Do political systems corrupt their participants or do the participants corrupt the systems? Casino Jack, while not resolving this issue, certainly does a commendable job of exploring it.
This excellent film examines the Jack Abramoff scandal, this political era's answer to Watergate. Abramoff, as you know, extorted clients, bribed congressional representatives, and lied to just about everyone, including loved ones. The movie uses real names, actual incidents, genuine dialogue, and an apparently liberal dose of cinematic license to capture the abject greed of Abramoff and his criminal cohort, Michael Scanlon. The scandal ultimately resulted in House Majority Leader, Tom De Lay, Congressman Robert Ney, and Abramoff falling from grace and into criminal courts. Scanlon, according to the film, has copped a deal that has at least delayed his imprisonment and probably mitigated its length.
Kevin Spacey is effective in portraying Abramoff's seemingly devout Judaism juxtaposed against his obsessive greed. Barry Pepper's intense portrayal of Michael Scanlon highlights in compelling fashion the depths to which some people will go to accommodate their insatiable lust for money. On the other hand, Jon Lovitz' performance seems to reflect an indecision oh his part whether to play the role of a mob linked businessman either straight or comical, and as a result he essentially does neither.
De Ley, played by Spencer Garrett, whose performance as one of John Dillinger's fellow robbers in Public Enemies was so effective, is exposed as cynically and unrepentantly corrupt. In real life De Ley was convicted of corruption and sentenced to several years in prison. Ditto for Mr. Ney. And even more ditto for Abramoff.
The film is taken from the vantage point that the viewer is watching the events as they unfold, as opposed to other political scandal films such as All The President's Men. That movie showed us Watergate through the eyes of reporters. I think you know their names.
What is so galling is the fact that all of the key players in the Abramoff scandal were heartlessly immune to what was in the public's best interest. This film makes that fact clearly and convincingly. Spacey's Abramoff is so cunning and cynical that he doesn't see the disconnect in using the millions of dollars that he extorted from his Indian tribe clients to donate to charity. Scanlon doesn't pay back his student loans, but he can afford to purchase a luxury home in Dubai.
You can't have a system without people. And let's face it, in any system there will be corrupt people. Casino Jack show us just how corrupt some of those people can be.
This excellent film examines the Jack Abramoff scandal, this political era's answer to Watergate. Abramoff, as you know, extorted clients, bribed congressional representatives, and lied to just about everyone, including loved ones. The movie uses real names, actual incidents, genuine dialogue, and an apparently liberal dose of cinematic license to capture the abject greed of Abramoff and his criminal cohort, Michael Scanlon. The scandal ultimately resulted in House Majority Leader, Tom De Lay, Congressman Robert Ney, and Abramoff falling from grace and into criminal courts. Scanlon, according to the film, has copped a deal that has at least delayed his imprisonment and probably mitigated its length.
Kevin Spacey is effective in portraying Abramoff's seemingly devout Judaism juxtaposed against his obsessive greed. Barry Pepper's intense portrayal of Michael Scanlon highlights in compelling fashion the depths to which some people will go to accommodate their insatiable lust for money. On the other hand, Jon Lovitz' performance seems to reflect an indecision oh his part whether to play the role of a mob linked businessman either straight or comical, and as a result he essentially does neither.
De Ley, played by Spencer Garrett, whose performance as one of John Dillinger's fellow robbers in Public Enemies was so effective, is exposed as cynically and unrepentantly corrupt. In real life De Ley was convicted of corruption and sentenced to several years in prison. Ditto for Mr. Ney. And even more ditto for Abramoff.
The film is taken from the vantage point that the viewer is watching the events as they unfold, as opposed to other political scandal films such as All The President's Men. That movie showed us Watergate through the eyes of reporters. I think you know their names.
What is so galling is the fact that all of the key players in the Abramoff scandal were heartlessly immune to what was in the public's best interest. This film makes that fact clearly and convincingly. Spacey's Abramoff is so cunning and cynical that he doesn't see the disconnect in using the millions of dollars that he extorted from his Indian tribe clients to donate to charity. Scanlon doesn't pay back his student loans, but he can afford to purchase a luxury home in Dubai.
You can't have a system without people. And let's face it, in any system there will be corrupt people. Casino Jack show us just how corrupt some of those people can be.