Thursday, September 12, 2013

My Favorite Scene: Casino, Part I

Martin Scorsese is a master of many things. But one thing he’s never given enough credit for is his uncanny ability to depict a domestic argument. Henry vs. Karen Hill, Jake LaMotta and Vickie, the entirety of The Age of Innocence, and so on. Those respective films excel for many reasons, but the constant verbal battles depicted within them are utterly horrifying.

Noting Scorsese’s penchant for showcasing a family unraveled, no such scene in his career is more devastating than Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro) viciously kicking his wife, Ginger (Sharon Stone) out of their house. The scene takes place shortly after Ginger has come back into town after running off with her and Ace’s daughter for several days. Ace welcomes Ginger back, but berates her at a public dinner, forcing Ginger to leave the restaurant. That night, Ace overhears Ginger whisper into the phone how badly she wants Ace killed. The camera cuts to below Ginger, just as Ace (who ingeniously moves into the camera’s focus) quietly comes up behind her. Ginger stops talking.

She knows the storm is coming.


Ace grabs the phone, Ginger quickly attacks him, and what ensues are two of the most uncomfortable consecutive minutes I’ve ever seen on film.

As Ginger screams how much she hates Ace, he drags her on the ground through several rooms. This shot in particular is especially troubling, as Scorsese wisely keeps his distance, and holds the shot without cutting away. Editing cuts would be a distraction. By keeping it in one shot, the viewer is forced to watch this chaos unfold.

Ace drags her into the closest, angrily packs a small bag, throws some money in her face and pushes her out the front door. Two minutes, and we’re done. Why then does this scene last so much longer in my mind?


For starters, this is the scene Sharon Stone was born to play. Say what you want about the inconsistencies of her acting from film to film, as Ginger, Stone fucking nailed it. This scene is the highlight of a perfect performance. She goes all in, and it literally knocks the wind out of me. We all know Robert De Niro is capable of conveying the anger that rushes through Ace in this scene. What’s interesting here is that De Niro holds back, if ever so slightly. Sure, there are many unsettling screams and threats, but I always think he’s going to haul off and punch Ginger in the face. Thankfully, he’s more restrained than that.

Casino is a damn violent movie, but this is by far the most disturbing scene in the film. Whenever I arrive at this sequence, chills run down my spine and I squirm nervously in my chair. Two actors going all in, a few cuts, and a steady camera. That’s all Martin Scorsese needs to floor us.


16 comments:

  1. I need to re-watch this film as it's been a long time since I've seen it. Fortunately, I have it in one of my DVR recorders. I'll come around to it. I do remember that intense moment where Ace discovers his daughter being tied up on her bed as he really loses it.

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    1. Oh man, that scene is so devastating as well. Seriously, what kind of mother does that?

      Love this movie.

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  2. Very interesting choice! I love that scene, hell I love that whole movie, but that moment in the 2nd screenshot where he suddenly turns behind her and she is so scared shitless she falls silent and has that panicked look on her face is probably the most disturbing. Such a short moment, but a good example of how great and deep in character De Niro and Stone were.

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    1. Thanks! I love that moment as well. It's almost like she's afraid Ace is going to hold a pistol to the back of her head and kill her. Great, great acting.

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  3. great post, great scene and epic mafia-movie. keep this going man, i damn like this blog.

    question: what about an in character focused on matt dillon?

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    1. Wow, thanks so much for this comment. Made my day.

      Shit man, Matt Dillon is an excellent choice for an In Character. GREAT call.

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  4. That is a great scene. That reminds me I think Casino is now on HBO Go, I should give that a re-watch.

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    1. In my experience, there is never a bad time to watch Casino. It's so damn fast and fun and, you know, brutal.

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  5. Thank you for pointing out about the long shot of Ace dragging Ginger along the ground. I love how you point out these camera techniques I wouldn't otherwise notice. Great post!

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    1. Thanks! I LOVE that shot. It's really startling.

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  6. I have a love hate relationship with Casino. I felt it was an uneven film with the potential to be one of the finest of Scorsese's career, this scene however, good lord. I was floored the first time I saw this scene, it's so manic and as you put it, unnerving, to the point that you feel it's longer than it is. It plays out in such a way to make you more, I would say, empathetic of the situation than of the characters proper. You don't like the ugliness of the dispute despite it's being inevitable, you know Ace and Ginger are very much on the rocks as a couple.

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    1. I think some people take issue with the dramatic shift in tone in this movie. It is so damn fast paced, but then slows down once they begin to fall. But man, this scene is crazy intense. It horrifies me, but I really appreciate it.

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  7. Yeah, this might be my favorite scene in my favorite Scorsese film. De Niro and Stone are fantastic.

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    1. I didn't know Casino was your favorite Scorsese! Man, that's awesome. Such a great film.

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  8. Martin Scorsese is the Gog!

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