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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Power doesn’t necessarily corrupt but absolute power corrupts absolutely. According to the Kevin Spacey-driven film Casino Jack, in the world of national politics, lobbyists are corrupt and they corrupt our elected officials absolutely.

Spacey plays former Washington, D.C. lobbyist and businessman Jack Abramoff who had ties to and influence in President Reagan’s and both Bush administrations. The film begins with Abramoff standing before a restroom mirror and talking to himself with conviction about how unrepentant he is over what he has done as a lobbyist. He reassures himself it has been about putting food on his family’s table and finishes by saying how great America is.

Next to God, faith, and country, Abramoff believes the most important thing in life is political influence and he clings to it with great tenacity. So with a penchant for quoting movie lines, Abramoff—along with his equally motivated playboy partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper)—manipulates U.S. congressmen like a skilled puppeteer with money instead of strings.

It is during President George W. Bush’s administration that the wheels fall off for Abramoff as his ego swells to immeasurable portions. He ends up agreeing to a plan by Scanlon to defraud millions of dollars from casinos owned by Native American tribes. Desperation follows as they get in over their heads but Abramoff seems oblivious as to why anyone would want him in jail.

Ultimately, the real Abramoff was convicted of fraud, conspiracy, and tax evasion in 2006, and of trading gifts, meals, and trips in exchange for political favors. He served three-and-a-half years of a six-year sentence in federal prison, and was released early last month.

Spacey, whose performance somehow received a Golden Globe nomination, delivers a credible performance throughout but it never reaches a level where you forget who you are watching. Pepper is the film’s true star with a terrific supporting performance as the man who turned on his longtime lobbying partner. Otherwise, the remaining cast is dull. Kelly Preston is amateurish as Abramoff’s wife and Jon Lovitz was a terrible casting choice with his painful-to-watch portrayal of a shady businessman.

Casino Jack only regurgitates what’s already been reported nor does it provide a great deal of engrossing entertainment. Furthermore, it lacks creativity by perpetuating the political stereotype on film of Republicans/conservatives as being corrupt and greedy.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing, Casino Jack receives a C.

Casino Jack is rated R and has a running time of 108 minutes.

Now showing through January 20 @
Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.