It’s my old nemesis, the long ass gangster movie. I don’t know what is going on because everyone is playing their motivations so close to the chest, until suddenly they don’t and someone gets their head crushed in a vice. Or a vise? Gambling is a vice. Take my advice and watch my latest video because I edited it myself and I got jokes.
Casino!
10 Tuesday Feb 2026
Posted in drama
sevendoorsofcinema 
First off, I didn’t care much for Casino. I don’t think it’s one of Scorsese’s best films. To me, it felt like a two-hour story stretched to a ridiculous length. I also didn’t find the story all that interesting. Yes, it’s well acted and expertly directed, but it struck me as more cold technique than engaging drama.
If you’re looking for epic comedies, I love two from the 1960s: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) and The Great Race (1965). They’re silly and over-the-top, but also genuinely funny and stylish.
If you’re in the mood for a dramatic epic with a somewhat happy ending, I’d recommend The Big Country (1958). It’s a Western that has a bit of everything—romance, action, sweeping landscapes—and despite all the drama, it lands on an uplifting note. Giant (1956) is another super-epic that comes close to a happy ending as well.
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Yes, you’re absolutely right about Casino, and you said it more concisely than I did. Mad Mad World is a good recommendation, I haven’t seen it but my dad always talks about how he watched it several times in the theater so I guess it’s time for me to finally check it out. I wouldn’t have pictured Giant ( which I also haven’t seen, but know of the cast and circumstances) on the list, and I’m obsessed with TCM and classic movies at the moment, so that’s going on the list. And I hadn’t even heard of The Big Country. Thanks for the recommendations!
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