The casinos of Las Vegas have always been inspiring the filmmakers who are looking to add a level of intrigue and excitement to their movies. Over the years, a lot of movies have been based on casino or gambling. Please note that you don’t need to fly to Las Vegas to play blackjack or slots, you can visit an online casino guide like top5onlinecasino.ca and play for free or real money to the best online casinos.
Ocean’s Eleven
One of the most popular movie with a Las Vegas background is ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ of 1960. In this movie, members of Rat Pack, Sammy Davis, Dean Martin and Frank Sintara are seen planning the robbery of top Vegas casinos in a single night. Their plan is eventually successful after all the heists.
In 2001, Steven Soderburgh remade Ocean’s Eleven and George Clooney got the lead role as Danny Ocean. Other gang members included Brad Pitt, Elliott Gould and Matt Damon. This remake updated the storyline a little while the image of glamorous Vegas was put across the same way as before.
Honeymoon in Vegas
Nicolas Cage’s movie ‘Honeymoon in Vegas’, which was released in 1992, was also based themed around Las Vegas. In this comedy movie, Cage plays the role of Jack Singer who takes a decision of wedding his partner Betsy, played by Sarah Jessica Parker, in Las Vegas. However, when the couple arrives in Vegas, a high-stakes gambler spots Betsy and wishes to spend a weekend with her. In order to wrestle Betsy from Singer, he engages him in poker games. With great acting from Cage as a love-stuck bridegroom and James Can as a gambler, Honeymoon in Vegas turns out to be quite hilarious movie.
Rounders
In 1998’s ‘Rounders’, Matt Damon is seen playing the role of Mike McDermott, one of the best poker players in the world. In this movie, Matt Damon decides to give up gambling so that he can concentrate on completing law school. Later, when Worm, his old friend played by Edward Norton is comes out of prison; he talks McDermott into returning to gambling so that he can pay off the money he owes to loan sharks. Consequently, McDermott ends up playing some poker games with ever increasing stakes and the tension building around it.
The Sting
Another great gambling related movie is The Sting, which premiered in 1973 and was directed by George Roy Hill. Paul Newman, Robert Shaw, Robert Redford and Charles Durning are seen playing the lead role in this 129-minute movie. This movie tells the story of a common young man from Chicago, who is seeking revenge of the death of his partner.
Casino
Any list of great casino movies is not complete if Martin Scorcese’s 1995 movie ‘Casino’ is not mentioned. Many consider this film as the ultimate casino movie. This movie tells the story of a mobster, Same ‘Ace’ Rothstein, who goes to Las Vegas and starts operating Tangiers casino. The lead role of Rothstein is played by Robert De Niro. Sharon Stone plays the role of a drug addict who is married to Rothstein, while Joe Pesci is seen playing the role of Nicky Santoro, another mobster slowly entering a world of violence.