Casino Jack (2010)

best movie i've ever seen.

Absolutely the worst movie.

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

"Casino Jack" is the story of a government scandal, something we've become quite used to in this country. It was George Hickenlooper's last film. I'm not sure if the distribution was limited, but this movie lost money big time, and it didn't cost that much to start. There is also a documentary on this same subject.Kevin Spacey stars as Jack Abramoff, a lobbyist turned criminal, as if what he was doing wasn't criminal enough, though legal. The film also features Barry Pepper, Jon Lovitz, Rachel Lefevre, Kelly Preston, and Maury Chaykin.Abramoff (Spacey), who was staying within legal bounds as a lobbyist, gets greedy and with his business partner Mike Scanlon (Pepper) starts taking exorbitant fees from various Indian tribes supposedly to help them with their casino businesses. Of course, these were rival casinos and besides the fact that he was taking more than the legal limit of money, it was conflict of interest to work for several tribes. Abramoff uses the money to open restaurants, a school for Jewish children, buy a fabulous home, all kinds of things.The idea behind lobbying is that special interest groups - say, an Indian casino, pays a lobbyist who in turn pays congressmen to help smooth the way for the special interest via passage of laws, getting licensing, things of that sort. I don't know, I would call those bribes. Washington calls it lobbying. In one scene, Abramoff flies a bunch of politicos someplace and shows them a good time. We pay for that, by the way.When a front man is needed, Abramoff turns to a mattress salesman (Lovitz) to help make a deal. Major, major trouble is the result. Abramoff ultimately is under investigation, his good friend, Senator Tom Delay, has to resign from the Senate, and the subpoenas start coming.Kevin Spacey is excellent as the confident, charming, aggressive Abramoff, who thinks he has a lot of friends in high places. It's a big performance. Someone commented that they saw Abramoff interviewed and he seemed quite different from Spacey. Well, Abramoff was in prison at the time and I imagine by then he was quite different. Spacey met him and I have to assume picked up some characteristics from him. Barry Pepper is also top notch as the sleazy Mike Scanlon, whose massive infidelities cause a huge problem for both himself and Abramoff.Jon Lovitz I think was miscast. How could anyone think this idiot could make a huge business deal? The character should have at least seemed like he could do a deal of that nature. The way Lovitz played it, no one would take him seriously - and that includes Abramoff.This is a pretty sobering look at how our government is run, and frankly, it sucks. When Abramoff is supposed to testify before a committee, he fantasizes calling the committee a bunch of hypocrites. He was right. To hell with the public interest, where's my money.

'You Don't Know Jack' would have been a good title for this biopic, but that one was already taken for assisted suicide doctor Jack Kevorkian. If you kept up with the news in the mid 2000's, Jack Abramoff had a fairly ubiquitous presence on the front pages of your national newspapers. As depicted in the film, he gained notoriety as a super-lobbyist, particularly when hauled in front of a Senate investigative panel and forced to spill the beans. Kevin Spacey does a nice job in depicting the congressional gun for hire, the go to guy to get special favors done for your special interest group. Wielding influence like it was second nature, watching Abramoff's style of American democracy in action is a genuine eye opener for casual viewers who haven't a clue how some laws are passed. Liberals in particular will take certain delight in the way Republican leaders were brought down by Abramoff's machinations, but I wouldn't carry that too far. The closing credits suggest a thoughtful Abramoff pondering his post-prison life from a jail cell, in which he makes his return to the Hill on behalf of Democratic benefactors. Stay tuned for the sequel.

I have a thing against despicable characters like "right-wing fascist" Jack Abramoff in "Casino Jack". I can almost get over my hesitation when he's played by the always likable Kevin Spacey, almost. It's an unlikable character flanked by more unlikable characters that for the most part make up an unlikable film.Yes, it is a true story about the lobbyist who had Republicans in his back pocket, i.e, his wallet, and it's even an interesting true story. Almost an interesting film. They spent way too long introducing us to this arrogant wheeler-dealer, who of course had many facets including family man and a devout Jew, but then forgetting to tell us why he's so interesting.Despite the lack of focus on why we should be watching, the performances are quite entertaining. Spacey, immensely underrated for his comedic acting ability, delivers witty one-liners as best as anyone. Barry Pepper in what could be a career-defining role comes second only to Spacey in entertainment value and sleaziness. And Jon Lovitz, as always, comes through with comic gold as an obnoxious mob-connected imbecile. But should this movie really be a comedy? With Abramoff out of jail and back on the streets, how funny is that? Alex Gibney's documentary "Casino Jack and the United State of Money" is a better product than this, but neither are as interesting as they should be given the subject.

Kevin Spacey is truly an actor to adore. The Two-Time Academy-Award Winner has proved his talent time and again. In 'Casino Jack', he gets even better and delivers a superb performance. 'Casino Jack' is based on Jack Abramoff. Abramoff, is one of the most notorious lobbyist's ever. 'Casino Jack', however focuses, on the time when Abramoff & his protégé went down hard...as their schemes to peddle influence lead to corruption and a brutal murder. Director George Hickenlooper does a good job, while Norman Snider's writing is flawed. The writing in the first hour is spot-on, but in the second hour, it falters. Even the culmination for that matter, doesn't leave the desired impact. Acting wise, as told, Spacey owns the film. He plays Abramoff superbly. He truly is an Icon! Barry Pepper is Excellent. On the whole, 'Casino Jack' can be viewed once, for it's lead star's performance. Must for Spacey Fans!