Being released on DVD September 14: CASINO JACK AND THE UNITED STATES OF MONEY
Prolific Academy Award-winner Alex Gibney’s at times jaw-dropping exposé on top Washington DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff premiered at Sundance this year before being released theatrically by Magnolia in May. Abramoff’s story has inspired a fictionalized version, titled simply CASINO JACK, directed by George Hickenlooper and starring Kevin Spacey, which premieres in Toronto next week.
The ambitious Abramoff took advantage of his political influence to bribe politicians and bilk Native American tribes out of millions in an outrageous scheme to establish a gambling empire. When he’s tripped up by his own emails, the scandal takes down White House officials, Congressmen, and fellow lobbyists, among others. It’s a tale of greed, corruption, and hubris that reaches almost Shakespearean proportions, made even more shocking and enraging because it’s all true, and Gibney succeeds in making it a thoroughly compelling viewing experience.
what (not) to doc 