Have you ever wondered what is the common denominator in all Hollywood movies? Well, whether you are watching a comedy, action, thriller, or romantic movies, they all have a trademark sequence. This can range from a pursuit scene to a battle preparation scene and from the actual battle scene to a boy arguing with a girl on why they would be good together.
Now when it comes to the most celebrated location of such great scenes, nothing comes even remotely close to the ones taking place on casino floors. This obviously has to do with the opulence portrayed by the grand décor, the high rollers flashing their money and the beautiful and well-dressed patrons. So, we have decided to put together a list of three of the most memorable movie scenes from different genres taking place at a casino.
Casino Royale (2006)
You should not be surprised to see a James Bond movie making an entry into this list since most of these movies, especially the old ones, featured at least one scene in an exotic casino. In Casino Royale, while the actual casino is in the Czech Republic, the storyline in the movie has the casino set in Montenegro. What we love about this scene between Daniel Craig’s James Bond and Mads Mikkelsen’s ‘Le Chiffre’ is the fact that the good old game of Baccarat is replaced by poker, and more precisely No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em. The reason behind this change had to do with the rise in popularity of this game. Both games are available at some of the best casino sites in the UK which made it even more accessible to theatrical audiences. The end result, over $110 million at the UK box office.
Rain Man (1988)
Depending on the year you were born, this is a classic movie that is worth checking out. The highest grossing movie of 1988 across the world, rewarded Dustin Hoffman and Barry Levinson with an Academy Award for Best Actor and Best Director, respectively. One of the most memorable scenes, taking place at the iconic Caesars Palace casino, has Hoffman’s character who is a master at memorizing numbers take on the Blackjack tables to win some money when his brother, played by Tom Cruise, finds himself into debt. They eventually walk away with more than $86,000 in profit. With four Academy Awards, and four nominations, this is a must-see movie.
The Hangover (2009)
This hilarious movie is one of the highest grossing R-rated comedies that span two sequels. The original movie features a scene that funnily enough pays homage to the Rain Man. In a scene filmed at the Riviera Hotel & Casino, Zach Galifianakis’ character is set out to play Blackjack to pay a ransom of $80,000. What ensues is an epic card counting scene that will have you in stitches. If you want a good laugh, the original in this trilogy will do the trick.
Conclusion
So, if you have yet to watch any of these movies, or you simply need a walk down memory lane, make sure you download them from your digital purchasing websites or visit your local retailer if you like buying DVDs in their physical form.