1980) 48,815 69. 8.3 Aliens (1986) 99,415 70. 8.3 Rashômon (1950) 21,177 71. 8.3 Sin City (2005) 128,177 72. 8.3 Modern Times (1936) 18,242 73. 8.3 Leben der Anderen, Das (2006) 16,352 74. 8.3 Forrest Gump (1994) 156,511 75. 8.3 Singin' in the Rain (1952) 32,664 76. 8.3 Rebecca (1940) 19,433 77. 8.3 The Great Escape (1963) 34,221 78. 8.3 All About Eve (1950) 20,706 79. 8.3 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) 97,438 80. 8.3 Some Like It Hot (1959) 39,912 81. 8.3 Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) 125,320 82. 8.3 Touch of Evil (1958) 18,717 83. 8.3 Amadeus (1984) 57,759 84. 8.3 Sjunde inseglet, Det (1957) 18,021 85. 8.3 Vita è bella, La (1997) 60,841 86. 8.3 The Manchurian Candidate (1962) 22,109 87. 8.2 On the Waterfront (1954) 22,713 88. 8.2 The Prestige (2006) 70,603 89. 8.2 Grindhouse (2007) 34,403 90. 8.2 Jaws (1975) 78,864 91. 8.2 The Sting (1973) 38,199 92. 8.2 Strangers on a Train (1951) 18,368 93. 8.2 The Elephant Man (1980) 29,544 94. 8.2 Nuovo cinema Paradiso (1988) 24,413 95. 8.2 Full Metal Jacket (1987) 80,955 96. 8.2 City Lights (1931) 13,464 97. 8.2 Batman Begins (2005) 125,854 98. 8.2 Braveheart (1995) 145,250 99. 8.2 The Apartment (1960) 18,865 100. 8.2 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 19,217 101. 8.2 The Big Sleep (1946) 16,672 102. 8.2 Blade Runner (1982) 110,993 103. 8.2 The Wizard of Oz (1939) 60,667 104. 8.2 The Great Dictator (1940) 18,715 105. 8.2 Notorious (1946) 17,585 106. 8.2 Million Dollar Baby (2004) 69,165 107. 8.2 Once Upon a Time in America (1984) 36,859 108. 8.2 High Noon (1952) 19,763 109. 8.2 Ran (1985) 20,250 110. 8.2 Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) 125,693 111. 8.2 Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) 131,976 112. 8.2 Salaire de la peur, Le (1953) 6,507 113. 8.2 Donnie Darko (2001) 111,081 114. 8.2 Fargo (1996) 97,718 115. 8.2 Mononoke-hime (1997) 35,658 116. 8.2 Oldboy (2003) 40,618 117. 8.2 Cool Hand Luke (1967) 24,103 118. 8.1 Unforgiven (1992) 51,689 119. 8.1 Back to the Future (1985) 111,779 120. 8.1 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 96,795 121. 8.1 The Incredibles (2004) 77,138 122. 8.1 Yojimbo (1961) 16,175 123. 8.1 Ladri di biciclette (1948) 13,259 124. 8.1 Finding Nemo (2003) 82,516 125. 8.1 Children of Men (2006) 62,626 126. 8.1 Annie Hall (1977) 36,123 127. 8.1 The Sixth Sense (1999) 148,506 128. 8.1 Ben-Hur (1959) 33,720 129. 8.1 The Green Mile (1999) 105,028 130. 8.1 Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) 19,452 131. 8.1 Hot Fuzz (2007) 40,411 132. 8.1 V for Vendetta (2005) 103,107 133. 8.1 Notti di Cabiria, Le (1957) 4,979 134. 8.1 The Killing (1956) 12,565 135. 8.1 Crash (2004/I) 91,737 136. 8.1 Life of Brian (1979) 54,616 137. 8.1 Battaglia di Algeri, La (1966) 5,922 138. 8.1 Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) 16,659 139. 8.1 The Deer Hunter (1978) 48,827 140. 8.1 Gladiator (2000) 155,159 141. 8.1 It Happened One Night (1934) 13,236 142. 8.1 Platoon (1986) 60,718 143. 8.1 Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949) 6,598 144. 8.1 The Princess Bride (1987) 80,743 145. 8.1 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) 95,026 146. 8.1 The Graduate (1967) 45,251 147. 8.1 Die Hard (1988) 98,686 148. 8.1 Amores perros (2000) 31,258 149. 8.1 Diaboliques, Les (1955) 6,525 150. 8.0 Little Miss Sunshine (2006) 61,508 151. 8.0 The Wild Bunch (1969) 17,566 152. 8.0 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) 32,636 153. 8.0 The General (1927) 10,879 154. 8.0 Wo hu cang long (2000) 74,072 155. 8.0 Smultronstället (1957) 10,168 156. 8.0 8½ (1963) 14,682 157. 8.0 Brief Encounter (1945) 5,911 158. 8.0 Gandhi (1982) 26,719 159. 8.0 The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) 12,751 160. 8.0 Shadow of a Doubt (1943) 10,479 161. 8.0 The African Queen (1951) 21,086 162. 8.0 The Night of the Hunter (1955) 13,086 163. 8.0 Stand by Me (1986) 50,704 164. 