Jack and his cohort Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper of the True Grit remake) are high-powered lobbyists exercising their constitutional right to petition congress. Pierrepont Finch fortifying his ego in the old musical How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. He's brushing his teeth before a mirror, a staging choice that also relates to J. Hickenlooper's film is intelligent, amusing and engrossing.Ĭasino Jack begins with a Raging Bull- like monologue in which Jack Abramoff (Spacey) rehearses a fierce defense of his arrogant lifestyle. I'm not sure why the film didn't get more attention that it did - although the (also excellent) Jack Abramoff documentary Casino Jack and the United States of Money came out at almost the same time. Casino Jack brings him back to the center in a big way. Actor Kevin Spacey seemed to have a role in every good film released until his 2004 Bobby Darin biopic Beyond the Sea, after which he worked on the stage more and appeared mostly in glorified supporting film parts.

Hickenlooper's film version of the downfall of 'super lobbyist' Jack Abramoff is a splendid exposé of the corrupt extremes of government but an even keener portrait of the madness for success that drives so many ambitious men to such ignominious fates. It's especially sad that George Hickenlooper's impressive Casino Jack opened in the United States only two days before his untimely passing.

Casino jack movie review