Director Martin Scorsese dials up Goodfellas to 11 in Casino, his dazzlingly entertaining take on organized crime in Sin City. As the opulent Tangiers Hotel turns into a morality carwash for the mob, gambling king Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) funnels cash out the back door to mob elders back East. It’s a business that makes him feel rich, but his marriage to Ginger (Sharon Stone) is going the way of the Tangiers and, ultimately, Ace will be stripped of everything.

Beneath the flashing lights and free cocktails, casinos are built on a bedrock of mathematics designed to slowly bleed their patrons of their money. Those who understand probability and game theory have tried to turn the tables, but for all their cleverness, they’re not able to beat a system that knows exactly what it’s doing.

The film has many highlights, and all the actors are in top form, but it’s De Niro and Stone who really shine. Their performances are full of depth and truth, with each gesture, silence, and look delivering a powerful blow. And if that isn’t enough, the film is beautifully directed by Scorsese who has an implacable cinematic sense that never wavers. This is one of the most underrated movies in his impressive catalogue, and it should be in the pantheon of every movie lover. If you haven’t seen it, get on that. You won’t be disappointed.