# Casino vs Goodfellas **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 9, 2012, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291 "2012-02-09T06:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/21 "2012-02-09T19:08:15Z")
I like them both a lot, but I went with _Casino_ just because you get to see somebody beat up Don Rickles. I sometimes conflate the two though; for example, I’ll remember the scene with Pesci and his [character’s] mom from _Casino_ then remember "Wait, that was _Goodfellas_. I know a close relative of Tommy DeSimone, the real life man Joe Pesci’s character in _Casino_ was based on. I think she’s a significantly younger first cousin of his, though she might be the daughter of a first cousin; in any case, she knew him fairly well when she was a kid. Talking about him once she talked about how funny he was and how generous he was- she’d see him once every few months but when she did he’d have expensive presents- well chosen ones- for her and her brother and sisters, or if he didn’t have presents when he saw them he’d peel off some cash and send somebody (a buddy or another relative) out and they’d come with expensive presents; he was super affectionate to everybody in the family and an insanely generous tipper when they went out to eat, etc… I knew the official record on him and I’d read the book _Casino_ and had no doubts the real DeSimone was a monster, but trying to be diplomatic I said a non-committal “Your family must have been really upset at how Pesci portrayed him”, to which she said “Oh no… oh no… well, they weren’t nuts about him being portrayed at all, but everybody knew where Tommy’s money came from and that when he wasn’t being the sweetest guy you ever met he was a psychotic lbastard that the other [mobsters] were afraid of. If half the stories the family tells about him are true he was ten times as evil as the guy Pesci played.” I always admire people capable of seeing their loved ones objectively. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/22 "2012-02-09T19:14:29Z")
Pardon- the above should have been DeSimone was the guy from _Goodfellas_- I got them confused again. (It was Pesci in _Goodfellas_.) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/23 "2012-02-09T19:26:10Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Pardon- the above should have been DeSimone was the guy from _Goodfellas_- I got them confused again. (It was Pesci in _Goodfellas_.) Right.The character Pesci played in _Casino_ was based on [Anthony “the Ant” Spilotro](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Spilotro) ( who does sort of vaguely look like Pesci IMO ). ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/24 "2012-02-09T20:36:30Z")
Both are great movies, but _Goodfellas_ is the best mob movie ever. That said, _Casino_ does have more memorable scenes, imo. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/25 "2012-02-09T20:56:52Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I know a close relative of Tommy DeSimone, the real life man Joe Pesci’s character in _Casino_ was based on. You’re conflating the two again. Pesci’s character in Casino was based on Tony “The Ant” Spilotro. DeSimone is who he was portraying in Goodfellas. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/26 "2012-02-09T21:12:04Z")
> [@Anamorphic](#): > > You’re conflating the two again. Pesci’s character in Casino was based on Tony “The Ant” Spilotro. DeSimone is who he was portraying in Goodfellas. Oh, d’oh. I see you corrected yourself in a follow-up post. I blame the cold medicine I’m currently doped up on. Carry on. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/27 "2012-02-10T00:16:55Z")
Goodfellas. I could watch it continuously and not get bored. Casino requires a deliberate effort to pay attention sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/28 "2012-02-10T00:18:34Z")
_Casino_ had the better soundtrack, imo. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/29 "2012-02-10T00:21:02Z")
Obviously they were based on two historically different people. But let’s face it, as far as archetypes go, it was the same reckless hoodlum. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/30 "2012-02-10T03:36:54Z")
Goodfellas is far and away the better film. But then again, Goodfellas is really kind of in a class of it’s own. Having said that, I’ve always felt that Casino was an underappreciated classic. I have the DVD and if I happen to catch it on TV, I’ll stop and watch. Anyway, I think it was Gene Siskel who said at the time, that if had been made by some unknown director you would have been amazed. But because it’s a gangster flick by Scorsese and invites the inevitable comparisons to Goodfellas, which had come out just a few years before, it didn’t quite measure up. It’s not a masterpiece. But taken on its own merits, it’s still a very good movie. ---
**Author:** ![Rich\_Mann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ce73a5/32.png) [@Rich\_Mann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rich_Mann)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/31 "2012-02-10T10:13:19Z")
Let’s see…Goodfellas or Casino…I’ll have to go with The Godfather. No, but seriously–despite the fact that Sharon Stone’s character constantly, mercilessly reminds me of the worst romantic entanglement I ever experienced, I have to say that Casino was the better film. But _ **because** _ of that I’d much rather watch Goodfellas. Maybe if Hill’s mistress’s character were more fleshed out, I could be equally as squeemish about both films. ---
