Casino Jack with Kevin Spacey

Written by Jonathan Jacobs

As Casino Jack begins, Jack Abramoff is busy brushing his teeth, but not too busy to deliver one of the boldest and brashest soliloquies of all time. Apparently, Jack needed a moment or two between brushings to renew his optimism that America is the greatest country on earth. Jack reasons that while he may have a suspect legal record, it’s ok because he provides his family with a better life than those bums who ride the subway. Oh, and I almost forgot, Jack works out every day! It will not take long for viewers to figure out that Kevin Spacey is almost perfect for the role of the uber-controversial lobbyist. If Abramoff had been uninteresting before, Spacey has caused him to appear as fascinating as the front cover of US magazine.

After the opening monologue, we are brought to a remote town where a snooping reporter asks a local Native American financial questions about Abramoff and his protégé, Michael Scanlon’s (Barry Pepper), casino dealings. For those of you who are unfamiliar with who Abramoff is and what interests he represents (or represented), I encourage you to read a previous article of mine about the independent documentary that probes deeply into Jack’s personal and professional dealings, Casino Jack and the United States of Money.

Without much of a delay, our lobbyist extraordinaire is placed in a federal holding cell after being indicted by the federal government. Jack’s young daughter is confused, and his business partner is mortified. Much to Jack’s dismay, federal holding cells do not come equipped with kosher meals. Entering a discussion with a fellow prisoner (the prototypical tattooed hooligan), Abramoff is asked if being a lobbyist is illegal. If it were, ladies and gentleman, where would retired senators and members of the House find jobs? How would anyone receive the opportunity to corrupt Congress with special interest money, and petition for earmarks in President Obama’s omnibus spending bills?

Director George Hickenlooper seizes this opportunity to provide the denotation of the word “lobbyist;” it is defined as “a person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest;” or alternatively, “a person who tries to influence public officials to take a desired action.” If you have not yet deciphered the hidden or implied meanings, I encourage you to read a newspaper…NOW.

The back-grounding begins with a flashback to two years ago, when Abramoff had reached the height of his Congressional influence. While walking through the hallowed halls of Congress, like a flamethrower, Jack fires off immortally classic one-liners about God, justice, money, and being a conduit for high-rolling special interest groups. For the purposes of stagecraft, Spacey is made to look younger and far more powerful in stature than the defeated man behind bars. Is Abramoff’s question true? Do the most powerful members of Congress rely on lobbyists to take them on “fact-finding” missions to help them understand how to vote? Shucks, a man like Jack can buy votes for the price of sideline football tickets to the Redskins games.

Jack’s connection with House Majority Leader Tom Delay and their support for the penny-pinching sweatshop owners in the Marianas is immediately highlighted. Abramoff convinces his associate, Grover Norquist (Jeffrey Smith), that his interest in Native American tribes is purely philanthropic out of concern for their salubrity and is in no way connected with gambling licenses. That sneaky sophist, he almost had me at hello! Jack seals the deal with pistachio nuts; nice touch.

Onboard a private gulfstream, Scanlon and Abramoff jest about providing their Indian clients with five star hotel accommodations and with free championship golfing reservations at Saint Andrews. They even throw in a few bogeys (I do that too…except not on purpose). Scanlon suggests that the Native Americans pay an obscene amount of money for influence over Congressmen. Jack offers his client the opportunity to oust his competitors in favor of promulgating the Chippewa casino, in exchange for millions of dollars in “consultant’s” fees.

Back in the States, and celebrating their success, a snot-nosed reporter from the Washington Post launches a public accusation alleging Abramoff influences the Mariana sweatshops. The team responds with glittering idealism about providing the workers with a means to provide for their families back home. The altercation ends with the apparently hemophilic reporter being punched in the nose. In all fairness, he deserved to be punched, just not publicly (so as to cause him opprobrium).

Abramoff next meets with Manny Rovelas (Damir Andrei), who recommends that they provide services to wealthier and far more “reputable” clients. Naturally, this brings them into the gaming business more directly, via Sunsail Casinos (Suncruz in real life). Planning with Scanlon, our two masterminds choose a front man to represent their casino boat fleet, Adam Kidan (Jon Lovitz), who is a perfect putz and a pervert, all in one foolish parading scapegoat. To finance this endeavor, Jack and Michael, along with Ralph Reid (Christian Campbell), attempt to convince the Chippewa to pay their company $30 million over a three year period to eliminate their competitors before they can expand. We learn that the contact whom they wined and dined is, in fact, powerless to grant them influence over the voting members of their tribes. This leaves them moneyless and hungry to move onto their next scheme.

Subsequently, Scanlon meets with Gus Boulis (Daniel Kash) to offer him a measly 20 cents on the dollar for his gambling network. Gus’ disgust with Boulis’ disrespect and haughty rebuff of his offer causes Abramoff to request help from his Congressmen on the take. Gus is then put under suspicion for illicit gaming activities. This includes support from Tom Delay, whom he brings to Harvard University for a speech and Q & A with the student body Republican youths. Every Thursday, Jack also brings Delay to church.

Eventually, everything starts to crumble around our schemers. The Senate passes a bill authorizing minimum wage payments to all employees in the Marianas. Despite this setback, Jack vows to charge his clients double to help them kill the bill in the House. Jack always finds a way to make money. Jack’s public scandals forces Manny to fire him. This puts Jack in a difficult spot because his house payments are late. The remainder is best saved to build suspense in your minds, and interest in watching Casino Jack.

Throughout the film, no matter how corrupt Abramoff seems, Hickenlooper does a wonderful job of portraying his “softer” personal side. Jack loves his wife Pam (Kelly Preston) and his children, plays the piano, has photos everywhere of his memorable family moments (not to mention pictures with Presidents Reagan and Bush), and he wants to support them at any cost. Abramoff delivers highfalutin speeches about prosperity and the virtue of money, managing to sound almost Randian (Ayn Rand) and God-fearing. Jack also adds sizzle and spice with Italian mobster movie quotations and imitations. Jack wants to build a synagogue for his children’s education, and a kosher restaurant to help maintain their ties to Judaism. I appreciate that the duality of Abramoff is portrayed. Simultaneously, Jack is a thieving lobbyist strong-arming members of Congress whose votes are purchased in exchange for favors and campaign donations, while he is also a caring husband and father. Perhaps this aspect is supposed to be satire, but I am accepting it at face value. Although audiences will not learn as much about Jack Abramoff, the man, the myth, the legend, the criminal, from Casino Jack as they would from viewing Casino Jack and the United States of Money, they will have a splendid time watching and drawing their own conclusions. Greed is good, might makes right, watch Casino Jack tomorrow or tonight. There you have it, a Thanksgiving poem, just for you.

Jonathan Jacobs

Member Florida Film Critics Circle

www.screenspotlight.com