8.0 Dog Day Afternoon (1975) 28,710 165. 8.0 Judgment at Nuremberg (1961) 6,764 166. 8.0 Harvey (1950) 12,880 167. 8.0 The Conversation (1974) 17,570 168. 8.0 Heat (1995) 78,241 169. 8.0 Cabinet des Dr. Caligari., Das (1920) 8,097 170. 8.0 Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922) 15,184 171. 8.0 Patton (1970) 23,308 172. 8.0 The Big Lebowski (1998) 90,234 173. 8.0 Duck Soup (1933) 15,681 174. 8.0 The Grapes of Wrath (1940) 12,870 175. 8.0 Gone with the Wind (1939) 46,092 176. 8.0 Lola rennt (1998) 51,581 177. 8.0 The Gold Rush (1925) 10,830 178. 8.0 The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) 16,570 179. 8.0 Glory (1989) 34,432 180. 8.0 Trainspotting (1996) 85,090 181. 8.0 Groundhog Day (1993) 74,410 182. 8.0 Belle et la bête, La (1946) 4,900 183. 8.0 Toy Story 2 (1999) 66,244 184. 8.0 Toy Story (1995) 74,502 185. 8.0 Witness for the Prosecution (1957) 8,793 186. 8.0 Snatch. (2000) 84,598 187. 8.0 King Kong (1933) 21,495 188. 8.0 Spartacus (1960) 28,302 189. 8.0 The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) 9,865 190. 8.0 Twelve Monkeys (1995) 97,708 191. 8.0 Bride of Frankenstein (1935) 8,772 192. 8.0 Ed Wood (1994) 40,223 193. 8.0 The Lady Vanishes (1938) 8,406 194. 7.9 The Thing (1982) 35,741 195. 7.9 Stalker (1979) 8,735 196. 7.9 The Exorcist (1973) 57,086 197. 7.9 Hotaru no haka (1988) 15,923 198. 7.9 The Hustler (1961) 13,703 199. 7.9 Sleuth (1972) 7,917 200. 7.9 The Terminator (1984) 95,636 201. 7.9 Scarface (1983) 70,371 202. 7.9 Magnolia (1999) 73,716 203. 7.9 A Christmas Story (1983) 32,591 204. 7.9 Casino Royale (2006) 82,506 205. 7.9 Ying xiong (2002) 47,971 206. 7.9 In the Heat of the Night (1967) 12,144 207. 7.9 Big Fish (2003) 69,293 208. 7.9 Du rififi chez les hommes (1955) 3,829 209. 7.9 Out of the Past (1947) 5,286 210. 7.9 Frankenstein (1931) 12,159 211. 7.9 The Philadelphia Story (1940) 16,634 212. 7.9 Mystic River (2003) 59,054 213. 7.9 Zodiac (2007) 22,275 214. 7.9 Umberto D. (1952) 3,581 215. 7.9 Finding Neverland (2004) 50,466 216. 7.9 Before Sunset (2004) 24,904 217. 7.9 Stalag 17 (1953) 11,694 218. 7.9 Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) 62,307 219. 7.9 Anatomy of a Murder (1959) 7,373 220. 7.9 All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) 11,903 221. 7.9 Cinderella Man (2005) 34,119 222. 7.9 Young Frankenstein (1974) 35,831 223. 7.9 Shrek (2001) 109,507 224. 7.9 Idi i smotri (1985) 3,830 225. 7.9 Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) 135,526 226. 7.9 Bonnie and Clyde (1967) 21,323 227. 7.9 The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) 3,963 228. 7.9 In Cold Blood (1967) 5,417 229. 7.9 Kumonosu jô (1957) 7,012 230. 7.9 Mou gaan dou (2002) 17,074 231. 7.9 The Lion King (1994) 61,722 232. 7.9 The Lost Weekend (1945) 5,795 233. 7.9 Rosemary's Baby (1968) 23,735 234. 7.9 Shaun of the Dead (2004) 56,374 235. 7.9 Haine, La (1995) 12,802 236. 7.9 Manhattan (1979) 20,585 237. 7.9 Ikiru (1952) 8,592 238. 7.9 A Streetcar Named Desire (1951) 17,555 239. 7.9 Knocked Up (2006) 25,186 240. 7.9 Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) 17,924 241. 7.9 Roman Holiday (1953) 16,427 242. 7.9 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) 12,517 243. 7.9 Sweet Smell of Success (1957) 4,214 244. 7.9 Seppuku (1962) 2,577 245. 7.9 His Girl Friday (1940) 11,269 246. 7.9 Tengoku to jigoku (1963) 4,099 247. 7.9 Aguirre, der Zorn Gottes (1972) 8,805 248. 7.9 Inherit the Wind (1960) 6,500 249. 7.9 Bringing Up Baby (1938) 14,785 250. 7.9 Casino (1995) 51,314 The formula for calculating the Top Rated 250 Titles gives a true Bayesian estimate: weighted rating (WR) = (v ÷ (v+m)) × R + (m ÷ (v+m)) × C where: R = average for the movie (mean) = (Rating) v = number of votes for the movie = (votes) m = minimum votes required to be listed in the Top 250 (currently 1300) C = the mean vote across the whole report (currently 6.7) for the Top 250, only votes from regular voters are considered.