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Parents' Guide to

Casino Jack

By Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Lots of foul language in funny, semi-true satire.

Movie R 2010 108 minutes
Casino Jack Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 17+

Based on 1 parent review

Jaismin
Jaismin Parent of 2-year-old
March 6, 2013
age 17+

DBG Poker

I’ve been involved in a lot of poker play in the past few years and I though I’d tell everyone with a passing interest in poker. At face value they are not the best: not many players online, average promotions, scarce tournaments...but this is where i always end up playing because of the pond quality As a decent player I look for a less experienced opponents, it gets me the best of both worlds in terms of experience and winning. A well hidden poker gem, and I suggest you give it a shot!
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Jack Abramoff (Kevin Spacey) is a "superlobbyist" in Washington D.C. who has connections and influences all over town. As CASINO JACK begins, he's conning Native American tribes out of millions of dollars in exchange for his services. He and his partner, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), also become involved with a small-time, mafia-connected hood (Jon Lovitz) and some floating casinos. Abramoff brags about using these profits to open restaurants and schools, but he always seems to be running low on cash -- and always looking for the next scam. Eventually, Abramoff and Scanlon go too far, and their high-priced world begins to tumble down around them.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The biggest asset in Casino Jack is Spacey, who plays Abramoff as the cynical, snappy type of character he made so memorable in American Beauty. Spacey is clearly enjoying every manic moment here (throwing in the occasional celebrity impression to boot), and the screenplay by Norman Snider does a nice job of feeding his frenzy. There isn't much room for others in this kind of one-man show, but Lovitz gets in some nice moments as the sleazy, small-time hood.

Director George Hickenlooper -- who passed away in October of 2010 -- can't quite fine-tune the movie into the tight comedy it should have been; it's a little uneven in places and a little wobbly in others. But to its credit, the movie gambles on a really nasty lead character and doesn't bother trying to make him "likeable." The movie knows that Abramoff is a terrible person and allows the audience to know that, too. The trick is that Jack doesn't know it. Overall, it's an interesting, funny, and irreverent portrait of our troubled times.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about whether Abramoff is a likeable character. Is he a good or a bad person? Does that affect how likeable he is?

  • Why might we be interested in watching characters like Abramoff? How does he justify his behavior to himself? Did you want to see him punished -- or get away scot free?

  • Why do you think that characters with lots of money are often prone to iffy behavior like strong language, multiple sex partners, and even violence? Is that realistic?

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