ThiefHott Too much of everything

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Gymnopedies ...A romantic way to go...if there was such a way. But Ben never used to be like that. At the start of this neon soaked masterpiece we see Ben ridding himself of the last remnants of family life and leaving it all behind for the drink. We see a photo of himself, his wife and his son before the drink had a grip on him. You could say that Ben had it all but he was always chasing something more elusive - that his family could not provide him. Things fell down for him like dominoes, his friends, his job, his family...everything......but the drink was always there like a loyal friend. Ben was a man that could not be stopped....he was pushing that self-destruct button hard an that is how it was for Ben.Sera with an "E". S-E-R-A....on the other hand was a lonely prostitute who you always felt was always striving to feel loved - loved in the context of something more deeper or spiritual and not the kind of superficial 'love' she was getting from her clients, No, she always was seeking to be loved by the men in her life.On the outset this doesn't seem like you typical romantic flick but there is something oddly romantic about it nonetheless. Especially considering they are both on the fast track to oblivion. They hadn't much but at least they had each other....but not for long - something had to give in this high inflammable relationship. You could see where the relationship was going but that didn't make it any easier.'Sting' provides us with the Jazzy soundtrack that really gives the film an extra boost and sets up the atmosphere nicely in Sin City. Nicolas Cage in his best performance of his career plays a great drunk and Elisabeth Shue should have won an academy award for her portrayal of a lost soul. 'Leaving Las Vegas' is a deeply sad portrayal of a man who once had it all - he is perceptive of his situation and he knows what he wants and in that same breath it is a romantic way to go.

classicsoncall To call Nicolas Cage's character an alcoholic would be a disservice to alcoholics everywhere. I mean, even a raging drunk has to come up for air sometimes, but Ben Sanderson (Cage) knocked down bottles of booze with the speed of The Flash, torching the memories of his past and sliding into the darkest oblivion imaginable. There's some measure of humanity in the story when Ben discovers a Las Vegas street walker named Sera (Elizabeth Shue), who offers him her love and friendship because of an ethereal connection she makes with the down and out former screenwriter. Yet even their tender moments together and the poignant background music do little to hide the fact that these two damaged souls are derelicts from the human race, and as it turns out in Ben's case, beyond saving both spiritually and bodily. The film may be of service to demonstrate how low one can go before succumbing to the depths of despondency and despair, and that there may be hope around the corner if only one were to reach out and recognize a helping hand. But this one goes in the other direction, and serves as a reminder that relentlessly abusing one's body and spirit can only end one way.

Lechuguilla In this intense character study of a twenty something alcoholic and a prostitute, Nicolas Cage plays Ben Sanderson, a lonely failed screenwriter who travels from Hollywood to Las Vegas to end his life by drinking himself to death. Elisabeth Shue plays the prostitute, the only person in Vegas who shows any compassion toward Ben. It's a depressing movie.The simple, thought provoking story gives us a journey of two lost souls who find each other, share their experiences, anguished and hurting as they are, adrift in a cold, uncaring world. We feel for these two people; we root for them. Yet, despite how physically attractive both are, their situation is dire.It's hard to imagine a guy like Ben on such a trajectory. How can someone be so lacking both in self-knowledge and interpersonal relations; ditto Shue's character? I would have preferred that the scriptwriter make these two people a bit more complex, and allow Ben to make some attempt to change course.As such the script is a tad manipulative. Viewers are supposed to come away with a specific message about loneliness and alcoholism. But the plot is too heavy handed, the message totally not subtle, and the overall story not realistic. Also, I did not like the Yuri subplot. In addition, the plot is repetitive. We see Ben's same behavior, in different settings, over and over and over.Casting is acceptable; acting is quite good, especially Cage and Shue in the lead roles. High contrast lighting implies a subtle neo-noir quality. And as we would expect in a character study, there are a lot of closeup camera shots. Background music trends toward blues and what I would describe as sad jazz; music is a bit too loud in some scenes."Leaving Las Vegas" is a serious character study wrapped in Hollywood glitter, which only amplifies the mood of fatalism and desperation. For technical quality the film is quite good. But viewers need to understand that there is almost no humor and precious little entertainment here. The background music at the end is appropriate ... a soft, sad piano dirge.

Jawbox5 Alcoholism has always been a great device in movies. Over the years there have been many successful films that deal with addiction to alcohol and the devastating effects that come with it (The Lost Weekend, When a Man Loves a Woman, Days of Wine and Roses, to name but a few). It is a serious issue and subject matter, so the films that appear to succeed when tackling the issue are the ones that treat it with the importance it deserves. In saying that, Mike Figgis' Leaving Las Vegas might well be the bleakest of the lot. It features a washed up writer named Ben (an Oscar-winning Nicolas Cage) who heads to Las Vegas with the sole purpose of drinking himself to death. There is little about him gradually succumbing to the disease or how it ruins his family life. It is simply a man submitting to a temptation he can't let go of. For the most part the film is a twisted love story that revolves around self-destruction and the importance of dependency. Ben meets a prostitute named Sera (an Oscar-nominated Elisabeth Shue) who is just as wounded as he is, only she doesn't turn to drink because of it and forces herself to carry on. The two form a relationship that is genuine at its core, despite the fact that neither can change the other which is highlighted when Ben tells Sera that see can never ask him to stop drinking. This inability to change ultimately proves to be their downfall. Their relationship is equally chaotic and bittersweet. Drunken antics and frustration grow more apparent, but there is a clear love between them and in a way it is understandable why two broken people like this would be drawn together. Given how character driven the film is, Cage and Shue are the very centrepiece of the entire film. Cage has always been able to play characters on the edge, but he has a tendency to delve into the excessive a little too frequently. That never happens here. He is completely believable in every expression and motion. It's a wonderfully measured performance as his drunkenness never goes too silly and contemplations never get too dour. Shue is his equal in every way. She has always been an actress who has excelled at warmth and sincerity, and that really pays off here. She has such a strong expression of compassion whenever she is with Cage that it's very easy to forget that they are only acting. Julian Sands appears in the first half as Sera's pimp (unconvincing Latvian accent in all), but for the majority of the film it is simply Cage and Shue who take up our attention. It's a great credit to both actors that they are able to dominate a near two hour film with such ease. The Vegas they find themselves in is one of bright colours and seedy motels, perfectly suited to the horrid depths that Ben finds himself in. The score, composed by Figgis himself, is usually loud and very jazz-inspired, managing to fit the vivid images that are painted here. As the film progresses I think it does lose some focus. The set-up is executed to perfection and these characters fit together so well as their struggles increase. Everything about their conversations feels natural and expressive that the film struggles to keep this engaging aspect once the relationship begins to crumble. Ben begins to act even more rash because he is angered by Sera's occupation, but it is like he completely forgot their earlier agreement and that's all the more distasteful by the fact that any retreats that Sera makes are because she cares about him so much.As the film reaches its conclusion there is both sadness and hope present. One of them will never change, but there's a chance that the other will. In reflection, Leaving Las Vegas is not an easy film to watch because of how deep its willing to go into such an unpleasant area. Never the less, it is an important piece of cinema and one that resonates because it doesn't pull any punches. Cage and Shue are the true heroes. Both provide career best performances that are filled with sensitivity and pathos, as well as a chemistry that makes their actions all the more credible. Sure the films narrative wanes toward the end, but I truly believe that the power shown in these performances and the intelligence shown in consideration to the subject matter makes the film leave an undeniable impression.