Casino Jack and the United States of Money (2010)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	None
Rating
Year Of Production	2010
Running Time	118:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	Alex Gibney
Studio Distributor	Madman Entertainment	Starring	Jack Abramoff William Branner Tom DeLay Donn Dunlop Kevin Henderson Hal Kreitman Kelly Brian Kuhn Paolo Mugnaini Bob Ney
Case	Amaray-Transparent
RPI	?	Music	David Robbins

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (224Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Recently I had the pleasure of watching Charles Ferguson's Inside Job, the Oscar-winning documentary examining the various causes of the Global Financial Crisis. In that film several Washington lobbyists make an appearance arguing the case for deregulation and market rate remuneration of top executives.

For those who are interested in the way that money and power co-exist in politics Casino Jack and the United States of Money is a perfect companion to Inside Job, taking one element, the role of the Washington lobbyist, from the complex fiscal puzzle and following it down an awfully deep rabbit hole.

Like Ferguson, filmmaker Alex Gibney is no newcomer to the documentary form. His earlier film, which I also reviewed, Taxi to the Dark Side, was an excoriating look at the indiscriminate use of force in rooting out terrorists in Iraq, when an innocent taxidriver was picked up and beaten to death during an interrogation by US forces. Gibney is also no slouch when it comes to understanding politics and money. His documentary Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room was a troubling account of the snowballing effect of power and corruption. It was also an Oscar winner for Best Documentary.

The unwilling star of Casino Jack is Washington super lobbyist Jack Abramoff. The "star" of the film is nowhere to be seen, apart from in archival footage. At the time of filming he was in prison and contributed a single comment to the film - that it should have been an action movie and not a documentary! Never mind, recently Kevin Spacey played Abramoff in a satirical film, also called Casino Jack.

Gibney's film approaches two hours in length, allowing sufficient room for all the strands of the Abramoff story to come together,but perhaps providing just a bit too much depth for the average documentary fan. Abramoff began political life as a radical Republican student at University wedded to the idea of free trade and deregulation, not to mention destroying all traces of Communism!

Although he was a lawyer by occupation Abramoff's real skill was as a backroom political powerbroker. Through his connections to some of the most powerful members of Congress Abramoff was able to deliver whatever it was that the clients wanted - for a price. The price was often exceedingly high and often it was the already disadvantaged who suffered from his zeal and skill such as the underpaid workers US territory of the Marianas Islands or the befuddled native Americans trying to work their way through the complicated Casino regulations. It is in this field that Abramoff gained his popular moniker, often playing both sides in an attempt to secure himself greater power and money.

Gibney's film, however, does not see Abramoff as the evil warlord but rather one of many lobbyists working in tandem with corrupt politicians to exchange campaign money for political influence. The money trail detailed in the film is astounding. Key amongst these dirty deals is the relationship between Abramoff and the disgraced congressmen, Tom DeLay. DeLay was everything that Abramoff needed, a man close to the highest echelons of power, with the highest perceived ethical standards yet prepared to overlook money-laundering and excessive campaign contributions on his way to the top.

Casino Jack is an always interesting documentary though its particular political focus may well prove to be too dry for some documentary viewers. Given the time and patience, however, it is a most rewarding experience.

Video

    Casino Jack and the United States of Money was shot on high definition digital video and comes to DVD in a 1.78:1 transfer which is consistent with its original aspect ratio.

It is 16x9 enhanced.

The film comprises a series of talking heads interviews as well as footage from the various eras. Naturally, that footage varies in quality according to the time and the equipment used. There is some fascinating film from Abramoff's College days which naturally is rife with video issues.

A third source of footage is taken from various films including Mr Deeds Goes to Washington and a classic scene from the Hollywood film produced by Abramoff, Red Scorpion, featuring a buff Dolph Lundgren as the commie turned freedom fighter liberating some poor Africans from their Communist threat.

The quality of the talking heads segments is fine and without any issues.

Generally this is a good-looking documentary.

There are subtitles in English for the hearing impaired.

Video Ratings Summary

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Audio

    There is a single soundtrack for Casino Jack being an English 2.0 Dolby Digital track running at 224 Kb/s.

This soundtrack is appropriate for the material and viewers will not miss a surround sound track. The dialogue can all be heard clearly.

The original music for the film is by David Robbins although the most fun was no doubt had by music supervisor John McCullough in assembling a whole host of songs, either era based or content appropriate. How perfect it is to have The Flaming Lips' The Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Song as something of a theme. As the lyrics ask "what would you do with all that power" it couldn't be more on the money.

Audio Ratings Summary

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Jack Abramoff took all the extras.

  This is an All Region DVD.

    In Jack Abramoff director Alex Gibney has found a perfect subject for a documentary. A vain, duplicitous and yet fairly charming rogue he is compelling and repellent at the same time.

The documentary is perfectly fine on DVD and the sound is also up to quality.

The lack of extras is a bit of a disappointment.

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