I had watched Scorsese’s film Casino last year at home on a random night and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was then surprised to watch a scene in class and analyse the editing that, on re-watching, was very strong and helped to form the framework of the scene.

Watching the scene today after the discussion of editing techniques and reasons to edit was very interesting. The juxtaposition between the energy and fury of the casino-goers, as well as Ginger, to the calm and calculated demeanour of De Niro’s character Ace was captivating. The slow cuts and between her and him, as well as the lingering shots on Ace were very captivating.

It helped to reflect the emotion of the scene as well as exemplify the personality of the characters. The stark contrast between the ferocity and rush of the gamblers when the chips were tossed into the air and the calm focussed look of Ace was very striking. Scorsese and Schoonmaker certainly created a strong atmosphere with the use of editing in this scene.