Casino Jack

A former Beverly Hills brat who became an Orthodox Jew after seeing Fiddler on the Roof, Jack Abramoff was a legendary, ethically challenged Washington, D.C., super-lobbyist whose connections to the rich, influential, and powerful enabled him to amass a fortune—before he was sent to prison. Kevin Spacey stars in the title role of this irreverent chronicle of Abramoff's most notorious escapades, which encompass his friendship with now-disgraced, convicted former Congressman Tom DeLay (Spencer Garrett) and his ties to Karl Rove and President George W. Bush. As the story begins, Abramoff convinces Congress to give favorable trade status to the Mariana Islands, despite their tolerance of sweatshop child labor. Abramoff's victory puts him in the forefront for even higher-paying Beltway clients, including a Native American tribe looking for bigger casino profits (by prohibiting their rivals from acquiring a gambling license), while Abramoff's sycophantic partner, Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), also negotiates with the tribes' competitor. And then there's the lucrative deal involving a Florida cruise operator hosting guests gambling in international waters. Illegal? You bet. Uncommon? No. Directed by the late George Hickenlooper, the irreverent and satirical Casino Jack benefits from a strong central performance by Spacey, an adroit actor able to handle the challenge of re-creating Abramoff's brazen, complicated character. Kelly Preston costars as Abramoff's wife, while Jon Lovitz provides comic relief as Abramoff's bumbling, mob-connected buddy. Recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a gag reel (9 min.), deleted scenes (9 min.), and a photo gallery. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a Kevin Spacey showcase film.] (S. Granger)