Movies

Martin Scorsese’s “Casino” (1995) is a formidable entry in the crime genre, distinct in its grandiosity and meticulous craftsmanship. Adapted from Nicholas Pileggi’s nonfiction book, the film stars Robert De Niro as Sam “Ace” Rothstein, Sharon Stone as Ginger McKenna, and Joe Pesci as Nicky Santoro. Expectations for this film were high given Scorsese’s reputation for in-depth character studies and visceral storytelling, coupled with the critically acclaimed performances of the cast. As a long-standing admirer of Scorsese’s aesthetic and thematic depth, I anticipated a richly textured exploration of moral decay within the neon-lit facade of Las Vegas. “Casino” promised to probe the corrupt underbelly of organized crime’s entrenchment in the gambling metropolis, and it does so with an unflinching, sensory-driven intensity.

If the 90s were a neon-lit cyberpunk dream, then Hackers is its anthem—a glossy, high-energy ode to the digital revolution that captured the imagination of a generation. Released in 1995, this cult classic, directed by Iain Softley, is a time capsule of dial-up modems, rollerblading hackers, and a world where the internet felt like an uncharted frontier.