**Author:** ![Mosier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@Mosier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mosier)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/32 "2012-02-10T10:34:40Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > I honestly think **Casino** was Sharon Stone’s finest performance. Maybe her only good one, really. But I was amazed at how well she did and I thought her Best Actress nomination was not out of line. **Casino** really grew on me as a film and I appreciate it a lot more than when it first came out. It’s miles better than **The Departed** if you ask me. > > That said IMHO **Goodfellas** is still a better movie. No freakin’ way. Comparing anyone in Casino to Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Departed is an insult. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/33 "2012-02-10T10:55:44Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > No freakin’ way. Comparing anyone in Casino to Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance in The Departed is an insult. I think The Departed is a much under-rated movie. I’d put it below Goodfellas but above Casino. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/34 "2012-02-10T12:19:33Z")
Gotta go with almost everyone else. I really like Casino but Goodfella’s was one of the top 2 cinema experiences of my life. It blew me away. My new girlfriend at the time who I really really fancied and thought that night was the night I’d finally get to have sex with her. She was freaked out when Henry smashed the guy with the gun and said she had to leave. I said sorry but I had to stay as this was the best movie I’d ever seen. She stayed but no sex that night alas 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/35 "2012-02-10T15:42:14Z")
Both are great films, but \*\*Goodfellas \*\*was based on actual incidents, and gets the edge for that. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/36 "2012-02-10T16:01:45Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > Both are great films, but \*\*Goodfellas \*\*was based on actual incidents, and gets the edge for that. \*\*Casino \*\*was also based on a true story. In fact the same guy who wrote the book **Wiseguy** (upon which **Goodfellas** is based), also wrote **Casino.** ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/37 "2012-02-10T16:08:38Z")
I picked \*Casino \*because it was the better film with better acting but it’s close. It would be interesting to see the results if “I can’t pick one over the other” was a choice. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/38 "2012-02-10T16:16:53Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I like them both a lot, but I went with _Casino_ just because you get to see somebody beat up Don Rickles. I sometimes conflate the two though; for example, I’ll remember the scene with Pesci and his [character’s] mom from _Casino_ then remember "Wait, that was _Goodfellas_. > > I know a close relative of Tommy DeSimone, the real life man Joe Pesci’s character in _Casino_ was based on. I think she’s a significantly younger first cousin of his, though she might be the daughter of a first cousin; in any case, she knew him fairly well when she was a kid. Talking about him once she talked about how funny he was and how generous he was- she’d see him once every few months but when she did he’d have expensive presents- well chosen ones- for her and her brother and sisters, or if he didn’t have presents when he saw them he’d peel off some cash and send somebody (a buddy or another relative) out and they’d come with expensive presents; he was super affectionate to everybody in the family and an insanely generous tipper when they went out to eat, etc.. > > I knew the official record on him and I’d read the book _Casino_ and had no doubts the real DeSimone was a monster, but trying to be diplomatic I said a non-committal “Your family must have been really upset at how Pesci portrayed him”, to which she said “Oh no… oh no… well, they weren’t nuts about him being portrayed at all, but everybody knew where Tommy’s money came from and that when he wasn’t being the sweetest guy you ever met he was a psychotic lbastard that the other [mobsters] were afraid of. If half the stories the family tells about him are true he was ten times as evil as the guy Pesci played.” > > I always admire people capable of seeing their loved ones objectively. Hate to pick nits, but Tommy DeSimone was from _Goodfellas_, not Casino. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/39 "2012-02-10T18:09:10Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > _Casino_ is a very cool movie with the only decent Sharon Stone performance ever. > > and > _Goodfellas_ is a masterpiece. A lot of negative comments about Sharon Stone in this thread; am I the only one who thought she was great in Basic Instinct? ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2012, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291/40 "2012-02-10T18:34:38Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > A lot of negative comments about Sharon Stone in this thread; am I the only one who thought she was great in Basic Instinct? She fit the role well. I guess she’s good at the “good looking woman you want to stay away from” role. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/casino-vs-goodfellas/612291.md?page=3)