3. Go
A proud member of my all-time underrated movies, Go also makes me want to run to Vegas just watching it. The Taye Diggs-led storyline is the most fun of the three in Go as it's got it all — sex, drugs, strippers, gambling, and even an MSG-laden buffet. Let's go!
2. Ocean's Eleven (2001)
We're all very familiar with this one. Star-studded cast remakes Rat Pack "hit" from days gone by, with George Clooney in the Sinatra role. Three stars of the new Strip are featured prominently (Bellagio, The Mirage, and the MGM Grand), with the Bellagio practically given a co-starring role, as much of the film takes place in it and other casinos. Heck, even Siegfried and Roy get a cameo.
1. Casino
Even if this wasn't a great movie (which it is), it would have probably earned the top spot by virtue of the first 45 minutes alone. As Sam "Ace" Rothstein walks you through the inner workings of his casino, you get what was at the time probably the best insiders' point of view of how a casino is run. Throw in James Woods, Sharon Stone (still in her prime), Joe Pesci, and a kickass soundtrack and you have one of the best films of the '90s (and I still say it's better than GoodFellas).
Finally, the hall of shame:
The Great White Hype -- for its lost potential. This should have been a much better movie.
Con Air — do I need to explain?
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Famous — haven't even seen this, but it's associated with Vegas. For more evidence, read that title again.
Very Bad Things — another lost potential case. A great cast, including a pre-Entourage Jeremy Piven, a still-thin, post-Swingers Jon Favreau, Christian Slater, Cameron Diaz, etc. — and the movie stunk. A grand disappointment.
Article comments
1 - Chris Beaumont
Con Air is a fun spectacle,not really worth the time to deride.
Very Bad Things was a fun black comedy that does not deserve the shame that it gets.
Fear and Loathing should have been at number 2.
No Leaving Las Vegas?
How about the Nick Palumbo classic Murder Set Pieces? (I kid, seriously, I kid)
2 - Fletch
Con Air and LLV both suffer due to my passionate dislike of Nic Cage. :) Very Bad Things had a good premise that went haywire - I didn't like how slapsticky it got. I like Fear and Loathing a lot, but don't feel it's had that big of an impact (the movie anyway, not the book) on Vegas and Vegas movies.
3 - El Bicho
No mention of Viva Las Vegas or derision of Showgirls?
Go worked better the first time around when it was called Pulp Fiction. Shouldn't be in the top 5.
I'll take the original Ocean's Eleven and do yourself a favor and see The Amazing Colossal Man. I believe MST3K covered it.
You obviously have never done serious drugs in Vegas if you have F&L so low on the list.
4 - Fletch
Already covered the reasoning (in my post and in the above comment) on F&L's position. It's certainly in the discussion, we agree on that.
Shocked at the hate for Go. I couldn't disagree more - great, great movie that deserves more praise. 2 Days in the Valley - that's a Pulp ripoff. Just because Go uses a non-linear does not make it a Pulp ripoff.
IMO, Showgirls got too much attention either way, most likely due to Berkeley's involvement. Giving it more pub is like feeding Paris Hilton - pointless and a drag on society in general. ;)
5 - El Bicho
I didn't say your reasoning was wrong, just that you've most likely not taken any psychedelics in Vegas.
I don't hate Go. I would watch it if I was having trouble sleeping and I had no books, music, pills or alcohol to resort to. Exactly how did Go impact Vegas and Vegas movies?
6 - Fletch
This is how Go impacts Vegas movies for me: "Go makes me want to run to Vegas just watching it. The Taye Diggs-led storyline is the most fun of the three in Go as it's got it all " sex, drugs, strippers, gambling, and even an MSG-laden buffet."
No sweat if it's not your bag - this list is intended to spark discussion and most of all - be fun!
And no - I've not taken psychadelics...in Vegas.