Casino films are often tales of daring heists or stories of factions that fight for control of the game pits. They are fascinating pieces of cinema, and have attracted the attention of cinephiles for decades. Here are just some of the many entertaining casino films out there:
On Her
Majesty’s Secret Service
While not strictly a casino film, there are several iconic scenes in actor George Lazenby's only take as 'James Bond' that are set in a casino. The main scene, of course, would be where Lazenby meets his future wife, played by the enigmatic Dame Diana Rigg.
In fact, many of the 'James Bond' films are good contenders for films with casino scenes. Bond's game of choice in author Ian Fleming's novels is 'baccarat' and we see him try his hand at this game several times across various adaptations. However, we also see him try poker and craps a few times too. Bond is a character who seems to be at home within a casino setting. His suave and easy way of playing the games is iconic as his impeccable wardrobes and preference for martinis. Whoever the future Bond might be when Daniel Craig retires from the role, we can only hope to see the next '007' in more casino scenes.
Casino
Martin Scorsese’s epic crime film from 1995 is an intense look into the operations of the 'Tangiers Casino' in Las Vegas. Starring Robert De Niro, "Casino" is often hailed as one of the best casino films ever made, and it should also be on the must-watch list of anyone who adores crime films.
Of course, a real casino could not be more different than the one portrayed in a film like "Casino". If you want a glimpse of what a modern casino looks like, all you need to do is head to a site like Bonusninja.com. From here, you will be able to browse to many different online casinos, showing the differences between modern reality and what we see portrayed in films like "Casino".
21
"21" is based on
the real story of the MITBlackjack Team. 'Blackjack' is a game that many enjoy
playing at casinos, and many have tried to come up with strategies
over the years to beat the casinos at their own game. One option often put forward is card counting, successfully used by the 'MIT' in the film.
Nowadays, it is very difficult to manage card counting in either a live casino setting or when playing online. Many measures have been put in place to ensure it is difficult for players to use this method. Instead, players frequently find that learning how to master the game without relying on methods like card counting is a good bet. Blackjack is a game of strategy after all.
These are just three films you could sit down to watch if you enjoy casino movies, but they are very much the tip of the iceberg. Start with these, then find a motif that you enjoy. From fun buddy films to gritty stories about Vegas in the Fifties and Sixties, there will always be a casino film to suit everyone's tastes.
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