Summary:
Casino Jack is another shameful story of people with more money than sense.
More DetailsAbout Casino Jack (2010)
CASINO JACK lays bare the wild excesses and escapades of Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey), a man hell- bent on acquiring all that the good life has to offer. Aided by his business partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), Jack parlays his clout over some of the world s most powerful men with the goal of creating a personal empire of wealth and influence. When the two enlist a mob-connected buddy (Jon Lovitz) to help with one of their illegal schemes, they soon find themselves in over their heads, entrenched in a world of mafia assassins, murder and a scandal that spins so out of control that it makes worldwide headlines.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Kelly Preston, Jon Lovitz
Directed by: George Hickenlooper
Runtime: 109 minutes
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Amazon USAmazon UKIMDB
Review: Casino Jack
Based on a true story, Casino Jack tells the story of Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey) who is a renowned lobbyist in Washington DC who can seemingly do no wrong. He is married to Pam (Kelly Preston), they have a large family, great home and did I mention that Jack works out everyday? I thought I’d best. He mentions it once or twice. Jack and his colleague, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), are masters at what they do but things begin to go wrong when they begin earning extra money fraudulently. We’re not talking a little money, we’re talking a lot of money. First they commit fraud at the expense of Indian tribes and their casino gambling interests but it is their ties with SunCruz Casinos that finally brings them down.
Jack seems a nice enough guy when we meet him but his desire to live the high life leads him down the road of corruption and Michael is right alongside him. Jack bags handsome fees for lobbying and influencing important figures to vote in certain ways when it comes to key decisions. Jack manages to bag a large investment from an Indian Council with the promise or working for them and helping gain them further rights with Indian casinos. Jack and Michael next become involved in SunCruz Casinos owned by Gus Boulis (Daniel Kash) and they seek the aid of Adam Kidan (Jon Lovitz) to run the casino network. When relations with Boulis and Kidan break down, the corruption and scandal comes back to haunt Jack and his problems become ever more serious, even leading to murder.
I enjoyed Casino Jack, largely down to another fantastic performance from Kevin Spacey in the lead. Jack may be a smooth talker and extremely confident, but he is rotten to the core though. Even when the law catches up with him he still believes firmly in himself and that he is always in the right. This is a fascinating true story and yet another tale where you will be left rolling your eyes at the extent of the scandal and so much money being thrown around like it’s small change. Lovitz, Preston and Pepper ably support Spacey throughout.
Casino Jack is another shameful story of people with more money than sense. The levels of corruption that Jack sinks to are appalling and though the film has some amusing moments it becomes very serious when blood is spilled as the scandal bubbles over into complete and utter mayhem. There are many like Jack who shouldn’t have access to so much money and Casino Jack is another perfect example of how power and influence can so easily corrupt and how greed causes so many to pursue their own agenda at the expense of everyone else.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
