The casino movie. One of Hollywood’s favourite subjects. Casinos and gambling have been used in many films over the years with perhaps the James Caan starrer The Gambler being one of the first movies to fully embrace the seductive world of betting. That film was of course remade very recently with Mark Wahlberg in the lead role, but that one hasn’t managed to make it onto our favourite five casino movies from the last twenty years. Here’s what did.
- The Cooler
At five leading off our favourite five casino movies is The Cooler, a little known 2003 movie from director Wayne Kramer. William H. Macy, who will next be seen in the upcoming Room in January, played the lead role of a casino jinx who breaks his curse when he falls in love with Mario Bello’s character. The film is charming and captivating and also features performances from Ron Livingston and ex ‘N Sync musician Joey Fatone.
- Casino
Next up is Martin Scorsese’s Casino from 1995. We’re pretty sure that if you asked around, Casino would come on the top of many people’s top casino movie lists. The Martin Scorsese classic still stands up to this day, and features brilliant central performances from Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. Like comparing movies on the IMDB, where this does indeed come top of the casino movies, you can compare the best online casino offers online too. Scorsese dominates the category with this movie going up against the superior Goodfellas as Scorsese’s two-hit run in the 1990s.
- Leaving Las Vegas
While not really a film about gambling at all, but more about alcohol addition and a man intent on drinking himself to death, Leaving Las Vegas still remains one of the best Vegas movies. Director Mike Figgis took to the streets of Sin City to shoot the film guerilla style, sometimes without permission, and the film won Nicholas Cage an Oscar. Well deserved too. Of course, many casino scenes were featured in the movie, which also starred an equally brilliant Elizabeth Shue.
- The Hangover
The only comedy on our list, The Hangover was the break-out role for Oscar-nominated Bradley Cooper. Here, Cooper plays Phil, one of a group of thirty-somethings who head to Vegas on a booze and drug fuelled bachelor party. There, they run into a little trouble when one of the group goes missing. Phil, along with buddies Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) must get together a bag full of money to find out where a notorious gangster named Mr. Chow may have hidden their friend, all in time for his wedding the very next day.
- Rain Man
Rain Man was a film that The Hangover may have stolen its climactic scenes from. The finale of Rain Man takes place in a casino where Tom Cruise visits with his autistic older brother named Raymond (Dustin Hoffman). Cruise’s character uses Raymond’s unique gift to make a profit in the casinos of Las Vegas. The film was a huge success both critically and commercially, making a huge $350 million back in 1988 from a budget of just $25 million. It was nominated for eight Oscars, and won four.
