Like a lot of movies about organized crime, Casino is all about how corrupt and violent life in the mafia can be. But unlike Goodfellas and Mean Streets, the story in Casino has a bit more of a moralistic angle to it.

The movie is based on the real story of Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal and his Stardust hotel in Vegas, which later became the Tangiers. The film stars Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, a mobster who takes over the gambling operation after he’s arrested for his illegal activities in New York. He’s backed by mobster Nicky Santoro (Joe Pesci), who eventually moves out to run his own rackets in Vegas, while Ace goes into partnership with a former hooker/call-girl Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).

Scorsese keeps the film lean and intense throughout and he uses the setting of Las Vegas as a character of its own. He shows how the city was a place that allowed people like Ace and Ginger to thrive, before it chewed them up and spat them out like junk bonds. “This town will never be the same,” the narrator says over images of the demolition of the Tangiers. “Today it works like Disneyland.”

While the movie isn’t quite as focused as Goodfellas, it still has a solid narrative and is anchored by excellent performances. Sharon Stone is outstanding as the woman who’s addicted to anything money can buy. Her performance is one of the best of her career and marks a big step forward for female characters in Scorsese’s films.