Casino Jack (film review; opens Jan. 7)
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Four words — “show me the money” — sum up the business philosophy of super lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who’s the subject of “Casino Jack.”
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> The Washington, D.C., wheeler-dealer earned millions during the 1990s as he manipulated politicians (by offering them expensive gifts and exotic getaways, which they happily accepted), exploited Native Americans (by squeezing dollars out of their casinos and into his pockets), destroyed the chances for some Asian workers to have an opportunity to better themselves (by lobbying to pass laws to create profitable sweatshops), and thumbed his nose at Uncle Sam (by exchanging various personal services for exorbitant fees hidden from the IRS).
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> The R-rated picture, directed by the late George Hickenlooper (“Factory Girl”), covers the rise and fall of the backslapping Abramoff, played by Kevin Spacey (“The Usual Suspects”). The filmmaker satirizes a boom time when money flowed and some with political power had their hands out to pocket cash for the good life.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> The twist to the film is that the good life wasn’t good. It ended up being toxic.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Abramoff possesses a gift for knowing what some powerful people want, how to get it for them, and when to call in favors. Much of “Casino Jack” is played for dark humor, but that approach wears thin, since — as we know from the crippling Wall Street fiasco — the end result of such fiscal misdeeds is no laughing matter.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Spacey exhibits a calculated swagger as Abramoff, an Atlantic City native who initially sees himself as a master of the universe and describes political influence as “more important than the air you breathe.” The Oscar-winning actor, who sometimes seems to be trying too hard, ultimately creates a delusional individual incapable of seeing the error of his ways and anxious to blast the hypocrites who place him behind bars.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Because the film’s very modest $12.5 million budget didn’t allow for big production scenes, Spacey does what he can to energize this broadly drawn account of the outrageous dealings of Abramoff, who, according to the Associated Press, is serving three years of probation after his Dec. 3, 2010, prison release.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> The film isn’t helped by former “Saturday Night Live” member Jon Lovitz. The comic actor broadly plays an annoying businessman who’s anxious to get on Abramoff’s good side and ends up helping to destroy the Republican lobbyist by getting involved with Russian gangsters and mob killers.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Barry Pepper (“True Grit”) goes in and out of the picture as the greedy Michael Scanlon, Abramoff’s easily influenced partner. Kelly Preston (“Jerry Maguire”) does a stand-by-her-man routine as Abramoff’s wife, Pam, who immediately sees the implications of her husband’s illegal dealings and realizes that their lives are forever tainted.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Fans of Spacey who have been waiting for him to deliver an often-fearless performance may want to line up for “Casino Jack,” but others will no doubt be happy to wait for its appearance on DVD or cable.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Postscript
screen property. Oscar winner Alex Gibney (“Taxi to the Dark Side”)
directed the R-rated documentary “Casino Jack and the United States
of Money.” The 2010 title is now available on DVD (Magnolia;
$26.99).
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> FILM REVIEW
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Grade
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Starring
Preston and Jon Lovitz; written by Norman Snider; directed by
George Hickenlooper.
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Running Time
“font-family: Aldine721 BT; color: black; font-size: x-small;”> Parental Guide
four-letter profanity, some violence, brief nudity).
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