Casino Jack DVD Review

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“In reality, mediocrity is where most people live….those of us who know something about it do something about it…..I will not allow my reality to be vanilla,” Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey) introduces himself to us in Casino Jack, released on DVD on April 5, 2011, by 20th Century Fox. In this film (based on Abramoff’s true story) we learn about Jack, who’s a lobbyist, a man legally paid to influence Congressional legislation and public officials on the behalf of special interest groups. However, motivated by greed (although Jack doesn’t think so, since his intentions are to start a private Hebrew boy’s school and a kosher restaurant and therefore the ends justify the means), Jack goes far beyond this until, as his partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper) says, “The President is probably destroying every picture he took with you….they’re calling us the new Watergate, Jack.”

Kevin Spacey is a perfect choice for Jack, quick-tongued and quick-witted, educated and socially savy, and as usual he turns in a brilliant performance. Jack’s argument for keeping open sweatshops in the Polynesian Marianna Islands is that “the Chinese can send money back to their relatives” and “the more influence we have, the bigger the smiles on our children’s faces” as Jack “helps these people improve themselves” just so Americans can keep paying only $19.99 for quality jeans! Jack also “helps” the Chippewa Casino in Minnesota while taking money from them, which isn’t found out until later, enraging Chief Poncho (Eric Schweg). He connives to buy Sun Sail Casinos in Florida, deemed a “reptile cage” even by Adam (Jon Lovitz), a sleazy Mafia connection who proves to be part of Jack’s undoing, illegally allowing the former owner, Gus Boulis (Daniel Kash), to keep part of his business after selling it plus adding new “floating casinos” – all of these endeavors just to generate money.

For a time Jack’s schemes are successful and he opens two restaurants and becomes the darling of New York City’s social scene. Meanwhile his friend Michael has aspirations, too: a Playboy-like mansion that costs millions and will include a huge sports facility. But in all of this furor Jack has placed his minority interest (Hebrew) above those of others (American Indian tribes). Michael makes a big mistake when he tells everything to his girlfriend Emily (Rachel Lefevre) but then betrays her, not thinking of future consequences. Jack rationalizes his behavior because he feels the entire system is corrupt, as he has contributed to election funds and senators have helped him in his fraud schemes. But the FBI feels otherwise.

If Casino Jack has a flaw it’s that the fast-paced dialogue and labyrinth of his wheel-and-dealing world moves too quickly for us as an audience to follow. It’s also astonishing (albeit true) that a man of such integrity and self-discipline (“I work out every day,” Jack tells us more than once) can be contaminated so quickly by the thought of large amounts of money.

Directed by George Hickenlooper (now deceased, and to whom this film is dedicated) and written by Norman Snide, Casino jack is still one of the better films you’ll see this year. And if you think of yourself as a person of morals who could never be corrupted by money and what it could buy, take a look at what happened to Jack!

Casino Jack DVD Special Features

• Casino Jack: A Director’s Photo Diary
• Gag Reel
• Deleted Scenes

MPAA Rating: R
Total Running Time: 108 minutes
DVD Release Date: April 5, 2011

Directed by George Hickenlooper
With Kevin Spacey, Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz, Kelly Preston, and Rachelle Lefevre

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Posted by Christina Zawadiwsky on Apr 8 2011. Filed under DVD Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry