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It is unfortunate that 'Casino' is usually perceived merely as a critique of the Mafia. Much more than a cliché condemnation of the criminal underworld, the film delivers a mordant 'j'accuse' against the degradation of the self-destructive socioeconomic system (including cops, government bureaucrats, politicians) that generated and institutionalized the Mafia's role in contemporary Americana.

Upon relocating to Las Vegas, childhood friends Sam Rothstein and Nicky Santoro (Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci) submit their gangster experience to the disposal of the local mob network, which controls the gambling industry. Rothstein rapidly excels as a Mafia-sanctioned casino manager luxuriating in a Roman lifestyle, while Santoro successfully commands the rougher, more violent aspects of the underworld business. Soon, however, their virulent lifestyles and incessant greed leads them to a downward spiral of confrontation and deceit, accentuated by their common lust for femme fatale Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).

This fascinating Franco-American co-production ought to be commended for its caustic inquiry into the rotten economic foundations of the American dream. Moreover, it achieves this without seriously compromising its solid cinematic components (storytelling, cinematography and overall cohesion), while also giving prominence to Stone's extremely well-acted, visible female character, amid all the Mafiosi male chauvinism.

On the downside, the screenplay is often vaporous, and some of the inevitable violence is truly stomach churning. Yet these deficiencies should not discourage hardened fans from taking a look. Worth experiencing, 6.5 stars out of 10.

Few films have matured as gracefully as 'All About Eve', a poignant, caustic commentary on the ludicrous world of show biz, with a message that is as meaningful today as in the year it was released. Bette Davis stars in a true-to-life role as Margo Channing, an aging Broadway celebrity who is charmed by passionately devoted fan Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter). Eve's dedication to Channing and to her show biz circle (George Sanders, Celeste Holm and Gary Merrill among others) gains their trust and affection, and abets her sinister ulterior scheme, which is, in fact, 'all about Eve'.

This memorable production boasts an elegant screenplay and good direction, as well as impressive performances by the central characters (Celeste Holm's lacking delivery being the sole exception), all wrapped up in incessantly intriguing storytelling. The textbook character development that adorns the script is fascinating and in itself constitutes a motive for all vintage cinema fans to indulge in this fine specimen.

Overly conventional cinematography and an unnoticeable score keep 'All About Eve' from achieving cinematic supremacy, yet they have proven too marginal to seriously threaten the film's undisputed historical legacy. Worthy of its fame, six stars out of ten.

A few amusing characters and even fewer amusing scenes save ‘Get Shorty' from total oblivion. John Travolta (as Miami debt collector Chili Palmer) visits Los Angeles B-movie producer Harry Zimm (Gene Hackman) who owes money to the mafia. Chili finds that his childhood dream of producing movies has been resuscitated, and teams up with Zimm and his star actress Karen Flores (Rene Russo) to ward off a host of angry loan sharks, and catch the attention of self-centered Hollywood celebrity Martin Weir (Danny DeVito).

The upfront, ten-minute sequence that opens the film is humorous. Yet it is a stark contrast to the remaining 95 minutes, which follow an intricate but mechanical script that fails to develop a host of otherwise appealing characters. The actors try to project, but they have not much by way of screenplay or direction to stand on. The film is thus forgettable and unremarkable, though it will entertain for the best part of 2 hours. Five stars out of ten.