When looking back at cinema, it becomes noticeable that Hollywood seems to have a fascination with casinos. Primarily portrayed as glamorous and executive locations, they’ve been the main spot for various action and heist films, with many of these films going on to become iconic in their genre.
Here’s a look back at some of these films, and if they hold up today, as well as their impact on recent cinema and popular culture. You can find a list of great casino sites here https://bitcoinbookies.net/anonymous-betting-sites/
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Eleven is perhaps one of the most famous heist films of all time, spawning not only its own franchise but also becoming the standard bearer of heist films that followed. Boasting a stellar cast both at the time and in modern iterations, with Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, George Clooney and even Julia Roberts, the film introduced some of the classic troupes that are stilled followed to this day, even to the point of parody such as in Rick & Morty.
Without spoiling the movie too much, the main plot is that this group of thieves conducts a heist on a casino owner, turning the casino into a major and interesting component of the film.
It did extremely well at the Box Office when it was released, and fared well with the critics too, but due to subsequent casino flicks, it may now appear a bit outdated, and is nothing different to what we’ve seen recently, which isn’t a fault of the film, but instead a fault of modern directors to mix things up. It’s a great time capsule and will be held in high regard for years to come, due to its influence.
Casino Royal
Casino Royal was Daniel Craig’s first foray in the role of Mr. James Bond, and for many people, was his best performance as the character. The film marked a massive departure from Bond films of old, adopting a more gritty and dirty style and filmography that in turn convoyed more peril and intrigue.
For a lot of people, Casino Royal is iconic modern James Bond, and it isn’t uncommon for it to be a favorite of many fans of the franchise. Iconic scenes such as the awful genital torture and the poisoning will live on in the heart of many Bond fans – perhaps Bond should have just tried to play Unibet games – but what’s interesting about the film is how fresh it still feels even when re-watching now. The far more toned down action of a poker game in a casino is a massive departure from the spectacle that floods its Craig-era sequels, which makes it unique and interesting, and many people are wishing for another deviation from the formula that this film was.
21
21 is a fairly unknown film released just over a decade ago chronicling the true story of the MIT Blackjack team beating the house for nearly a decade. It turns what is an interesting story of math and business genius into what is a dumbed down heist movie and looking back, this tonal direction may have been its downfall. Released in an era where smarter, more mathematical movies were doing well, such as the glorious Moneyball, telling the story in a more clinical way would have done the film, and the story, justice.
The film also garnered criticism for whitewashing its mostly Asian American characters to generic white archetypes, and also features an uninspired performance from disgraced Kevin Spacey. It wasn’t a good film then and isn’t one now but is a good example of how every casino-themed movie doesn’t have to be a heist or action flick.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Geek Vibes Nation. This article is for educational purposes only.
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